Editing Windows 98 (section)

==Support lifecycle==
Computers running Windows 98 can be directly upgraded to Windows XP, providing they meet the requirements for Windows XP. Support for Windows 98 under Microsoft's consumer product life cycle policy was originally planned to end on June 30, 2003,<ref name="w98cycle1">{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycleconsumer.mspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021211153658/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycleconsumer.mspx|archive-date=2002-12-11|title=Windows Desktop Product Life Cycle Support and Availability Policies for Consumers|website=www.microsoft.com|access-date=April 25, 2021}}</ref> however, in December 2002,<ref name="w98upd2k6faq">{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/gp/lifewinextndfaq|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306080804/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/gp/lifewinextndfaq|archive-date=2016-03-06|title=Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Support Extended @ Archive.org|website=support.microsoft.com|access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref> Microsoft extended the support window to January 16, 2004.<ref name="w98cycle2">{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/lifecycleconsumer.mspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030224124551/http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/lifecycleconsumer.mspx|archive-date=2003-02-24|title=Windows Desktop Product Life Cycle Support and Availability Policies for Consumers|website=www.microsoft.com|access-date=April 25, 2021}}</ref> This date would then be extended again to June 30, 2006 on January 13, 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240054102/Microsoft-extends-Win-98-and-ME-support-to-2006|title=Microsoft extends Win 98 and ME support to 2006|website=www.computerweekly.com|access-date=April 25, 2021|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425091300/https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240054102/Microsoft-extends-Win-98-and-ME-support-to-2006|url-status=live}}</ref> up to a final end of support date of July 11, 2006,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://microsoft.com/windows/support/endofsupport.mspx|title=Windows End of support for Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows XP Service Pack 1|access-date=August 24, 2020|publisher=Microsoft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121152144/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/support/endofsupport.mspx|archive-date=2006-11-21|url-status=dead}}</ref> citing support volumes in emerging markets as the reason for the extension.<ref name="w98upd2k6faq"/>

Retail availability for Windows 98 ended on June 30, 2002,<ref name="w98cycle2"/> and later became completely unavailable from Microsoft in any form (through [[Microsoft_Developer_Network#Software_subscriptions|MSDN]] or otherwise) due to the terms of Java-related settlements Microsoft made with Sun Microsystems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ff723773.aspx|title=What products are included with MSDN subscriptions?|work=[[Microsoft Developer Network]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829015218/https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ff723773.aspx|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref>

In 2011, Microsoft retired the Windows Update v4 website.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2023-07-10 |title=Windows 95, 98, and other decrepit versions can grab online updates again |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/windows-95-98-and-other-decrepit-versions-can-grab-online-updates-again/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us}}</ref> An independent project named Windows Update Restored aims to restore the Windows Update websites for older versions of Windows, including Windows 98.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyson |first=Mark |date=2023-07-09 |title='Windows Update Restored' Site Provides Updates for Classic Windows Versions |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/windows-update-restored-site-provides-updates-for-classic-windows-versions |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Tom's Hardware]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />