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.

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 Last Service Pack Retired
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition 1/25/2007 4/10/2012 Not Applicable 4/13/2010
Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit 1/25/2007 4/10/2012 Not Applicable 4/13/2010
Windows XP Professional 12/31/2001 4/14/2009 4/8/2014 4/21/2008
Windows XP Home Edition 12/31/2001 4/14/2009 4/8/2014 8/30/2005
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2 11/12/2005 4/14/2009 4/8/2014  
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 12/30/2004 4/14/2009 4/8/2014  
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 10/27/2003 4/14/2009 4/8/2014  
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2/11/2003 4/14/2009 4/8/2014  
Windows 2000 Professional Edition 3/31/2000 6/30/2005 6/30/2010  
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 Not Applicable  
         

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