Simple answer to a question about the marvelous success of the different versions of Windows operating systems is the ‘very strong and continued professional backup’ to the PC with Windows installed in them from Microsoft. Microsoft has maintained glorious tradition of the support to the different versions of its Windows OS. Now, the similar utmost support to the users of the Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 is also being extended.microsoft

Before going into the details of the support for the Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, let us have a close look upon the support mechanism for the other Windows OS.

Windows Sale Process and its After Sale Service

Microsoft provides many steps of the sale and after sale service for the Windows operating systems which are:

  1. Date of General Availability of the Windows OS for the sale: When the product is officially available for sale.
  2. End date of retail software agreement after the sale tenure is expired: This date is that one when the agreement to use the soft ware is expired and the purchaser loses the legal right to use the software and related services.
  3. End date for the sale of the PCs with Windows OS pre-installed: This date is the date when software developer stops providing the pre-installed Windows operating system to the newer PCs being sold in the market.

After Sale Service

  1. Availability of the last updates of the different service packs, such as, service pack 1, 2 & 3: This service is the part of the after sale service which is either provided in the shape of the service packs or version updates. At his stage, many types of the services are changed, modified and upgraded.
  2. End of mainstream support for the Windows version: This is the support when the major and prime services about the software are stopped for the general and mainstream updates.
  3. End of the extended support: At this juncture, all types of the support is stopped; whether it as service packs, updates or other extended services.

Support Dates for the Different Windows Version

Let’s have a look upon the support services to the different Windows versions, starting from the Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (Home Basic, Home Premium & Ultimate), Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

Windows XPwindows-xp
  • Date of General Availability: December 31, 2001
  • Retail Software End of Sale: June 30, 2008
  • End of Sales of PCs with Windows Pre-installed: October 22, 2010
  • Latest Update or Service Pack: Service Pack 3
  • End of Main Stream Support: April 14, 2009
  • End of Extended Support: April 8, 2014
Windows Vista  windows-vista
  • Date of General Availability: January 30, 2007
  • Retail Software End of Sale: October 22, 2010
  • End of Sales of PCs with Windows Pre-installed: October 22, 2011
  • Latest Update or Service Pack: Service Pack 2
  • End of Main Stream Support: April 10, 2012
  • End of Extended Support: April 11, 2017
Windows 7 (Home Basic, Home Premium & Ultimate)windows-7-ultimate
  • Date of General Availability: October 22, 2009
  • Retail Software End of Sale: October 31, 2013
  • End of Sales of PCs with Windows Pre-installed: October 31, 2014
  • Latest Update or Service Pack: Service Pack 1
  • End of Main Stream Support: January 13, 2015
  • End of Extended Support: January 14, 2020
Windows 7 Professional windows-7prof
  • Date of General Availability: October 22, 2009
  • Retail Software End of Sale: October 31, 2013
  • End of Sales of PCs with Windows Pre-installed: October 31, 2016
  • Latest Update or Service Pack: Service Pack 1
  • End of Main Stream Support: January 13, 2015
  • End of Extended Support: January 14, 2020
Windows 8windows-8
  • Date of General Availability: October 26, 2012
  • Retail Software End of Sale: October 31, 2014
  • End of Sales of PCs with Windows Pre-installed: June 30, 2016
  • Latest Update or Service Pack: Windows 8.1
  • End of Main Stream Support: January 9, 2018
  • End of Extended Support: January 10, 2023
Windows 8.1windows-8-1
  • Date of General Availability: October 18, 2013
  • Retail Software End of Sale: September 1, 2015
  • End of Sales of PCs with Windows Pre-installed: October 31, 2016
  • End of Main Stream Support: January 9, 2018
  • End of Extended Support: January 10, 2023
Windows 10windows-10
  • Date of General Availability: July 29, 2015
  • Retail Software End of Sale: N.A.
  • End of Sales of PCs with Windows Pre-installed: N.A.
  • End of Main Stream Support: October 13, 2020
  • End of Extended Support: October 14, 2025

So, if you are willing to purchase the different versions of the PCs with different versions of pre-installed Windows, see the deadlines of the expiry of the support or the extended support for the specific operating systems.

For the time being, the best option for you to enjoy the extended support for is Windows 10 which can be pre-installed in PCs, available in the market for sale, though, Microsoft technical support for the Windows Vista, Windows 7 and the Windows 8.1 are also available, currently.

Better it is to check the end of the support for the related Windows which is installed in your PC, being purchased by you.

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