Windows xp support ending

Jivesinger

prowla wrote: »

Support for XP Mode in Windows 7 also expires.

An alternative would be to create a VM (eg. use VMware Player on Ubuntu) and install XP onto that.

My understanding is that XP Mode within Windows 7 is just a VM in any case?

The advantage of using the Windows 7 version is that you don't have to buy another XP licence; whereas to run XP in another VM requires the user to buy another XP licence. (And the licence from that old XP PC gathering dust will be an OEM licence which almost certainly isn't legally transferable).

henm2

datostar wrote: »

I have an old Microstar laptop with a 40GB hard drive and 512MB RAM. Frankly, it struggled a bit even with WinXP and wouldn't have stood a chance with Win7.
after a little research I installed Lubuntu, a lightweight Ubuntu version. Excellent results -

An even better XP replacement would be LXLE http://lxle.net/ which is an enhanced version of Lubuntu and which I am using as I type this on a netbook. Minimum requirement for LXLE is 500mb RAM.

securityguy

closed wrote: »

They have dealt with it.

The public finances are still in deficit, another years use out of an ambulance/car/pc/bed/whatever seems a good use of public funds to me. 5.5M is a drop in the ocean compared to the public sector it budget and public sector waste.

xp still works, analogue tv doesn't.

Most of the PCs in the public sector running XP aren't old, and (last time I saw some numbers) most post-date the availability of Windows 7 and, in fact, were bought with Windows 7 licenses and downgrade rights. This is nothing to do with capital costs.

securityguy

GunJack wrote: »

That's the point - they struggle, often badly, very badly...

...whilst the "bright young things" who've not known any different or the people who work in IT, or are a more advanced home user, etc can make the switch with relative ease, the explosion of home pc use over the last 15 years has included (probably) the vast majority who can turn on a pc and browse a few sites but with absolutely no understanding (or, in fact, desire to understand) how the pc does what it does and can't work out how to tweak/alter the experience.

That explains the almost total failure of the smartphone and tablet market: all those users who are unable to learn another UI failed completely to use Android or iOS, such was their total reliance on XP. It was only when Microsoft brought out phones and tablets which ran a Windows-like experience that the market, previously struggling to sell useless niche products for specialists like those from, what were they called? Apple and Samsung, sprang into action with the massive success of products like the Surface and the Windows Phone.

NiftyDigits

securityguy wrote: »

There is no decision, other than "when". <snip>

Decide to snip that waffle.

I will not be 'upgrading' to Windows 8. It is not a matter of "when".
Many will wait for Windows 9.

My post was specifically about the differences between Windows 7 and Windows 8.

closed

securityguy wrote: »

Most of the PCs in the public sector running XP aren't old, and (last time I saw some numbers) most post-date the availability of Windows 7 and, in fact, were bought with Windows 7 licenses and downgrade rights. This is nothing to do with capital costs.

Paying an outsourced company to visit every machine, install a new os, test all the applications, setup the servers, is not free. There will be capital costs on top. Just because they came with W7, doesn't mean the person in charge of the IT capital budget will keep them - don't spend, don't keep. Then add on staff training costs, public service loves spending money on training courses.

In a few years, any vista machines, any W7, and W8 machines will have to go through the same thing. Business and public sector lags behind the constant urge to upgrade for good reason, it costs money, it needs staff, it's disruptive, the old system still works.

My washing machine is out of date, and I don't have a clue about half the things it can do, but I have no need to replace it, just like xp.

prowla

securityguy wrote: »

That explains the almost total failure of the smartphone and tablet market: all those users who are unable to learn another UI failed completely to use Android or iOS, such was their total reliance on XP. It was only when Microsoft brought out phones and tablets which ran a Windows-like experience that the market, previously struggling to sell useless niche products for specialists like those from, what were they called? Apple and Samsung, sprang into action with the massive success of products like the Surface and the Windows Phone.

That is cleverly funny!

GunJack

securityguy wrote: »

That explains the almost total failure of the smartphone and tablet market: all those users who are unable to learn another UI failed completely to use Android or iOS, such was their total reliance on XP. It was only when Microsoft brought out phones and tablets which ran a Windows-like experience that the market, previously struggling to sell useless niche products for specialists like those from, what were they called? Apple and Samsung, sprang into action with the massive success of products like the Surface and the Windows Phone.

the thing is, it's very easy to NOT get an android/apple phone, and a lot of older people will still have things like nokia 3410's and the like - they still work, they do what those people want... even if they have a smart phone, all they use it for is calls and texts. Simple phones are still readily available with no need to go smart in any way. Sometimes upgrades are done for the sake of it, and not everyone will want to/need to use the extra features, especially if the interface leaves them baffled...

babyj3

GunJack wrote: »

That's the point - they struggle, often badly, very badly...

...whilst the "bright young things" who've not known any different or the people who work in IT, or are a more advanced home user, etc can make the switch with relative ease, the explosion of home pc use over the last 15 years has included (probably) the vast majority who can turn on a pc and browse a few sites but with absolutely no understanding (or, in fact, desire to understand) how the pc does what it does and can't work out how to tweak/alter the experience.

A lot of these people need a lot more than their hands holding to make the jump from the familiar (whether that be xp, vista, or 7) to something like W8 or linux, and I suspect many just won't bother....

I am not techie and will not give personal info out/order anything online or do personal banking - I just browse and check prices online and write the odd letter,always printing a copy for myself.I can go for a month without logging on
I have only just found out this week about XP no longer being supported and I don;'t want to be rushed into buying a new computer before I know which one suits my needs
I was going to buy an intel celeron N2815 laptop but was advised to stretch my budget and buy intel Ci3 but am still wondering if it is worth me paying the extra considering my usage
Then I read about Lubuntu but am not confident enough to try that although if I ruin my old computer trying I can't seen how it would cause any more harm than not being able to use it on the intrenet anyway but..... after giving the matter some thought I am considering using my recovery dsic to take the computer back to factory setting/wiping all personal data from it and then using it to browse/ check prices and if I do get a virus(es)I can't see that it will matter if I don't log into my e-mail account or put any personal info on the computer
Can anyone think of a downside to this
Any advice would be gratefully received
Thanks

grumpycrab

babyj3 wrote: »

I am considering using my recovery dsic to take the computer back to factory setting...Can anyone think of a downside to this

If its the original recovery disk you will have lots of updates to do.
You don't say you have a current problem so make a current backup (Macrium Free) and ensure you have a [STRIKE]current [/STRIKE](I meant up-to-date) anti-virus.