Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Support

It's the last post from me before today.

FYI, hover over the x minutes/days/months ago in the top right corner of a post and you'll see a date. This only shows the date, so if there's multiple posts from the same day, you'll still have a problem, but it still helps narrow it down.
Hover over the date and it's because of this new forum software.

For anyone still following this thread, I've got some updated info and insight into Webroot's decision making on this issue. I've been speaking to the Level 2 Escalation team who's been helping me on an unrelated issue and this topic came up. They were very helpful and did some research that offered this info and insight. We can't hold them accountable for Webroot's decision making in the future, they don't control that. However, for know, this is how they found out how things work.

First, the Support Rep talked to the Product Managers and found out that Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 will be supported for the rest of 2019 and plan to support into 2020. Obviously, still lock these endpoints down because you're years behind on security updates. However, we at least have an Anti-Virus that supports them still! Thank You Webroot!!! 🎉👏

Second, what happens in 2020? The Support Rep also found out from the Product Managers that Webroot evaluates continuing support for all operating system versions closer to the end of each year. So, they may decide to discontinue support for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 for 2020 close to the end of 2019. All though, if they continue their course as stated in my first point, they will support them at least some of the beginning of 2020.

Wrapping this up, any of us still using older operating systems should let Webroot not only know, but also why you have to use these and can't upgrade. For example:

1. We have two legacy applications that will only run on Windows XP or older OS. Every employee accesses at least one of these apps. We're looking at probably more than half a mil to upgrade the apps and all the workstations.
2. I have a server that runs Windows Server 2003. It has an application on it that needs to be tested on another OS and if it works I can begin the move to the new server. However, I need time and the company that made it no longer exists, so my odds aren't great. If things do work it will take close to a year to set-up the server and move the rest of the assets. Very complex server!
3. We, and I've heard other community members say this, are a manufacturing facility. Think of facilities like @YCGinOR mentioned. We have equipment that is built to run a certain OS. One for us, and this is only one, would cost more than 1.5 mil to replace. Manufacturing equipment isn't cheap and they base the OS on the most stable version they've tested their software on when they install the equipment. This is usually at least a few versions behind and you don't get upgrades because it voids your maintenance contract. Manufacturing equipment vendors are brutal!

Hope this sheds some light on Webroot's practices for deciding what gets supported. I also hope that everyone makes their voice heard, so Webroot knows what and why we need these operating systems protected. Again, thanks to the Support Reps who helped me!

Sincerely,
NicCrockett

Hi 
 
The first question I can answer .  When it gets to the point that we cannot support an older operating system, we would notify all our customers before doing so.
 
The second question is something you'd need to take up with your account manager - that's well outside of my area of responsiblity ;)
 
 
Regards
 
Jonathan
 

It's the last post from me before today.

FYI, hover over the x minutes/days/months ago in the top right corner of a post and you'll see a date. This only shows the date, so if there's multiple posts from the same day, you'll still have a problem, but it still helps narrow it down.

We continue need XP to run legacy 16 bit in-house applications that are prohibitively expensive to port to 32 bit. Please do not make WebRoot depend on newer API calls in Windows 7, 8 and 10 so it can continue to run on XP.  WebRoot does not need these new API bells and whistles, its user interface is fine as it is.

That's great news and thanks for responding!
 
I have a few more questions. We'll be renewing in January for the year. I know that product road maps are always changing. If we get 6 months into our year subscription and you release a version that is no longer capatible:
 
1. Will you let us know ahead of the release, so we can find an alternative product?
2. Give us a prorated (not full) refund for the licenses we no longer need. If we switch to a different product that may mean we want a prorated refund on all our licenses. Not because we don't like you, but because managing one product is easier than managing two. I'm a one person IT department, so anything that saves time is in my best interest. I'd prefer to stay with you guys, but I need support for these OS's.
 
Thanks,
NicCrockett

Which post specifically would you like it adjusted to? I can only see however many months have passed for each post, so I'm not sure which one specifically you're referring to.

Hello @jcail ,

Great question! 

Information for specifications shows this here:

https://docs.webroot.com/us/en/home/wsa_pc_userguide/wsa_pc_userguide.htm#GettingStarted/SystemRequirementsForWindows.htm

But let me ping @freydrew or/and @khumphrey that are the Administrators on the Forum,  might be able to find out for you if Webroot is still supporting Windows XP/2003 for businesses?

 

HTH,

Many thanks to Webroot for continuing to support Windows XP and Server 2003. One of my customers has an old PC that runs an old Biscom faxboard and Faxcom software that needs Server 2003.

Another customer uses Windows XP and some very old software to run a piece of test equipment.

For both customers, the systems still work great, and "it ain't broke so they don't want to fix it". The systems are not used to access the Internet, but they are on the network so they should be protected.

So thanks!!

I agree completely! Webroot Renewals emailed me (renewals@webroot.com) about renewing my subscription. I replied, asking them these questions and pointing them to this thread. They replied on November 1st saying they would "expedite a response" and trying to sell me additional products. As you can see, they haven't replied to this thread and I haven't received any additional emails. However, that was only two weeks ago, so they may need more time to figure out their products future plans. I'll reply to them again and if I hear anything, I'll post it here.

Thanks for all of your help Jonathan! I've contacted who I think is my account manager. Hopefully they are the right person and can help me, or at least point me in the right direction.
 
Those of you following this thread, I'll let you know what I find out.
 
Sincerely,
NicCrockett
 
P.S. Thanks for the kudos!

@LLiddell why did someone other than the original poster, i.e. me, mark a post as the answer? If I was going to mark any post as the answer, it would be the last post I made on December 26th, 2018. It gives other community users a complete answer, not a simple incomplete answer that was marked as the answer. Normally I wouldn't mark my own post as the answer, but I had to research this via the community, support, my account rep, and my reseller's Webroot contact in order to get a complete answer.