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Windows 2000 Moves into Extended Support Next Month

Windows 2000, Microsoft's five year-old operating system for servers and business desktops, will switch into the "extended support" phase of the product lifecycle after June 30.

Launched in February 2000, Windows 2000 Professional and the Windows 2000 Server products are in the mainstream support phase until the end of the month. The extended support phase, which lasts for another five years, begins July 1.

Under extended support, Microsoft will still develop and provide security hotfixes for free. Support through paid support channels continues.

Most other complimentary support options and design change requests will no longer be available for Windows 2000. Customers who expect they will need to request new non-security bug fixes on Windows 2000 must sign up for Extended Hotfix Support within 90 days of June 30. Customers enrolled in Software Assurance can also sign up for Extended Hotfix Support after the 90-day deadline.

Windows 2000 Professional's successor operating system, Windows XP Professional, has been available since October 2001. Windows 2000 Server's successor, Windows Server 2003, has been available since April 2003.

June 30 is also the last day that Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 is supported. At that point, security hotfixes and other support options will only apply to customers who have installed Service Pack 4.

Editor's note: This article was updated June 27 to clarify that Software Assurance customers have additional time after the 90-day deadline to sign up for Extended Hotfix Support.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

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