The Verse - Volume 16

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Tech Tips: The End of NT

We all have heard the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” While this usually is a good rule of thumb, sometimes this can be extremely risky. Many times small businesses are reluctant to spend on upgrades when existing technology still works. One such risky case is those businesses still using Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 as their network operating system. Since is no longer supported by Microsoft, the lack of an available security patch or bug fix exposes companies to unfixable problems.

The Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 family of operating systems entered the marketplace in September 1996. Nine years after its introduction, Windows NT Server 4.0 is now fully retired.

Starting in October 2001 and finishing in July 2003, Windows NT Server 4.0 was no longer available for purchase through Microsoft’s various purchasing programs.

In January 2004, non-security hotfixes were no longer available. One year later, Pay-per-incident and Premier Support were no longer available, along with security hotfixes.

Windows NT got its name, in part, from the "new technology" in the 32-bit operating system, which was designed for client-server networks. But NT is now almost ten years old. “Since computer technology changes so quickly, running a network on NT is the equivalent of using a telegraph instead of a cell phone,” according to technology expertArt Vandelay.

He continued, “For improved security, compatability with current hardware and software and availability of support, anyone who is still using Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 as their network operating system should immediately upgrade to Windows 2003 Server.”