Vista

[wyndham]

Microsoft have announced that they are unlikely to support the home versions of Vista after 10 April 2012.  This is of course subject to review.

This would seem to be commercial sense as Windows 8 is on the horizon.

[Hampshire Lass]

Does this mean that SP2 will no longer be supported after that date?

I just googled and found reference to SP1 support ceasing but that seemed an out of date article.

[Alan b]

This would seem to be commercial sense as Windows 8 is on the horizon.

If true then it isn't good news to those of us that are using this.

They have stopped updating SP1 but not SP2 as far as I can see, do you have a link about this ?

[wyndham]

I would imagine it would include Vista + SP2.

[Hampshire Lass]

I'm not very experienced with computers, if we can no longer get updates does this make us more vulnerable to viruses?    Will there be anything we can do about it or does it ultimately mean getting a new computer?

[Calverley Lad]

I would imagine for Vista Home Version, there is an upgrade option (to be paid for).
(Not knowing what the various version options are, still on XP so have my own problems?)
 Brian

[Hampshire Lass]

Thanks Brian.

It's just that when I bought my computer (from you know where   someone told me that you can't upgrade computers that are bought from you know where.....that seemed illogical to me and I thought it was misinformation.  Now I'm wondering if it could be true but as you say I'm sure we've all got our problems.

Thanks again. HL

[ITBookworm]

I would say that anyone that said you couldn't upgrade a normal PC (wherever it was bought) was talking nonsense!!! Now whether it would be a pain to do the upgrade for whatever reason or work at the speed of the proverbial snail after the upgrade is another matter

It will be possible to do 'something' with the PC. You just need to decide what you want from your PC and what you are willing to spend to achieve that. It might indeed get to the point that you will get a better result, which will last longer, if you get a new computer but NOT a definite requirement.

[Nick29]

I'm not very experienced with computers, if we can no longer get updates does this make us more vulnerable to viruses?    Will there be anything we can do about it or does it ultimately mean getting a new computer?

If you're worried about viruses, get an Anti-Virus program.   Windows does not have and never has had an anti-virus program built-in, so you will be as vulnerable as you've ever been.

Windows withdraws support from its products in 2 stages - the first stage is to stop bringing in product updates.  The second stage is to stop making 'critical' updates - i.e. updates to prevent malicious attacks (back doors).