Mainstream Windows 7 Support Deadline Approaching

Most of you might be pretty much aware about the end of support for Windows XP, the aging Microsoft Windows Operating System. But, you might be surprised to know that even Windows 7 support is about to end next year. Microsoft will end their mainstream support for all versions of Windows 7 on January 13, 2015. However, it is quite different from what happened with Windows XP support.

Now, it has not been long since the Windows XP End of Support, now the software maker has announced the end of mainstream support for Windows 7 and some other Microsoft products. You will be hearing lot more deadlines from now on.

You need to know that what happened with Windows XP is something different. It is as if Microsoft has totally abandoned the operating system. There is no support being offered, whatsoever, which means there is no use calling Windows support number when you have any technical issues concerning Windows XP. You will not be receiving any kind of official support. When it comes to the loss of support, which looms for Windows 7, the company means just end of mainstream support only.

There are three kinds of support end dates that the software giant offers for all their products. First is mainstream support deadline and then for the extended support and finally the End of Support.

Mainstream support involves tech services, which are offered during the first five years of the product. This includes all kinds of security updates, non-security hot fixes and free technical support covered by the software product license and feature updates.

With the end of mainstream support, the product goes into support period known as extended support. In this type of support, except for the security updates, there will be no other offerings.

Actually, for most businesses and consumers, end of mainstream support may not be a worrisome thing. The only thing is after January they would have to pay the software maker when they call Windows support number for help whenever they request for it.

Now, the major problem is actually when the company totally discontinues all kinds of support for a product. This means you will no longer be able to avail any support facilities offered by Microsoft. Your system will be exposed to serious vulnerabilities if you continue using that product even after the end of support period.

So, for now, Windows 7 users need not worry. Even if the mainstream support ends, the extended support will continue for another five years.

Tips And Tricks To Get The Most Out Of Microsoft Office

The Microsoft help forum tips that are shared below will help you get the most out of the Microsoft Office suite. Read ahead to know more on these tips and tricks.

Tips And Tricks

• The users can zoom in and out of the Word documents quickly using the scroll button on the mouse. To do this, you just have to hold down the Ctrl key and then roll the wheel forward to zoom in the document. If you wish to zoom out, you can roll the scroll wheel back to shrink the document. 
• Another tip is to hold down the Shift key while selecting the File menu in Word (or in the Outlook program while you are composing an email message). This will change the menu options. You will get handy options to Save All and Close All the open files in Word program. In the Microsoft Excel program, you will get a Close All option, not a Save All. 
• If you are trying to make a numbered or bulleted list in the Word or PowerPoint program, you may want an item to appear on the list without a bullet or number prefix. You will be able to start a new line without bullets or numbers by pressing Shift and Enter keys together. The next time the user presses the Enter key, the new line will continue the numbered or bulleted list. In the Excel program, the user can press Alt and Enter keys simultaneously to start a new line inside a cell. 
• Format Painter is one of the much-overlooked features in the Microsoft Office program. This icon is present in the upper part of the window and has a little paintbrush on it. Once this feature is selected, it can make the user a copy of the text that the cursor has selected. 
• When the users copy text from the Internet or some other document into a Word file, the Word program will reproduce the typeface, font size and color that is displayed in the original document. If you wish the pasted text to match the formatting in the destination document, you can make use of Edit | Paste Special and then choose Unformatted Text. 
• You can also make use of the shortcut keys in the Office suite. There is a big collection of these keys that can make your task much easy.

These are some of the tips to make working with Microsoft Office much easy. If you wish to get more tips, you can visit the Microsoft help forum.