Skip the navigation
News

Microsoft delays Windows XP update to 2008

Third service pack now expected nearly four years after SP2

By Eric Lai
October 24, 2006 12:00 PM ET

Computerworld - Microsoft Corp. has let the planned shipment date for its Service Pack 3 update to Windows XP slip again, this time to the first half of 2008.

Windows XP SP3, which is scheduled to include security patches, bug fixes and other housekeeping updates as well as some new add-ons, was until recently scheduled for release sometime next year.

But Microsoft updated the information about SP3 on its Windows Service Pack Road Map Web site last week. According to the Web site, SP3 now is planned for a 2008 release for both the Home and Professional editions of Windows XP. Microsoft noted that even the new date "is preliminary."

If Microsoft does meet its new schedule, SP3 will arrive almost four years after the company released Windows XP SP2 in August 2004. In addition, the new service pack would become available more than a year after the release of XP's successor, Windows Vista, which is due later this year for corporate users and in early 2007 for home users.

Typical intervals between service pack releases for Windows are one to two years.

An unofficial preview of SP3 surfaced on the Web a year ago, although at that time, Microsoft said it still hadn't even decided whether it would release another service pack for XP (see "Windows XP SP3 preview surfaces on Web").

Microsoft officials couldn't be reached for comment today on the new release schedule for SP3. The company also has moved back the release date of SP2 for Windows Server 2003 from late this year to the first quarter of next year.

Reaction on the Web to the change in plans for the XP update ranged from users who said the delay is a natural outgrowth of Microsoft focusing its resources on last-minute Vista development to others who claimed that it is an attempt by the software vendor to push customers running XP to upgrade to Vista.

Read more about Applications in Computerworld's Applications Topic Center.



Additional Resources
Forrester Consulting - Optimizing Users and Applications in a Mobile World
WHITE PAPER
Solving application issues over the WAN requires careful consideration. Based on their independent research, Forrester Consulting offers recommendations on how to tackle application performance issues, insufficient bandwidth and the inability to quickly restore users in a disaster.

Read now.

Security KnowledgeVault
WHITE PAPER
Security is not an option. This KnowledgeVault Series offers professional advice how to be proactive in the fight against cybercrimes and multi-layered security threats; how to adopt a holistic approach to protecting and managing data; and how to hire a qualified security assessor. Make security your Number 1 priority.

Read now.

Cut Communications Costs Once and for All
WHITE PAPER
New IP-based communications systems are being deployed by small and midsized businesses at a rapid rate. Learn how these organizations are enabling faster responsiveness, creating better customer experiences, speeding office or mobile interactions, and dramatically reducing existing communications costs.

Read now.

Applications White Papers
Forrester Total Economic Impact (TEI) Case Study - Oracle
In this paper, Forrester Consulting examines the total economic impact and potential return on investment (ROI) realized by three Enterprise organizations as they...
The Hidden Truth About Virtualizing Business-Critical Applications
This IDG whitepaper highlights key findings based on the Quickpoll Survey conducted with more than 300 Enterprise and Commercial IT decision makers worldwide...
Top 10 Myths About Virtualizing Business-Critical Applications
Even though virtualization has brought positive change to enterprise IT over the last decade, some skepticism remains about how valuable virtualization can be...
Enterprise Java Applications on VMware: Unix to Linux Migration Guide
This guide focuses on key considerations for IT Architects who are in the process of migrating Java applications from UNIX to Linux as...
Virtualizing Tier 1 Applications: A Critical Step on the Journey Toward the Private Cloud  
This IDC white paper explains how much of the Enterprise IT community is at a crossroads in extending their journey to the private...
All Applications White Papers
Applications Webcasts
Live Webcast
Banish Poor Application Performance: Eliminate Business Disruptions, Increase End User Productivity
End User Experience, 30-Min Webinar
Wed. Feb. 22nd ~ 11 AM ET

Are you ready to gain the proactive ability to rapidly respond...
Apps QuickStart Series Part 2: Designing and Deploying SQL Server on VMware vSphere
Download this webcast to learn about the design considerations for virtualizing SQL workloads, performance and scalability information and high-availability options, as well as...
Apps QuickStart Series Part 1: Designing and Deploying Exchange 2010 on VMware vSphere
Download this webcast to learn the virtual hardware design considerations for Exchange 2010, deployment using the building block approach, options for high-availability and...
Virtualize Business-Critical Applications with Confidence
Virtualizing business-critical applications has become a key focus for organizations as they move along their virtualization journey. With the launch of VMware vSphere®...
Discover the Benefits of Virtualization for Federal Applications
Want to say goodbye to missed SLAs? VMware can help you virtualize mission-critical applications such as Oracle, MS Exchange and SharePoint to achieve...
Reduce Application Lifecycle Management Costs with VMware ThinApp
Traditional desktop application deployment and management is a time-consuming and costly endeavor for IT. From development to deployment, including help desk support, the...
All Applications Webcasts
Newsletter Sign-Up

Receive the latest news test, reviews and trends on your favorite technology topics

Choose a newsletter
  1. View all newsletters | Privacy Policy
IT Jobs