Microsoft Software Life Expectancy

Microsoft Software Life Expectancy

J. J. Stocker Co., Inc.

How long is software Supported or designed to be used before a replacement is necessary!

Life Cycle - Operating systems have a life expectancy of 3 to 5 years

How long should an operating system last? Microsoft has issued guidelines for the life cycle on their operating systems. In a nutshell, at a minimum they expect everyone to upgrade every 3 to 5 years.

For the first 3 years licenses will be available with standard and online support.
In the fourth year licenses may no longer be available, only online and paid support.
In the fifth year only online support is available and may be terminated after providing 12 months advanced notice.
After six years you can continue to use the version, but there will probably be no support from Microsoft. In other words you are on your own.

Comparison Summary Updated 9/8/2008

Note ~ The last useful date

Is 2 years after the last service pack or

The Extended Support Retired Date

Which ever is FIRST!

Windows Edition	General Availability Date	Mainstream Support Retired	Extended Support Retired
Windows 7 64-bit RTM	7/22/2009	1/13/2015	TBD
Windows 7 32bit RTM	7/22/2009	1/13/2015	TBD
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition	1/25/2007	4/10/2012	NONE
Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit	1/25/2007	4/10/2012	NONE
Windows XP Professional SP3	12/31/2001	4/14/2009	4/8/2014
Windows XP Home Edition SP3	12/31/2001	4/14/2009	4/8/2014
Windows 2000 Professional Edition	3/31/2000	6/30/2005	7/13/2010
Windows Millennium Edition	12/31/2000	12/31/2003	7/11/2006
Windows 98 Second Edition	6/30/1999	6/30/2002	7/11/2006
Windows 98 Standard Edition	6/30/1998	6/30/1998	7/11/2006
Windows NT Workstation 4.0	7/29/1996	6/30/2002	6/30/2004
Windows 95	8/15/1995	12/31/2000	12/31/2001
Windows 3.1 Standard Edition	3/1/1992	12/31/2001	NONE

Office Products
Office Professional 2007	1/27/2007	4/10/2012	4/10/2017
Office Professional Edition 2003	11/17/2003	4/14/2009	4/8/2014
Office XP Professional Edition	5/31/2001	7/11/2006	7/12/2011
Office 2000 Professional Edition	6/27/1999	6/30/2004	7/14/2009
Office 97 Professional Edition	1/16/1997	8/31/2001	2/28/2002

MS Works Products
Works 8	10/8/2004	1/12/2010	Not Applicable
Works 7.0	7/10/2002	9/30/2005	Not Applicable
Works 6.0	7/12/2000	3/31/2004	Not Applicable
Works 4.5a	9/16/1998	9/30/2002	Not Applicable

for further Information see
Microsoft Support Lifecycle main page
Microsoft Lifecycle Dates for Products