Well, it was fun while it lasted. But it looks like another Windows version is coming to a close.

Microsoft has issued the Update Rollup for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 in lieu of the originally planned Service Pack 5. This marks the final substantive update for the venerable (and popular) operating system, as it will be moving from Active Support to Extended Support effective tomorrow (June 30). The Update Rollup contains all security updates issued since the release of SP4 along with other patches that “help increase system security and reliability” as well as adding support for the “current generation” of hardware.

Extended Support means that the OS will not be getting any additional new features (or new applications such as Internet Explorer 7). However, Microsoft will continue to release securty patches as needed, and if you are using Windows Update on your Win2K box, those updates will continue to be download and installed automatically. In addition, technical support will still be available through the end of the Extended Support period (June 2010) for a US$35 per incident charge. [Read the rest]