Microsoft shuts down Windows 98....

[Neil]

Microsoft is urging an estimated 70 million users of Windows 98 to upgrade as it ends support for the software.

From 11 July, Microsoft will no longer help users over the phone with any problems they have with the ageing operating system.

The firm will also stop providing security updates for Windows 98 from the same date.

Support for the software was originally due to end in 2003, but was extended following customer protests.

Shutting down

Products affected by closing down the support system include Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me (Millennium Edition). Analyst firm IDC believes that more than 70 million users will be hit by the change.

The majority of these people are likely to be using the operating system at home, as by now most large businesses have phased out machines running the software. Many small firms are also believed to be users of the product.

Microsoft ended free support for this trio of products in late 2003 but continued to offer paid support and provide critical security updates. This too will now stop.

The change means that those still using Windows 98 and Me after 11 July could become more vulnerable to many security risks, as bug fixes for loopholes exploited by hackers will no longer become available.

In a statement Microsoft said it was "ending support for these products because they are outdated and these older operating systems can expose customers to security risks".

Mikko Hyponnen from Finnish security firm F-Secure said that it was still providing updates for Windows 98 users who run its anti-virus package.

"In fact, 98 users are not at that great a risk as people might think: most of the new malware we see simply won't run there," he said.

"Nevertheless, if you want to be safe with 98: don't go online. Or upgrade to something that is supported with security patches," he added.

According to computer security firm Secure Science, at least one hi-tech crime gang based in Eastern Europe specialises in Windows 98 and produces viruses that prey on the software's weaknesses.

This is because users of it tend to have little knowledge of potential dangers - and are older, so are more likely to have substantial financial assets worth stealing.

Users of Windows 98 who have problems with the software may find an answer to their query themselves by hunting through the support information collected on the Microsoft website.

The software giant said this data will be kept live until "at least 11 July 2007".

It urged users to upgrade to a more secure operating system, such as Windows XP, as soon as possible.

This could mean buying a new PC for those running a machine bought eight years ago with Windows 98 pre-installed. This is because the hardware specifications for Windows 98 fall far short of the minimum required to run Windows XP.

It may also mean they have to replace or update any peripherals they use with that ageing machine.

The turn off for Windows 98 was originally due to fall in late 2003.

However, protests from many developing regions of the world where, at that time, the software was widely used prompted Microsoft to reverse its decision.

News Source BBC News

[Fourjays Veteran]

Was going to happen sooner or later. Surprises me that so many still use Windows 98 though. Probably not as big as it sounds, when you compare it to the number of XP users though.

[Windam]

98 was a good OS at one point in time. As other OSes have their golden age.

[Orange]

Bout time people upgraded. Like people with Dial up.. get with the times :p

[Rudy]

its about time....98 was pretty bad

[NightmarE D]

Bout time people upgraded. Like people with Dial up.. get with the times :p

Not everyone can get anything higher than dial-up. My girlfriend and her parents for example, live soo far out in Indiana they can only get dial-up that connects at only 28.8kbps. She tried to call around about getting the internet through satellite and can't even get that. Which doesn't make no sense to me seeing how they have satellite TV so you'd think they'd be able to get the internet over it also, but the company said they don't offer it for their area. Now her brother, who lives a 5 minute drive away, goes through the same phone and satellite companies and connects at 56kbps and his satellite offers internet access. Just completely dumb :laugh:

Thank God I live in Northern Kentucky and get high speed.

[aclarke_31]

Well I for one won't upgrade just because Microsoft have battered their eyelids. I've been a solid user of Windows 98 for over 8 years now, and I'm not going to change just because Microsoft say so.

Anyway, with Windows XP selling for over ?200 for an OEM copy in the UK what does Microsoft think everyone that's running Window 98 are going to do?

Rush to the shops to buy Windows XP so they have an up to date system. BLEH !! BULLS**T!

[Miuku.]

what does Microsoft think everyone that's running Window 98 are going to do?

Switch to Linux.

[aclarke_31]

HAHA!!! Yea that sounds about right ;) Everyone start running Linux on their system's where they can't do anything or run any Windows Software without things like Windows Emulators :p

Just goes to prove my point. Thanks daPhoenix :)

[Pc_Madness]

Oh no? Your going to stop providing me phone support... even though I never got phone support to begin with since I was an OEM customer? *tear*

And for those sayin "upgrade", for old people, my old Win98 + P3 700mhz does the job fine. :p

[Miuku.]

Linux on their system's where they can't do anything or run any Windows Software without things like Windows Emulators :p

Except the people would have no need for some of the speciality software that is not available for Linux at the moment.

For 99,9% of computer usage Linux would work just fine.

[aclarke_31]

Yea but what about all my Windows Games !!! >.< Unreal Tournament 2004! My life wouldn't be the same without that. Sure I've got Xbox Live >.< but that's not the point. I still want to be able to have the freedom of playing my Windows Games on a Windows System.

I don't care what Microsoft say..... I ain't upgrading :p

No flippin way :p lol :rotfl:

[Miuku.]

UT2004 is for Linux and Cedega runs a healthy group of games.

On that note, majority of the people who still have Win98 do not play games or if they do, it's undoubtable it's very "top of the line".

[simsie]

My sisters laptop has no chance of Windows XP (windows ME at min). We can't afford to get her a new one either.

[aclarke_31]

Well even if they pull back Windows 98, what the heck am I gonna do with my laptop?

My laptop is an AMD K6/400 with 192 ram??? :-s

I ain't sticking XP on that!!!

[Sirius]

Finally :D

I think they did the right thing :cool: It's time for XP & coming Vista :yes: Keep up people :laugh:

Anyway... You, pre-2000 windows users, can still use 98, 95 or 3.11.. but no updates.. That ain't so bad.

Your just... bigger threat for other users :rolleyes: :whistle:

[oldaccount1]

Your just... bigger threat for other users :rolleyes: :whistle:

:laugh:

[Miuku.]

Your just... bigger threat for other users :rolleyes: :whistle:

Well not necessarily - most of the spy-mal-crapware doesn't work on 98 based kernels anymore. Hence you eliminate a large portion of the hostile programs.

If you use Firefox/Opera combined with a good AV/Firewall you should be quite safe.

[uniacidz]

My other system using XP SP2

Its a 450mhz 364 mb ram system with 4mb onboard graphics.

Runs fine, with classic theme, but is a basic install and tweaked by me and runs great.

[aclarke_31]

Point made. Its needed tweaking and all sort of stuff. By the time you've done all that crap, is it really really worth going out and buying a copy of Windows XP for a laptop over 5 years old?

*Point Made*

[ozgeek]

Guys, Microsoft stopping support of Windows 98 and Me doesn't mean you must buy XP. You can contuine to use 98 or ME for as long as you live but it's strongly recommended that you are in line with the technological advances and buy XP.

Saying that XP will not work on Win-98 shipped computers is not an excuse. You can run XP with it's fancy on on:

500Mhz CPU

256MB RAM

64MB Video card

Sound card

CD-ROM drive

and copies of XP are so cheap now a days that I saw a copy of XP Pro for $99 AU at HN and Officeworks.

[SIE]

Well I for one won't upgrade just because Microsoft have battered their eyelids. I've been a solid user of Windows 98 for over 8 years now, and I'm not going to change just because Microsoft say so.

Anyway, with Windows XP selling for over ?200 for an OEM copy in the UK what does Microsoft think everyone that's running Window 98 are going to do?

Rush to the shops to buy Windows XP so they have an up to date system. BLEH !! BULLS**T!

Over ?200 for an OEM copy???

Last time i looked a copy of XP Home was just over ?50 and Pro was about ?20 more

[Robbie Khan Reviews]

I work in tech support and get calls still from people using Windows 95

yes, I cry...

[Pink Floyd Veteran]

I can understand they want to stop helping people over the phone but they should keep security update from website

[aclarke_31]

Over ?200 for an OEM copy???

Last time i looked a copy of XP Home was just over ?50 and Pro was about ?20 more

Then tell me where I can get a copy of Windows XP Pro OEM (FULLY LEGAL) for ?70