Users of Windows XP will need to make sure they have the second service pack installed on their PCs if they want to receive continued support from Microsoft, the company has warned.
As of Tuesday 10 October, Microsoft will not offer any support for Windows XP SP1 (Service Pack 1), meaning that users will have no option but to upgrade.
The second Tuesday of every month is known by Microsoft's observers as 'Patch Tuesday', as the company releases any fixes for flaws in its software that day. It has also chosen that day to end support for SP1.
There's unlikely to be a major outcry among Microsoft's customer base. SP2 is a free download and though there were some compatibility issues early on, most problems were ironed out very quickly.
Back in July of this year, Microsoft ended support for Windows 98 and Windows Me.
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/1173