As planned, Microsoft today ended support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1. This means the software giant will no longer provide any assisted support or security updates. Windows Vista users are thus encouraged to upgrade to Service Pack 2, or move to Windows 7 altogether.

Windows Vista was released on January 1, 2007. SP1 followed on February 4, 2008 and SP2 followed on April 29, 2009. Support for SP2 will end 24 months after SP3 is released (if ever) or at the end of Windows Vista's support lifecycle, whichever comes first.

For most of its software, Microsoft provides Mainstream Support, followed by Extended Support, and finishes with just Self-Help Online Support. Mainstream Support for Windows Vista is scheduled to end April 10, 2012 while Extended Support will end five years after that, on April 11, 2017.

More: http://www.techspot.com/news/44660-microsoft-ends-support-for-windows-vista-sp1.html