Filed under: OS Updates, Office, Microsoft
Say goodbye to free support for Windows XP

As of today, Microsoft no longer offers free support for Windows XP Home Edition. The company is also ending free support for Office 2003. You can still pay for extended support for either product through 2014, but don't expect to get any free answers to your questions from Microsoft.
The company will still be sending out important security updtes to Windows XP and Office 2003 users.
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LordDaMan said 10:32AM on 4-16-2009
Yes support for the RTM of xp home ended. XP SP3 support is at least untill 2010
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Muffin_man said 10:52AM on 4-16-2009
What about the knowledge base? Every time I've used Microsoft support they just regurgitate information from the knowledge base. Is the MS knowledge base still free for XP and office '03?
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robb said 1:26PM on 4-16-2009
That's what google's for.. am i right?
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David said 1:26PM on 4-16-2009
Google solving life's problem's 1 search at a time
Kenn.keeper said 1:57PM on 4-16-2009
As right an answer if there ever was....
Kenn.....
wrabbit said 2:15PM on 4-16-2009
I've been using XP since it came out (what is it like now, 20 years or something?) and I have never ever used their support system. These days any problem I encounter, I just search google and 90% of the time the solution is in the top 5 links.
P.F. Bruns said 1:55PM on 4-16-2009
Of course, since MSFT tech support tries to get a per-incident rate out of you regardless of your actual issue, the point is probably moot anyway.
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Obvious said 5:50PM on 4-16-2009
You're right. I'll take it to the Genius Bar instead.
Mark said 3:30PM on 4-16-2009
Has anyone ever actually needed it? I've been using Windows since 3.0 and I have never had to call or contact Microsoft for anything. Any problems that do come up can usually be solved much faster by looking it up on Google or visiting a tech forum. The only thing that will hurt XP is when they stop putting out security updates for it, at that point the show is pretty much over since it would become unsafe to use.
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RG said 5:39PM on 4-16-2009
There were tech forums and google when 3.0 was out?....hehe only kidding. I have not used MS support in the sense of contacting them, 99% of the time it's been google or in pre-web days the PC's vendor, the other 1% it's been MS' online knowledgebase
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Martin-T said 7:48AM on 4-17-2009
The only time I have ever had to call MS has been when they decide that my copy of Windows is not valid. The "genuine" verification process can be exasperating.
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think said 9:59AM on 4-17-2009
NEXT TIME IT'S A MAC FOR ME. BALLMER IS REASON STOCK IS DOING SO POORLY. HEAVEN FORBID THEY SHOULD SUPPORT A PRODUCT.
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jrblackman said 6:07PM on 4-17-2009
Isn't XP about 8 years old now? What is that in computer years 156? I don't fault Microsoft for ending free support. -Has anyone ever used it? As someone else mentioned the only time I have ever called MS is when my legal copy of XP could not be activated.
kelsey said 7:26PM on 4-17-2009
After my son bought a Mac for college and I saw how well its made works n runs I will never buy MS again for any reason !! I am tired of always buying things to keep it running and them telling me my sub. is only good for 1year !! He never has to repurchas anything for his Mac and its faster than any PC I have seen no matter who makes it !!
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FOURDOGSLAUGHING said 10:55PM on 4-17-2009
omg !! as if i really needed it !!
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Kevin said 9:40PM on 4-19-2009
Can someone tell me if this includes reactivation over the phone after changing your hardware too often? I have a copy of XP that I need to ring up MS about which I may have to use again one day...
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sri7770 said 8:11AM on 4-21-2009
Can someone tell me if this includes reactivation over the phone after changing your hardware too often? I have a copy of XP that I need to ring up MS about which I may have to use again one day...
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Sri
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