As of October 11, 2006, Microsoft will no longer support Windows XP SP1 and SP1a with security updates, although the day before it issued patches for multiple vulnerabilities affecting the operating system, 2 of which were judged “critical.”
Under Microsoft’s current lifecycle policy, it promises to support Service Packs with security updates for 12-24 months after the release of a succeeding Service Pack. Windows XP as a whole will age out of support only after two years have passed from the time Windows Vista is officially released.
Windows XP SP2, the free-of-charge update first issued in 2004, can be downloaded from the Microsoft Web site.
