upgrading windows xp

googler

Stompa wrote: »

The trouble is that MS will cease providing any further security updates.

So what?

I use two XP machines daily, and the last time I had a virus or security issue was when one of them was running Vista. I downgraded that one to XP and I've never looked back.

Uxb

googler wrote: »

Be honest, in all the time you've used XP, have you EVER asked MS for support specific to XP?

Surely every time you accept and install a MS update/security patch in effect you have been "requesting specific support for XP"

paddyrg

XP was good but its day has passed. It has outlived many domestic pets, and most pop music acts and TV fashions. Let it go peacefully.

12 years is a long time in hardware, it's impressive that it lasted as well add it did, but is likely showing its age now, possibly full of fluff and getting harder to update or upgrade, without needing to do several components at once or not throwing good money after bad. Of course it may be younger and you listened to chicken licken about the sky falling in and vista being like a daily does of ricin (it wasn't, I used it daily for 6 years and its actually fine). If it's a younger XP level machine and you're feeling tight, try one of the Linux distributions (Linux Mint is simple and popular).

Just with XP (using 1990's codebase) then it only takes one more vulnerability to be found and that's it, every computer gets owned into a huge botnet, and the owners basically pay for other peoples spam and crime. Slightly alarmist, but that's pretty much what all the computer criminals have been waiting for. Its immune system is effectively shot away.

Remember your home broadband in the year 2001? No? It wasn't there, the code wasn't built around the massive internet proliferation, it was patched and ported but the best bits carried forward and bolstered with new layers of security in later operating systems. I'd say it's time to let go and give XP a decent burial for the loyal friend it became.

mehera

cookie365 wrote: »

Hackers will increasingly attack XP - there's a huge installed user base, and with no more security updates there are good opportunities to be had.

Upgrade to Win 7. It's so not a pain.

Windows XP is still the most stable operating system even without Microsoft so called 'support' . . .

Why are they boycotting it? Cause many businesses use it as the most stable option and probably wont quit unless blackmailed to do so!

Windows 7 is good but you have to remember that it is really the horrible Windows Vista in disguise!

As for Windows 8 I would not touch it with a barge pole . . . .

Microsoft are well know for abusing their market position and peddling out new OS about 4-5 years before they are ready . . ..

That means I might use Windows 8 by 2017 or so!

AndyPK

This would be fine if MS had produced a good operating system since XP.
Vista, 7, 8 are all slow and useless.
7 maybe least worse.

googler

Uxb wrote: »

Surely every time you accept and install a MS update/security patch in effect you have been "requesting specific support for XP"

I don't accept and install updates. I've installed service packs 2 & 3, but that's it.

ukcarper

I replaced my desktop a few months ago and after reading all bad reviews I was reluctant to install windows 8 but I decided to give it a go. After using it for a few month I fail to see what all the fuss is about and am very happy with it.

giraffe69

I don't accept and install updates. I've installed service packs 2 & 3, but that's it.

So wouldn't each service pack install all the previous security updates?

Stompa

googler wrote: »

So what?

I use two XP machines daily, and the last time I had a virus or security issue was when one of them was running Vista. I downgraded that one to XP and I've never looked back.

Ah, it's been extensively tested on 2 XP PCs. That's conclusive proof that security updates are a waste of time then.

Cycrow

mehera wrote: »

Windows XP is still the most stable operating system even without Microsoft so called 'support' . . .

sorry, but there are alot more stable OS's than XP