In 2010, we’ll be retiring Windows Live Events and allow you instead to plan and manage social events all in one place through Windows Live Calendar.

Here are answers to a few questions you may have about this transition.

Q.  I use Windows Live Events. What does this mean for me?

A.  We understand that many of you have already been using Windows Live Events for a while, and so you may have some concerns. To make sure you have time to save any photos or files that are stored with your events, we’ll be retiring Events in phases.

Starting in early September, 2009, you won’t be able to create new events using Windows Live Events. You’ll still be able to access and edit your existing events until 2010, and we encourage you to save your photos and files from your existing events before then. Here’s how:

Saving photos

Go to http://events.live.com and sign in with your Windows Live ID. Click View your events at the top of the page. Click the event you want to save photos from. and then click the Photos link on the left side of the event page. Select the photo album that you want to save, and then click More at the top of the page. In the More dropdown menu, click Download, and then click Download with Photo Gallery. Select the photos that you want to save, and then click Download.

Saving files

Click the SkyDrive link on the left side of each event page. Select the Documents folder. Click the specific file that you want to download. Click Download, and then open the file or save it to your computer.

And here’s a video to walk you through the steps:

In 2010, we’ll retire Windows Live Events entirely. At that time, you will no longer be able to get to any of your old events, and you won’t be able to download and save old event photos and videos.

Q.  How can I create new events on Windows Live after Windows Live Events retires?

A.  You can use Windows Live Calendar to create, plan, and manage events and invite friends and family all from one place—and you don’t need to wait for Windows Live Events to retire! You can check out these step–by-step instructions, or watch this video that shows how easy it is to create an event in Calendar:

We’ll continue to update you through this blog as well as through e-mail as we get closer to the actual Events retirement date. Thanks to all of you who’ve used Windows Live Events, and we’re looking forward to creating new features in Windows Live Calendar that’ll help you plan and manage your events.

- The Windows Live team