sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Computers & Programming Computers, Software, Accessories Win Xp TEOTWAWKI

Good morning, all. Like most people on this forum [I think], I a running Windoze. Apple and *nix purists, please try to refrain from busting our chops too much...

As you all know, MS will be dropping all update support for Xp in a matter of weeks. In reality, it has already happened: I have a few Xp machines, and my biggest customer has dozens of boxes running Xp. For several months now, "update Tuesday" comes and goes with no update... The updates refuse to install, whether automatic or manual, they just hang in an endless loop to nowhere.

MS says all will be wonderful if we update to 8. I have used 8 quite a bit, and frankly I can't stand it, and refuse to install it. My customer may have no choice, but I am going to resist it to the bitter end.

So that leaves me with 7. No longer available from your local Best Buy, etc., a full retail version of Win 7 32/64 is quickly becoming priced almost out of reach, fetching over 300 bucks on ebay. The OEM version is cheaper, but everything I have read about that says that OEM 7 really does become permanently bonded to the first motherboard you install it on, and if you swap out your hardware, you are SOL.

So what are most folks on here doing? Upgrading to 7? 8? Or are folks just planning to tough it out with Xp, making sure their anti-virus and firewall is up to date and just being extremely careful on line?

The "experts" are predicting a vast onslaught of malware targeting Xp in the coming months. How much of this is true, and how much of it is just hype?

Sorry for the long-winded post, I am just hoping to start an intelligent discussion on this topic, and hopefully get some guidance on how to proceed...

Jim Bennett
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If it ain't broke, wait.

I'll probably leave XP on my Dell 8300. No point in making life complicated by trying to retrofit an old PC with Windows 8.

Dex, are you worried about the "gloom and doom" predictions of a coming wave of malware targeted at Xp?

I'm usually pretty careful but still...

Jim Bennett
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Flash-free. Java-free. Happy.

I think that the possibility of increased virus activity is there. As suggested, keeping anti-virus software updated will afford good protection.

Actually you have to worry more about malware than viruses. They're a much larger threat.

In any event, if you can hold onto XP, it might worth it. Every couple of years MS comes out with a new version just to get us dummies to buy the "latest & greatest."

I fought tooth & nails before upgrading to XP, then liked it. Skipped the next piece of crapola and eventually my CG said he'd put V7 on on my PC & if I didn't like it, he'd return it to XP for free. Didn't take long to fall for V7 and soon had it installed on my laptop.

How I advise my business clients:

if the computer is older than 3 yrs, I urge them to simply replace it with a new computer. Dell still sells business end computers with Windows 7 on them. Less fuss to get a new computer with a hardware warranty,

If the computer is less than 3 yrs old or the client wants to get 5 yrs out of the machine (maybe it came with XP preinstalled by a Win 7 COA), then I check for a "modern" dual-core processor like an Intel Core 2 Duo and 4GB of RAM. If it needs more memory, I sell them the amount necessary. If all that checks out, then I sell them volume licenses of Windows 7 (technically Windows 8 Pro licenses, but use downgrade rights to 7). Or if the PC came with a Windows 7 COA on it, then I use that to reinstall the OS (not upgrade, fresh install).

Beauty of volume licenses is that the license can be transferred to a new PC should the existing one die. Less of a fuss of maintaining a list of which computer has which license code on it, since volume licenses (when purchased on the same agreement) use the same license code.

See also: https://www.theinquirer.net/inquire...-screens-as-windows-xp-end-of-life-looms

Okay, did the Nortel software run on 7? I tried to make it work on Vista when it first came out and gave up. I never tried 7 since it is easier to carry an XP laptop.

Carl

Carl raises a good point. How well does older programs run on newer versions of Windows? For example: WinSpm (software for the Merlin Legend/Magix platforms).

They don't, that's why I've got an old think pad with xp on it.

As far as keeping XP I'm going to hang on as long as I can and just run more malware programs if needed.