Microsoft Scraps Plans for Windows 2000 SP5

thumbnail Microsoft Scraps Plans for Windows 2000 SP5

Microsoft Corp. has scrapped plans for Windows 2000 Service Pack 5. Instead, the software giant announced that a Windows 2000 Update Rollup will be released in mid-2005 to replace SP5 as the final security patch for the operating system. According to a message posted on Microsoft’s Windows 2000 site, “The Update Rollup will contain all […]

Written By: Ryan Naraine
Nov 26, 2004
Channel Insider content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Microsoft Corp. has scrapped plans for Windows 2000 Service Pack 5.

Instead, the software giant announced that a Windows 2000 Update Rollup will be released in mid-2005 to replace SP5 as the final security patch for the operating system.

According to a message posted on Microsoft’s Windows 2000 site, “The Update Rollup will contain all security-related updates produced for Windows 2000 between the time SP4 was released and the time when Microsoft finalizes the contents of the Update Rollup. The Update Rollup will also contain a small number of important, non-security updates.”

Windows 2000 remains the most dominant operating system used in the enterprise, but analysts expect corporate migration to Windows XP to speed up once Microsoft’s mainstream support for Windows 2000 expires in June.

Microsoft wrote in the message that the Update Rollup will require less pre-deployment testing for two reasons: the number of updates included in the Update Rollup is significantly lower than the number typically included in a service pack, and Microsoft already will have released most of the contents of the Update Rollup as individual updates and hot fixes.

“Individual hot fixes made since SP4, but not included in the Update Rollup, will remain available via individual downloads,” the site reads. “Customers who have not yet deployed Windows SP4 must deploy that SP4 as soon as possible because SP4 will be a prerequisite for deploying the Update Rollup.”

The Update Rollup is expected to be released as a “critical update” via the Windows Update mechanism.

Microsoft typically uses update rollups to deliver a select group of fixes between service packs or late in a product’s life cycle.

There were three previous instances wherein Microsoft released update rollups for Windows products, including Windows 2000 Security Rollup Package 1 (SRP1) in January 2000 to cover all post-SP2 security patches.

Check out eWEEK.com’s for Microsoft and Windows news, views and analysis.

Recommended for you...

Leadership Roundup: July Adjustments to Executive Benches

July saw major leadership shakeups across the channel, with key C-suite hires at Pipefy, Coro, Snowflake, Chainguard, and more.

Jordan Smith
Aug 1, 2025
July Roundup: AI, Cyber Key to Several M&A Developments

July’s M&A wave spotlighted AI security, with major players like Palo Alto Networks, Darktrace, and TD SYNNEX leading transformative deals.

Jordan Smith
Aug 1, 2025
Lemongrass Debuts Tool to Streamline SAP Clean Core Work

Lemongrass debuts Clean Core AI Accelerator to help SAP users cut complexity, reduce technical debt, and prepare ERP systems for cloud and AI upgrades.

Franklin Okeke
Jul 31, 2025
Trend Micro and Google Cloud Double Down on AI Security

The expanded alliance emphasizes AI-driven defenses, sovereign cloud capabilities, and new anti-scam protections for businesses worldwide.

Allison Francis
Jul 30, 2025
Channel Insider Logo

Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.