Microsoft ending support for Windows 95, Windows 98

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_494128,0003.htm

Microsoft ending support for Windows 95, Windows 98
Press Trust of India
Redmond, December 13

Microsoft Corp will stop offering support services next month for computer users whose machines are still running Windows 95 and Windows 98, though the company said it might still release security patches if threats appear serious enough.

About 20 per cent of all Windows-based computers in the United States still run Windows 95 or 98, according to International Data Corp., a technology market research firm.

People with those machines no longer will be able to call Microsoft for help after January 16.

Online assistance will still be available for Windows 98, but Microsoft spokesman Matt Pilla would not say whether it will continue for Windows 95. He said only that it is possible.

Analysts said the support phase - out should not cause major problems, in part because businesses -- the largest segment of the PC market -- generally upgrade their computers every three to five years.

"I don't think anybody's freaking out about it," said Jupiter Research analyst Joe Wilcox. "One, the operating systems are very old and I don't believe a large number of businesses are using (them) in critical areas. Two ... There's an ample warning that these products are end-of-life."