Technical Computer Support Tip for November, 2006
It may be time to upgrade your operating system and office programs. If you are still using Microsoft Office 2000 or earlier products, upgrade to XP or Vista and Office 2003 or 2007. You will want to do this because Microsoft has stopped supporting those products completely. If you are running Office 2000 on Windows XP or Windows Media Center Edition you really want to upgrade soon. We've had several reports of updates to the operating system corrupting Outlook 2000 to the point it won't open at all. Microsoft hasn't supported it since July 2004, so they are no help at all in fixing the problem. Upgrading to Office 2003 or 2007 beta fixed the problem in each instance.
Mainstream Phase: Three years after general availability.
Standard support offerings available (e.g. Premier Support, incident support (per warranty), hotfix support, online support information, etc.).
Licenses available in all standard product distribution channels (e.g. direct OEM, authorized OEM distributors, retail, and Volume Licensing programs via licenses or via downgrade rights*).
Extended Phase: Between three and four years after general availability.
In addition to Premier Support, paid incident support, paid hotfix support, and online support information will be available. Licenses only available in the authorized OEM distribution channel and through downgrade rights available in Volume Licensing programs*.
Non-Supported Phase: After four years of general availability.
Online support information will continue to be available. Microsoft may terminate this phase after providing 12 months advanced notice.
Licenses will continue to be available in the authorized OEM distribution channel and through downgrade rights available in Volume Licensing programs*.
Office 2000 and the 2000 Operating system fall into the Non-Supported Phase, as do Windows ME, 98, 95, and Office 97.