Heads up Windows XP users

[mazinz]

I loved Xp but I bought a NON OEM windows 7 ultimate and I am glad I did. Right now I have that up as my main OS and my win xp Hdds as the "slaves". However the main issue you need to be concerned with for Win Xp after the support stops is what hackers call "zero day exploits". These are holes in the software that are not exploited at all previously and technically then possibly unknown to Microsoft. So once support stops, hackers can then use these previously unknown exploits to get in your system easily since no security patch will be made for said exploit

Not saying it will happen, but it is a concern. The closest to Xp is Win 7. Win 8 is doing horrible and Microsoft is already working with a Win 9 which may be closer to a desktop again than some tablet crap like win 8 is

and of course if you do need XP for some softeware that does not work right in Win 7 or 8- you can also use VMware or Virtual PC to still continue and run those older OS systems for the software that you need

[Sideshow Spock]

My wife's desktop is an XP and we've never had any serious problems with it.. but a few months ago update completely stopped working. Spent an hour unsuccessfully trying to figure out the problem.

So for us, support has already ended..

[ubermanx]

Megoapesnut, glad you know my "momma" and my diaper changing routine so well.

You win. Your ePeen is bigger than mine and I am going back to playing World of Warcraft now.

Cheers

[megoapesnut]

I apologize for coming on strong and semi-hijacking the thread. Props to the guys for ignoring me and continuing their conversation. I get sick of hearing the "drink the kool-aid" and "fanboy" comments. I use Apple products because they WORK, and I don't have the hassles that everyone is describing in this thread. I couldn't care less what other people think and/or use. 99% of the time, I am in the minority (Betamax, Laserdisc, etc.) with the stuff I like and prefer to use. Here is the one time I use a product that is popular and I get to hear the fanboy comments continuously. Anyway, that's my problem and not anyone here so I apologize once again and I will refrain from reading any threads regarding Windows so I don't see the comments.

[Figuremod73]

I wouldnt mind getting a Apple Mac its just they are a little steep pricewise. If I did it would be an older one.

Like mazinz said, they gotta do better than Win 8, I didnt like it either. Alot of people try to ride out the OS their using for as long as they can, its usually once they get a new PC.

[Mego Magyar]

My wife's desktop is an XP and we've never had any serious problems with it.. but a few months ago update completely stopped working. Spent an hour unsuccessfully trying to figure out the problem.

So for us, support has already ended..

I've ran into this with a laptop, make sure that you have the browser Explorer 8 installed. That solved my issue with it not wanting to update.

[Sideshow Spock]

I've ran into this with a laptop, make sure that you have the browser Explorer 8 installed. That solved my issue with it not wanting to update.

Thanks for the tip.. I'll have to double check it later, but I think she does have the latest IE you can have on XP.

[WannabeMego]

Rumors are that Microsoft will be giving away, for FREE, a watered-down version of Windows 8.1 to folks so they can upgrade their Windows XP Systems...and no, this is not a joke.

[ShadowAvenger]

Rumors are that Microsoft will be giving away, for FREE, a watered-down version of Windows 8.1 to folks so they can upgrade their Windows XP Systems...and no, this is not a joke.

I really so because I really do not have the funds for a new system right now.

[Starroid Raiders Dagon]

Yeah, I hope this is the case as well. I had a quick look at conversion to Microsoft 7 and it looks like it is going to be a pain, so a free version would offset the cost of me buying another external drive for backup.

[ubermanx]

Rumors are that Microsoft will be giving away, for FREE, a watered-down version of Windows 8.1 to folks so they can upgrade their Windows XP Systems...and no, this is not a joke.

Microsoft did something similar when Windows 98 was phased out called "Windows for Legacy Devices". So I can see them doing this again.

- Marty

P.S. Not to refuel the Apple nonsense that I helped inflame but ... even Apple doesn't believe that Macs don't get viruses apple drops claim that macs dont get viruses. Again, I like Macs, use them all the time, and they are definitely less prone to malware nonsense than Windows XP computers but if your mantra is "Apples don't get viruses" then you are ill informed.

[Sideshow Spock]

My wife's desktop is an XP and we've never had any serious problems with it.. but a few months ago update completely stopped working. Spent an hour unsuccessfully trying to figure out the problem. So for us, support has already ended..

Finally got Windows Update working again. Turns out the Background Intelligent Transfer Service had disappeared from Services for some reason. I had to jump thru some hoops to add it back in and get it running again.

Just in time for End of Support!

[megoapesnut]

P.S. Not to refuel the Apple nonsense that I helped inflame but ... even Apple doesn't believe that Macs don't get viruses apple drops claim that macs dont get viruses. Again, I like Macs, use them all the time, and they are definitely less prone to malware nonsense than Windows XP computers but if your mantra is "Apples don't get viruses" then you are ill informed.

Ah, you didn't inflame it. That was me being an ***. And you are correct. Apple's OS is not virus proof. It can get spyware, viruses, etc.

[Gorn Captain]

As my PC is 15 years old, I'm just going to go oldschool, pull the plug on my PC in a couple of days, and return when I have some money to buy a new one. Let's see if I can live without computers for a while.
Read books, listen to music. Create great art. Meet interesting people.
If you need me, I love getting letters...

[mazinz]

if you have win 7 you can still do Microsoft's virtual PC and download a fully legit and free win XP pro from them. I first updated my regular XP hdd, but on my win 7 setup I got it going with their virtual pc setup and have that one as well fully updated. Even though it stops on April 8th, they sometimes will sneak an update here and there for like the next few weeks after, or if some loophole or virus threat is great enough, they have sometimes been known to make updates for no longer supported systems