OSZone, one of Russia's largest IT portals, is discontinuing its activities. Effective August 1, 2025, the resource will transition to "read-only" mode, and in September, the server will be permanently shut down.

OSZone was launched in late 2001 as a platform to assist users of Windows operating systems. By 2003-2004, it had evolved into a significant Runet resource (i.e., one of the largest and most popular websites catering to Russian-speaking internet users) with a daily audience of up to 300,000 people.

The portal's popularity stemmed from its unique content, including guides for Windows automated installation, diagnostics for "blue screens of death," and standalone update packages (such as UpdatePack-XP and UpdatePack7R2). The website was renowned for having one of the best teams for remote Windows diagnostics among Russian-language internet resources.

The decision to close is attributed to several factors: increased financial costs for server maintenance, vulnerabilities in its outdated engine, and the administration's unwillingness to risk potential illegal content placement or hacking.

ORIENT