Microsoft to end Vista SP1 support July 12

IDG News Service - Microsoft reminded users on Monday that it will stop supporting Windows Vista Service Pack 1 on July 12.

"From that date onward, Microsoft will no longer provide support or free security updates for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)," the company wrote in a blog entry on its TechNet website.

The company recommended users upgrade to Vista Service Pack 2 or Windows 7 to receive continued support and patches. Vista SP2 also includes operating system updates such as a new version of Windows Search, and drivers to support new hardware.

Users can install Vista SP2 using Windows Update, or by manually downloading the 32-bit edition or 64-bit edition of the service pack.

Users must have Windows Vista SP1 installed prior to applying SP2. Further instructions on installing SP2 are available on Microsoft's website.

The end of support for Vista SP2 is April 10, 2012, according to the Windows lifecycle fact sheet web page.

Microsoft initially ended support for Windows Vista without service packs on April 13 last year. Microsoft is still supporting Windows XP SP3 for which support ends on April 8, 2014.