[pchelpers] cutoff date for SP1

Hi Scott

>>>That's for support. I'm quite certain that they have different
>>>criteria for security and critical patches.
> 
> Ahh, here it is, on the same page that you mentioned:
> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy
> 
>   "22. Must I have the latest service pack installed to apply a
>   security-related hotfix or a hotfix that is not security-related?
> 
>   "You must install a hotfix on the service pack for which the hotfix
>   was designed. Microsoft security updates will be created for both
>   the current service pack and the previous service pack (whenever
>   commercially viable), and will be made available to all customers

This is the part i don't get. Where does it say how long SP1 is 
"commercially viable"? I don't even know what this is supposed to mean. 
I mean Windows with a previous SP is probably never commercially viable. 
  If someone wants to buy a CD with XP now, they'll probably demand SP2 
if they know anything about it, and they'll either not buy the XP CD or 
demand a discount if they don't also get an SP2 CD. And MS probably 
demands or at least requests that XP CDs be sold with an SP2 CD attached.

But computers with a previous SP can be sold probably indefinitely, much 
later than when a new version of Windows comes out. At that time, as far 
as i know, it becomes "illegal" to sell older versions of Windows on CD 
but not on a computer.

>   through the Microsoft Security Web site. Customers can request a
>   hotfix that is not security-related for either the current service
>   pack or for the previous service pack (if it is still supported)."
> 
> According to the pages, there is no extended support for XP Home;
> mainstream support for it officially expires in Sep 2006 (less than
> 1.5 years from now), although it will probably be extended to 2 years
> after the release of Longhorn Home (whatever they call it). The
> two-year extension policy is described in relation to professional
> version, but I'd be surprised if it didn't apply to home versions
> also. 

That would seem to say that security patches for XP Home will be 
provided until at least the end of 2007 if Longhorn comes out before the 
end of this year. But what does it say about SP1?

> Since XP Home is the same as XP Pro in most cases, I suspect
> that XP Home will be able to piggyback on XP Pro, which has extended
> support until the end of 2011, unless they specifically block that.

This seems to imply security patches until the end of 2011, but what 
does it say about SP1?

> 
> Here are pages giving exact dates:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=lifesupsps
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;%5Bln%5D;LifeWin
> 

Tried to understand them several times now and before i sent them to 
you, but i still don't really get this legalese. All i understand for 
SP1 is 17-Sep-2006 and maybe two years after the release of Longhorn 
Home if what you read applies to SP1 and not XP Home per se, i.e. with 
maybe SP2 required.

So what did you understand? What do you think will be the cut off date 
for security patches for SP1? For SP2, it seems to be clear, i.e. end of 
2011.

Ek



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