Mainstream support for Windows XP SP3 ends April 14, 2010
Mainstream support, which includes incident support, security update support, and non-security hot fixes for Windows XP SP3 ends April 14, 2010
Time to Upgrade to Microsoft Windows 7!!! Let the Madness begin!!!
Microsoft Support Lifecycle
Time to Upgrade to Microsoft Windows 7!!! Let the Madness begin!!!
Microsoft Support Lifecycle
CompTIA A+ (2009 Edition) | CompTIA Network + (2009 Edition) | CompTIA Security + (2008 Edition) | CASP | CCDA | CCNA | CCNAS | CCNAV | CCDP | CCNP | CCNP:Security | MCTS | MCP | MCSA | MCSE | MCITP:EA | ITIL v3 Foundation 8)
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So, I went to the page you linked to and saw absolutely nothing about support for Windows XP SP3 ending. In fact, support for Service Pack 2 is active until July. You can update your information with the link below:
Microsoft Pledges Windows XP Support Through 2014 -- Microsoft -- InformationWeek
In progress: MCSA (70-290 & 70-291), CCENT, CCA XenDesktop 5
Status of your Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) credential
Our records show you earned a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) credential. Even though your certification is still relevant, its value in the marketplace may decline as companies standardize on Windows 7.
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¹ Mainstream support, which includes incident support, security update support, and non-security hot fixes for Windows XP SP3 ends April 14, 2010. View lifecycle for Windows. Learn more about Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy.
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So. Seeing that you're not only a MSCA, but an MSCE and MCITP certified, is it possible that the information that you received as an MSCA is outdated? The article I linked you to is dated June 28th, 2008. Some highlights for you:
"In an unprecedented move, Microsoft has committed to providing support services for its soon to be retired Windows XP through 2014 -- a full 13 years after the operating system was originally released."
"...Microsoft will continue to make Windows XP available to manufacturers of low-cost PCs incapable of running Vista through June 2010."
Mainstream support may have initially been scheduled for expiration in April 2010, but then something happened: Vista failed monumentally.
In progress: MCSA (70-290 & 70-291), CCENT, CCA XenDesktop 5
I received the same message as IT_Fan on the 15th of Feb, 2010. I believe it more likely that the link you posted has not been updated or that MS is simply so large that one hand does not know what the other hand is doing...
11. Who can receive support in the Extended Support phase?
Extended Support will be available to all customers*. Extended Support includes paid support (support that is charged on an hourly basis or per incident), security update support at no additional cost, and paid hotfix support. To receive hotfix support, an Extended Hotfix Support contract must be purchased within the first 90 days following the end of the Mainstream Support phase. Microsoft will not accept requests for warranty support, design changes, or new features during the Extended Support phase.
* Extended Support is not offered for Consumer, Hardware, or Multimedia products
17. What is the Security Update policy?
Microsoft has not changed its Security Update policy:
Business and Development software
Security updates will be available through the end of the Extended Support phase (five years of Mainstream Support plus five years of the Extended Support) at no additional cost for most products. Security updates will be posted on the Microsoft Update Web site during both the Mainstream and the Extended Support phase.
Consumer, Hardware, and Multimedia products
Security updates will be available through the end of the Mainstream Support phase.
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy
this never got answered. Why would you stop since you have 271. You are looking at two exams no matter what you do. Take the 272 for your MCDST and then upgrade to vista with 621. You will end up with three certs if I am not mistaken. There are millions of XP business licenses that will be looking for people with experience on both. Then there is an upgrade to win7 which is just out or will be very soon. Wait let me double check somthing....
Yes I had to find Trika of Microsoft's message from the partner blog. The important lines
"When you pass 70-621 you earn MCITP: Enterprise Support and MCTS: Vista. Passing 70-620 earns MCTS: Vista. By transitive property (?) we could equate the skill sets demonstrated by 70-621 and 70-620."
What that means is you can plug 621 in anyplace 620 is called for and upgrade your MCDST at the same time. It did work for me according to my transcript; I look at it sometimes and just draw a blank. Microsoft has so many cert titles now it is terribly confusing. Microsoft, Cisco, Juniper and CompTIA all have their own merry-go-round tokens; don't want to even think about security certs.
HTH
here is the backup for your position. From the March 1 MS OEM partner newsletter
Before anyone panics these are versions that they are killing NOT the entire OS. XP SP3 and Vista SP2 are still golden. The first line of the quote above is a link to a PDF. It is port 443 so I will just clip the important part.
If anyone is getting the right dates you can be sure it is marketing and reseller newsletters.
Selling Vista pre-installed will continue until Oct 2011, two years after win 7 RTM. Retail versions will probably continue for a while after that. That falls in line with the typical 18 month evaluation cycle for a new OS before mass rollout. So those that decide against Win7 can still get Vista on their Dell's HP's Toshiba's etc. even downgrade to XP SP3 if they wish and hope the next new thing ships before 2014.
anyhow just a little more sauce for the goose before it is cooked.