Microsoft Extends Windows 7 Support to 2020, Vista Extends Upto 2017

Microsoft recently extended the lifetime of its operating system, we just reported the Redmond company has pushed an update that extends Windows 8 and Windows 8 Server trial period to another year.

Now, Microsoft has quietly extended its official support for Windows 7. While its mainstream support is still scheduled to end on January 13, 2015, Windows 7's product support page now says it will offer extended support until January 14, 2020.

The Extended Support for Windows is different to the Mainstream Support in that it doesn't include feature updates, security updates. As with the Extended Support, users of Windows 7 can expect to get security patches for the operating system for another eight years but not beyond January 13, 2015.

"With this new support date extension, Microsoft will be offering official support for Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 all at once. Microsoft has been urging businesses who still use Windows XP to upgrade to Windows 7 as soon as possible. Windows XP support will end on April 8, 2014."

Also, the company has extended the support for Windows Vista until 2017 through a update. "Windows Vista would only get five years of support up until April 2012, leaving users without any patches after that date. Now this has date has been pushed back to April 2017 via 'Extended Support.'"

The Extended Support for Windows differs from the Mainstream Support -- meaning after April 2012 (when the Vista's Mainstream Support ends) Microsoft will no longer add any new features to Vista. Also, Extended Support does include security patches though, ensuring that anyone that uses Vista will still remain secure right up until 2017.

For more information, refer to following product support lifecycle articles Windows Vista, and Windows 7.