Microsoft Ending Support For Windows Vista [Redmond Decides Not Worth It Support Non-Service Pack Vista, Although They Still Support XP]

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Windows Vista was probably the most unpopular thing Microsoft’s ever done. I actually think it was decent if you had a good processor and the first service pack, but a combination of early driver issues and those snarky “I’m a Mac” ads really condemned public opinions of Vista. And now even Microsoft is trying to forget about Vista as they’ve ended support for Vista (pre-SP1).

From today on, those without Service Pack 1 for Vista will no longer receive security or other updates from Microsoft. Microsoft is doing this to better focus “on system reliability, program compatibility and security.” As fun as it is to make link-baiting titles saying “Microsoft Abandons Vista” (as some sites have done), Microsoft is probably just trying to streamline their patching process for Vista and getting rid of support for one flavor of Vista is a way to do it.

Although you could argue that Microsoft is trying to get users to upgrade to SP1 for Vista, they’re still supporting Windows XP SP2 (when there is a SP3 out there) and they’re still providing patches for Windows 2000 (which is much older than Vista, obviously) through July 2010.

Vista currently is on their second Service Pack. According to NetworkWorld, Microsoft’s official solution for the lack of Vista support is as you’d expect, #1 – Upgrade to SP2, #2 – Upgrade to SP1, #3 – Upgrade to Windows 7, but probably not in that order. In a related note, Microsoft reports that 10% of PCs worldwide have already transitioned to the new Windows 7.

For those looking for Service Packs for any version of Windows, you can find them at Microsoft’s website.