Microsoft throws Windows 98 users to the wolves - Upgrade or be hacked

[Timesharetalk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Timesharetalk]

AFTER SIX YEARS in the marketplace, Microsoft has finally had enough of supporting Windows 98 and is abandoning it to the hackers.
In the last batch of security patches, the Vole steadfastly refused to patch a hole in Windows 98 but did so for Windows 2000, XP and Windows server.

Some of the Windows 98 users that are still out there say that Microsoft's refusal to do so was foul play, given that support for the aging software does not officially end until July 11.

However, a spokesVole claimed that the changes needed to make the ancient OS safe would have required substantial tinkering with it and it could not be bothered.

He claimed that Windows 2000 was such a significant change in architecture from Windows 98 that applying changes could "jeopardise program compatibility". This might be a bit odd as it has not prevented many security upgrades in the past.

Having a look on various web groups there seem to be a bunch of users who are going to be miffed that no security patches are forthcoming.

One user wrote that he was extremely happy with the Dell he bought in 1999 and he didn't want to have to upgrade both the computer and the software. He was hoping that one of the security boffins on the site could help him find get arounds, we think most of them suggested he buy a gun, a bottle of scotch and head for the library.

According to its web site, Microsoft support for Windows XP SP1 will expire on October 11 2006

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

I have yet to notice any difference in a "supported" microsoft product and an unsupported one with the exception of being able to download the latest patches to the old patches. They do not offer any actual support as in you being able to contact them and get help. All they do is send you to an unqualified dealer such as Dell or HP, etc, refuse to talk to you unless paid and then blame the problem(s) on your hardware, other software or the one patch that for some unknown reason your system won't accept. The ultimate answer is always "reload from scratch" even if the problem started when you "reloaded from scratch". I have to laugh when I hear that non-MS products or OS's are "unsupported". You couldn't be less supported than renting one or more buggy and security challenged MS products for far too much money then being told any problem is yours. They make car salesmen, timeshare salesmen and exchange companies look like amateurs when it comes to ripping off the public. None ot the others have spawned the underserving worlds richest.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Ceasing support of old versions of operating systems and application software is nothing new and certainly isn't restricted to Microsoft. Many software houses will only support the latest version of their software plus the 2 previous versions. In my previous employment I experienced this with IBM and Sage, amongst others. They have to draw a line somewhere or too much of their time would be taken up with supporting antiquated systems.
The lack of support doesn't mean that you can't continue using Windows 98, or 95 for that matter. It simply means that drivers for new products won't be created for them and that new software may not run on the old platforms.

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Personally it amazes me that they supported 98 as long as they did. It was a terrable OS and once you started to patch it it just got worse.
As said by other posters, many software companies only support their latest versions and maybe 1 or 2 revs back. Not that Microsoft is any great company but users should try dealing with a company like CA (Computer Associates) then they will see what non support is really all about.
You can't expect OS support to go on forever, especially when the OS archetecture has changed so much.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

What will happen in 2007 when Micosoft comes out with Vista? Will Microsoft
support XP and Window 2000 ?

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

My guess would certainly be that they won't support anything other than XP and 2000 by that time.

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

I agree with what Keith says they will be supporting XP and 2000 by then,but I think Support for 2000 will be in "the days are numbered" category.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

When Vista is finally launched it wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft actually turned round and said they would only be actively supporting XP. Even then probably restricting support to systems fully patched with the latest Service Pack. Win 2k will be 7 years old or more by then. That is positively geriatric in operating system terms.
Microsoft's policy historically has been current OS plus 2, but new OS were coming out every couple of years at that time. We had Win95, Win98, WinME and Win2k all in the space of about 5 years. XP has been out for roughly that long now.