PSA: Mainstream Support for Windows Vista Ends Today

If you're still using Windows Vista on your PC, you might like to know that today is the last day of Mainstream Support for the operating system. Released in 2006 as a follow-on to Microsoft's hugely successful Windows XP, Vista never achieved the blockbuster status of its predecessor. Today, the operating system inched a little closer to obsolescence as Mainstream Support for the software ended.

Now, if you're still running Vista, there's no need to panic. Just because Mainstream Support has ended, that doesn't mean you'll no longer receive support of any kind from Redmond. Mary Jo Foley reports that though today marks the day of free and regular updates, including both security fixes and other patches for Vista, the OS is now into what's called Extended Support. Extended Support offers free security updates while most other updates are available for a fee.

Mainstream support for Windows XP ended in 2009. The OS has been in Extended Support since then and will remain supported until April 2014. Windows Vista users will enjoy Extended Support until April of 2017.

Follow @JaneMcEntegart on Twitter.

Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.