2006-07-11 The support for Windows 98 and ME ends finally

After the 11th of July Microsoft stopps the support for the Windows-version 98 and ME (Minnennium Edition).

From the Microsoft Security Response Center is to hear that it will not give an actualization for Windows 98/ME. Afterwards it will give also no security-updates. It is recommended that the users are to use now Windows XP – a strategical unwise idea, which maybe could cost for Microsoft some clients. It would be surely more meaningful to wait with the termination of Windows 98 until a market-suited version of Windows Vista is available.

The most important points and data concerning the support-termination of Windows 98 and ME.

• telephone-support with costs for Windows 98, Windows98 Second Edition (SE) and Windows Millennium is available until the 30th of Jnue 2006.
• on the Windows-update-page are the critical safety updates until the 30^th of June 2006 available.
• Over the existing support-agreement the client can request for safety-updates, which are not critical for Windows 98, Windows 98 SE und Windows ME, and the latest corresponding components. Microsoft checks the requests and makes a suitable solution available.
• For the existing safety-sensitivities in Windows 98, Windows 98 SE and Windows ME are the downloads of safety-updates available unitl the 30the of June 2006 without costs over the normal support-channels.
• The cost-free telephone-support as far as the extended Hotfix-support for Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE will finish at the 30^th of June 2006.
• The cost-free telephone-support as far as the extended Hotfix-support for Windows ME will finish at the 31th of December 2003.
• The online-services (for example knowledge-base or newsgroups) are available until at least the 30^th of 2007.