Microsoft Cans Windows 2000 SP5

According to a posting on Microsoft's Web site, the Update Rollup for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4) will include all the security-related updates produced for the operating system between SP4's release in November, 2003, and when the Redmond, Wash.-based developer finalizes the rollup's contents.

It will also contain "a small number of important non-security updates," said Microsoft.

It's taking the rollup route--which it also used in October 2003 when it released a cumulative collection of security fixes for Windows XP--rather than a service pack, said Microsoft, because the number of not-seen-before updates are few, and Microsoft expects to have released most of them as individual updates prior to the rollup's release.

Since Windows 2000 will be in extended support, users will get security fixes at no charge through June 2010.