Windows XP is a ticking time-bomb with only 500 days to go

The countdown clock has been ticking on Windows XP for a couple of years now, but the end is coming into view. There are only 500 days to go before Microsoft ends its extended support, and that means no more patches and no more security fixes. Given that XP is not exactly famous for its security, this represents a significant risk.

Read more at source:
Windows XP is a ticking time-bomb with only 500 days to go | ZDNet
 
I had XP on my computer before I upgraded to 7, there is a time when you have to sell your antiques, or should I say delete them - life goes on. On another note, you cannot get a better deal on the Windows 8 Upgrade.

d2
 

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System One

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    Windows 8, Window 7, Surface RT
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    Hp dx9000
Hi there
some of the comments listed AFTER the article just show how little supposedly I.T savvy people really know about some businesses even when reading their own press.

You get the usual rants of ignorant people saying why hang on to an OS that's over 10 years old.

A lot of people keep using older OS's because they have some quite specialized hardware which is incredibly expensive to replace (if indeed it can be) and it doesn't work on newer OS's. Not only that the original manufacturer might no longer be in business and there just isn't a cheap affordable alternative.

Some of this hardware is incredibly expensive and not likely to be seen in most people's home set ups. - There's a HUGE amount of older but still used instrumentation kit (e.g spectrum analysers) etc that only runs on XP or even Windows 2000.

Sometimes there are old payroll or other perfectly good legacy systems that still work so an expensive software upgrade isn't needed -- all sorts of VALID reasons why people use an OLD OS. - These systems even if not run as a Virtual machine really don't need to be connected to the Internet anyway or even to a company LAN. Security is an overblown topic here when dealing with legacy stuff like this.

I myself still use an old HP Mechanical plotter --works fine.

XP can be used sensibly for YEARS yet - as a virtual machine it doesn't even NEED to be connected to the Internet so security is a moot point anyway.

With todays hardware even a modest laptop will easily accommodate an XP Virtual machine with almost no loss of resources.

The ZDNET articles I suppose are just "scaremongering" or getting people to spend a lot of unnecessary money on expensive external consultants to do "Last minute" panic upgrades when a Virtual Machine based type of solution could be quicker, cheaper and a lot less painful.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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    1 X LG 40 inch TV
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    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
No offense, but I'm sick of people staying in XP and when I ask why, the person says "XP is far more stable than any other OS in the world".
Too bad my school's computer lab is using Non-genuine XP.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Y520
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 7300HQ
    Motherboard
    OEM Lenovo
    Memory
    4GB DDR4-2400
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
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    Realtek HD
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    1 (2)
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    1920x1080
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    Seagate 1TB 5400 RPM
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    OEM Lenovo
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    Logitech G502 Proteus Core
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    100 Mbps
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    Google Chrome
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    PC:

    AMD Athlon X4 760K
    8GB DDR3-1866
    AMD Radeon RX 460
    Seagate 500 GB 7200 RPM
No offense, but I'm sick of people staying in XP and when I ask why, the person says "XP is far more stable than any other OS in the world".
Too bad my school's computer lab is using Non-genuine XP.


Hi there
I didn't mention anything about the stability or otherwise of XP - my post was simply pointing out that in more cases than people actually realize staying with XP for a while could be a cheap viable option for hardware and software that still requires it and where upgrading either hardware or software or both is totally impracticable for reasons of expense or even feasibility in the short term.

Staying with an outdated OS for the WRONG reasons is just plain BONKERS of course but there are all sorts of cases when it can be the RIGHT reason - companies will change when it suits THEM - not Ms.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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System One

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    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
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    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
XP will always remain a good virtual machine OS, but personally I've upgraded a long time ago. 3 laptops with Vista, 7 and 8 form older to newer.
They all run pretty well.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
Xp was good for my older laptop from 2003, the laptop only had 32mb gpu. It could never handle windows 7, I think xp is a good light weight OS for older hardware. I had a few laptops from 98' that only had a 4mb gpu ! and max ram was 526mb or so. Xp could be put on them but never nothing newer. Xp is a good choice for computers that can't handle newer windows, why throw them away when they can still get work done. I still have some I keep, and someday my new laptop may go down. When it does I can still use those older laptops to get internet, music, videos, until I fix it. Xp is a good backup plan, its easy to get and can run on old computers.
But I'd never put it on a newer computer, it only has Directx 9. Most newer computers have directx 10 or 11 cards, which means you'd be wasting important graphic features by using Xp.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Ideapad Z565
    CPU
    AMD Phenom 2.8ghz dual-core
    Motherboard
    AMD
    Memory
    6.00gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 4200 series
    Hard Drives
    256gb 5400rpm sata
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    standard laptop keyboard
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Wifi
Xp was good for my older laptop from 2003, the laptop only had 32mb gpu. It could never handle windows 7, I think xp is a good light weight OS for older hardware. I had a few laptops from 98' that only had a 4mb gpu ! and max ram was 526mb or so. Xp could be put on them but never nothing newer. Xp is a good choice for computers that can't handle newer windows, why throw them away when they can still get work done. I still have some I keep, and someday my new laptop may go down. When it does I can still use those older laptops to get internet, music, videos, until I fix it. Xp is a good backup plan, its easy to get and can run on old computers.
But I'd never put it on a newer computer, it only has Directx 9. Most newer computers have directx 10 or 11 cards, which means you'd be wasting important graphic features by using Xp.

Hi there
absolutely 100% correct -- you've obviously understood when to deploy this type of stuff -- others will never learn - and if they ever get to run a business they will end up spending 1000's of dollars when not needed.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
My problem with XP luddites are the ones who put it on computers with 4GB or more RAM and/or with multicore CPUs; ESPECIALLY if it's installed on an SSD. Machines that are clearly going to run even better if you put 7 (or 8) on them. XP cannot use more than 3GB of RAM, it cannot efficiently use multicore CPUs, it does not have DirectX 10/11, it has a far worse graphics driver system, its audio system is antiquated and featureless, and it does not have TRIM functions to keep SSD performance optimized. I can't stand when people hold down modern, strong hardware with a 12 year old OS. It just boggles my mind.

Because of XP's 32-bit 4GB limit, it has to share this limit with system caches and video memory. If you have a Core i7 with 8GB of RAM and you get a 2GB nvidia GTX 660+ video card, and you put Windows XP on this? You would have LESS than 2GB of RAM available, period. People actually DO THIS. Their reason? "Oh I'm used to XP. It also runs this old 1998 game I have." So you will murder an expensive, extremely powerful high end system because you're 'used to it' and because it runs ONE old game? THAT is the problem I have with XP diehards. The latter is easily taken care of in a virtual machine or some form of emulation.

I completely understand if it's on some old slow machine using old hardware that can't be replaced. Just keep it off modern (2007+) non-netbook machines. Like others have said, it's also decent for virtualization. Some people will probably say "BUT there's a 64-bit version of XP!!!", and I will say... yeah... it's hardly supported by basically anyone. Windows XP 64-bit would be the WORST choice if you're looking for compatibility or driver support! It'd be a case of "I'm used to it" with "I get to use all my RAM", but nothing more.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-Bit, Ubuntu 13.04 64-Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 950 @ 3ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Sabertooth X58
    Memory
    Crucial 6GB DDR3 1066mhz Triple Channel
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB EVGA GTX 460 SE (Nvidia)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual LG Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080, 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    80GB Intel 320 Series SSD
    640GB WD Caviar Blue
    320GB WD MyBook (converted to Internal SATA)
    1TB Seagate Barracuda
    PSU
    Corsair 650TX 650w
    Case
    CoolerMaster HAF 922
    Keyboard
    Logitech G110
    Mouse
    Logitech G500
    Internet Speed
    20mbps Down, 2mbps Up
Lol finally some people that unstand, I've had some many arguments with people that just don't know about computers and hardware. I tried Xp 64bit once, and foind out there was no graphics driver ever made for it by Amd, big mistake. Its better to stay within the guide lines of what your computer is designed and capable of running. You can go newer, windows 7 to 8, with most computers. By please don't go from 7 to Xp on a new machine. You're selling your computer short like Lazure said.

Older Machines = Xp (Not capable of running Vista, 7, or 8.)
Newer Machines = Vista, 7, 8. (If you like Xp use a Virtual player like VM ware. You will be happy and still get to use your older software.)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Ideapad Z565
    CPU
    AMD Phenom 2.8ghz dual-core
    Motherboard
    AMD
    Memory
    6.00gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 4200 series
    Hard Drives
    256gb 5400rpm sata
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    standard laptop keyboard
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Wifi
64 bit XP is one of my favorites despite the lack of drivers. It has server 2003 kernel and it's flying as a VM.

The 64bit XP was without drivers back in 2007 when I first put it on a Vista laptop. But since then, more drivers became available, even Vista x64 drivers that worked! Then I got all drivers for it. After 3gigs of updates, it becomes too slow (crap) so that's why I prefer it in a small VM and where not all updates need to be installed. For testing environments.

The SSD setup for XP: never tested, I don't know, some tweaks are required. We'll have to leave this setup to Win7/8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
Finally. I blame the fact that they took that long to release windows 7/vista. Windows XP was great but it didn't need to last that long. It was in use even when vista finally decided to arrive. That's one too many years. If vista was more worthwhile of an update maybe it wouldn't have been the case but unfortunately it wasn't. It took them windows 7 for people to even think about upgrading.
 

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Seemed like Xp lasted the longest. I guess what with Ms struggling to finish Vista. Personally I would consider still using Xp, but under the following circumstances.
1. Directx 10 and 11 support.
2. Updated drivers for hardware.
3. New features like Aero and transparency.

Theres probably more, they could of still made Xp great for modern use. If it wasn't about the money making, Ms would still support Xp. But they think if they can push people to upgrade to a new windows instead of just providing updates then that makes more money for them. Updates are free, upgrades cost money. As I remember Vista came out with directx 10, but Ms made a platform update that made vista use dirextx 11. Now if it wasn't about money then I'm sure a platform update could have been made for Xp which could make it directx 10 or 11.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Ideapad Z565
    CPU
    AMD Phenom 2.8ghz dual-core
    Motherboard
    AMD
    Memory
    6.00gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 4200 series
    Hard Drives
    256gb 5400rpm sata
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    standard laptop keyboard
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Wifi
You'll have to pardon me as this post is a bit more "general" and not directed specifically at anyone, but the last post sort of rode up my back a bit. I just do not understand people who complain that Microsoft doesn't release newer products for an OS that's over 10 years old. How many times did you pay Microsoft for XP that you feel they should hoist the entire video driver model (in your example), along with all the code to make it work, including the parts of the kernel, backwards to something people aren't paying for anymore?

It's not a charity, and you provide features for products people are purchasing. People aren't free, and supporting old platforms is expensive (both from an engineering standpoint and a supportability standpoint). If you like older products, then by all means please use them. But this call that somehow Microsoft is greedy because they won't prop up a codebase from the 90s with technology bolted on from the 21st century is a little silly.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Hero VII
    Memory
    32GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX970
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 250GB SSD
    4x WD RE 2TB (RAIDZ)
    PSU
    Corsair AX760i
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15
Pardon me if I'm a little confused, but seeing as all these versions of windows starting from win2000 are built on NT Kernel, then isn't all of them including win 7 have the NT kernel in them. Isn't it true that these newer windows are only improved versions of the NT kernel ?

I have no beef with Ms and why choosed to abandon Xp, frankly I could care less since I'm using windows 8 now. I was merly expressing how a company that using Xp might feel. And yes if they modernized Xp I'd try it for kicks on VM, but thats it. I am not a die hard Xp fan, and honestly I hated the 10 years stuck using it. When I got a windows 7 laptop I was more then happy to move on.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Ideapad Z565
    CPU
    AMD Phenom 2.8ghz dual-core
    Motherboard
    AMD
    Memory
    6.00gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 4200 series
    Hard Drives
    256gb 5400rpm sata
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    standard laptop keyboard
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Wifi
A small nitpick - The first NT kernel in a shipping version of Windows was NT3.1 (1993), not Windows 2000, just a point of reference. To the question, the NT base is a very fluid architecture - NT3 and Windows 8, for example, might have the "NT kernel" in common, but they're pretty different operating systems. "Improved" is a bit of an understatement - while the NT architecture is very robust and seems like it has a long life ahead of it, the kernel between NT3 and Windows 8 aren't very close cousins. Cousins, maybe, but they're not close anymore.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Hero VII
    Memory
    32GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX970
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 250GB SSD
    4x WD RE 2TB (RAIDZ)
    PSU
    Corsair AX760i
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15
It kind of makes me wonder about how Microsoft will be supporting their products. It's been released that they'll be supporting Windows 8 up to 2023, and the Surface RT for about 2017. Ten years for an operating system seems a little too long, much like how 7 is to be supported until 2020.

Theoretically good and dispels any fallacies that Microsoft ditches support for their products and wants you to upgrade to the latest version; but bad in the long run as software compatibilities clash, hardware compatibilities clash, as well as OS clashes (can't connect to a HomeGroup with xp).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
The DOS based windows systems are far worse, mainly windows 98 I'm talking about. Because of the kernel being dos, instabilities occur that bring the whole system to a crash which I've went through many times.

If you’re still using Windows 9x, you’ve probably encountered your share of unexplainable lockups and crashes. The root cause for all this instability is the fact that the Windows 9x operating system kernel is basically a cobbled together version of the prehistoric DOS operating system kernel. While DOS was a whiz kid in its heyday, it really wasn’t designed to support a graphical-based user interface or the type of multitasking that Windows 9x aspires to achieve.
- Basically this means that Windows 9x is so busy with its juggling act that a tiny failure at any point can bring the whole operating system tumbling down.

If you're still using the Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system, it’s high time you consider moving on with your computer life. There are a lot better things that you can do with your computer than mess around with an ancient OS.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Ideapad Z565
    CPU
    AMD Phenom 2.8ghz dual-core
    Motherboard
    AMD
    Memory
    6.00gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 4200 series
    Hard Drives
    256gb 5400rpm sata
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    standard laptop keyboard
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Wifi
Well, I still 'use' DOS 6.22/WfW 3.11 ; Win95C ; Win98SE ; Win ME ; Win XP, and Vista.

All on my P4 2.8Ghz, except for W98SE, which is still the original factory install on a Gateway P3/800Mhz.

Oh and Win 3.1/Office 4.5 in DOS-Box... :geek::cool:


They're mainly for fun and to help troubleshoot the problems of others.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Ethos AS8951G 'Super-Laptop'.
    CPU
    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 3000HD / Ge-Force GT555M 2 gigs
    Sound Card
    Realtek/5.1 Dolby built-in including speakers.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18.4" full-HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1024
    Hard Drives
    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.
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