Microsoft has announced its
Product Lifecycle Support Policy for Windows 8. Microsoft offers two kinds of supports to the Windows operating systems – the mainstream support, where it releases security as well as performance or maintenance updates and offers general support, and the Extended support where only security updates are released.
Microsoft is offering extended support for its
Windows Vista operating system till April 2017 and
till 2020 for Windows 7.
Windows XP extended support will end according to Microsoft on 8th April 2014.
This post explains in detail the difference between Mainstream Support and Extended Support.
