Linux Mint Forums

what exactly happens when a version is classed obsolite or no longer supported?
I have played around with older versions and find I can still get updates and downloads, I loved Mint 9 and on some of my machines I see no reason to change it unless I really have to

Mint 9 LTS goes end of life in about a month. Within a couple of months after that, the Mint 9 repositories will be shut down and updates will no longer be available. Since many things like Chrome, Firefox, etc. can provide newer versions via PPA's or direct downloads it may be a little longer that you can keep Mint 9 running. The big problem will be that security updates from Mint and Ubuntu will no longer be available.

I've got a laptop that is running Mint 5 Daryna LTS

it's support cycle ceased some four years ago.
but:- the PC still works, just fine.
I've had to manually update Firefox, but that's all.
there is no reason to update OOo or anything else, for that matter.

the same will apply to Mint 9 Isadora LTS, when it expires this year.
- it's just that there will be no more security updates, anymore,
but unlike a M$ O/S - that's no biggie.

it'll still be quite useable .. ..

Its is just safer if you connected to the internet with the machine especially at work to rather keep a version that is supported.
Most people use Linux because it is so secure, if you do not wont to go with the trouble by installing a new operating system every time, make use of a rolling release like LMDE. If is very stable and secure which makes it even better.