Reading Gary’s post about Winzip (which may or may not be related to XP) made me remember that Microsoft support for Windows XP will end in eight months.

http://support.microsoft.com/ph/1173

Although there is nothing stopping anyone continuing to use XP, new software packages may well not work.

More importantly, there will not be any Microsoft Security updates for XP which may leave any PC still running XP open to viruses and security attacks.

Don’t want to panic anybody and I know it’s been mentioned in other threads, but it’s worth making a mental note regarding what your going to do if you’re still running XP.


Ed

there will not be any Microsoft Security updates for XP  

I look forward to that,  every time I switch on I get "updates are Ready!, even if it's only a few minutes since switching off when it told me updates were being installed. The second PC which runs all day alongside this one has auto updating switched off never has a problem, I very occasionally run updates on it with a few months between.

You'd think that any decent programmers would be able to get it right and not need to continually update.

I will continue to use XP until I find I absolutely need to run an app not suported by XP. From what I see and hear Win 8 is a complete load of rubbish so that is not an incentive to try it.

[user=1397]Dorsetmike[/user] wrote:

there will not be any Microsoft Security updates for XP  

You'd think that any decent programmers would be able to get it right and not need to continually update.

Mike

It's not possible to write an update until a security risk or virus is introduced and identified, that's why you sometimes get a number of updates one after another, and then non for ages.

Ed

Maybe Microsloth could employ the best of the hackers to write un-hackable code.

I run XP on my stand-by laptop, and I've disabled updates from both HP and Microsoft, also flash-player updates, and removed AVG - it now runs like an express train!

As it's my stand-by I only use it for railway modelling, and only have MS office and Photoshop on it. I also browse E-bay and some of the mainstream internet sites. If I run foul of a virus (twice in the past two years) I download a clean-up app onto my main desktop computer, with a firewall, AVG, Windows 7 etc., and transfer over.

I noticed at the local Sunday market you could pick up the same laptop, with XP for £70…

Cheaper than a tablet, Iphone etc. etc.

If you like XP or XP Pro, I think thats the way to go.

Shaun.

Shaun

That’s fine, but any infected file you receive will not be detected, and if you happen to send it to someone else you may infect their PC.

You can’t run Internet Explorer versions 9 or 10 on XP.

Internet explorer 7 & 8 will also not be supported on XP after April 2014 and on Vista after April 2017.

As internet sites are updated you may no longer be able to access them and I have no doubt those users of older versions of other browsers such as Opera, Chrome, Safari and Firefox that don’t update will have the same problem.

Although you may currently be able to download virus clean up software for XP, eventually you won’t as no one will bother to write it. (Windows XP is a 32bit operating system, Windows 7 onwards is 64 bit and a whole new ball game).

Regarding cheap PCs at boot sales or anywhere else, personally I’d steer well clear. Not only will you be unable to run the latest software, the chances are the hardware is so out of date you won’t be able to get it repaired in the event of a fault.

Personally I’m not affected by this as I had to stop using XP over two years ago (even though I thought it was great) when my PC died with an unfixable hardware fault.

I just thought people needed to be reminded that they could have a problem in the near future and I certainly would hate being in the situation where I were unable to access this brilliant forum.


Ed

Ed, Firefox regularly updates - currently V23.0.1

Sol

Firefox v23 will run on Windows XP service pack (SP) 2 and 3.

If you check their support it says;

"Please note that while the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of  Windows Vista and Windows 7 can be used to run Firefox 23, only 32-bit  builds of Firefox 23 are supported at this time."

However, I have no doubt this will change as Microsoft's support for XP comes to an end and further versions of Firefox and other browsers become available.

I'm not saying the browser software won't be updated, but that XP may not be able to run the updated version, in the same way you can't run IE9 or IE10 on XP.


Ed

Ed, are you saying that, for example, AVG will not detect a virus when XP is not supported by Microsloth.

[user=1397]Dorsetmike[/user] wrote:

Ed, are you saying that, for example, AVG will not detect a virus when XP is not supported by Microsloth.

Mike

Not quite, I'm saying newer version of any Anti-virus (or any security software) may not run under older versions of operating systems and may therefore not get updates as necessary to detect new threats.

You need to check your particular security software package to see if it will still work under XP.

(i.e. If you were getting it for the first time does it run under XP?)


Ed

Sorry Ed, I should have mentioned that my Firefox is on Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit system.

Sol

Same as me and our support doesn't end until January 4th 2020 (allegedly).

Just want to give the guys still using XP a nudge to think about what they will do if things may not work properly later next year, or as we move in to 2015.

I believe currently all new PCs are shipped with Windows 8 and only 'old stock' is available with Windows 7.

Bit of a bu**er if your hardware won't support a new operating system.

I seem to remember seeing something in the press last year about XP support being due to end and I bet it will come up again in few months time.

Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.


Ed

It really annoys me when these guys change their OS and then refuse to offer backup for the old ones.

I have 3 computers - 2 PC's and a laptop.  The "old" PC (around 7 years old) has XP loaded and I like it.  Both the laptop and the new PC have Windows 7 loaded.

I'd read of so many problems with Vista that I avoided it like the plague and continued with XP.  When I needed another PC, I struggled to find one with 7 loaded because 8 was "new" - I didn't want 8 - I wanted something as close to XP as I could get !!!! :twisted::twisted::twisted:

It's probably a fact that the £500 plus that you pay for your PC (tower only) has to be written off at £100 per year minimum.  That's a scandal for private individuals.  Not only do we have to buy a new machine, we then have to learn a new programme before we can use the darned thing.  It's fine if you're a "whizz kid" but if you're like me, it's an annoying PITA. 

Computers are funny things.My desktop runs Vista and i haven't had any problems at all although i have always used Firefox.The common denominator seems to be Internet Explorer so if you don't want the spacing problems,get rid.

Petermac

If I was a cynic, I'd say they only brought out new operating systems that need a bigger PC to run them , to make you buy new hardware and newer versions of any software you already have :hmm


……… If I were a cynic that is.


Ed

It's a good business model isn't it? :???:

I was teaching Micro processor techniques back in the 1980s, including programming in machine code, not even bothering about Assembler, I did use Basic as well but for anything that needed faster operation than Basic could manage then a call to a machine code routine was used. My first PC was an Amstrad 1512, had 2 floppy discs, no hard disc, and I upgraded the RAM from 512K to 640K, the processors couldn't address any more.

Many of the advances since then have been good, but equally as many have only been good for the likes of Microsloth, Apple and the hardware manufacturers, the user is more or less forced to use their products. A few are prepared to get into Linux as an alternative but there are limitations, My Oki laser printer can't be used in Linux - no driver available- looking it up in a list of Linux  printer drivers I found it described as only of use as a paper weight.  I've been using it for 6 or 7 years now, does everything I need, including things other printers can't manage, or at least don't claim to in their specs.

From what I read Linux users seem to be prepared to delve into the inner workings, whereas Windows and Mac users are more or less told "give us your money and take what we supply", and now that you're locked in we want more money off you every year or two for enhancements you don't really need.

By all means update security, but how many PC users want or even need a touch screen interface like Win8, we allknow how to use a mouse and keyboard, should we need to get a monitor that's touch sensitive? As said above

They only brought out new operating systems that need a bigger PC to run them , to make you buy new hardware and newer versions of any software you already have

That's the truth  - in a nut shell!

I actually upgraded to Vista when it first came out but hated it so much I reverted back to XP which is where I am now.  Having been bitten by MS once I am loathe to try their new OS.  I have seen horror stories about W8.

Explorer, at this stage, I have found to be abominable because the old software can't cope with the newer websites.

I switched to Chrome a couple of months ago and immediately found a significant improvement in performance.  However, I still have to use Explorer to view DCC Concepts' site.

I suppose I will have to upgrade to W8 next year - I should probably get a whole new system since mine has been around for quite a few years.

John

I'd wait a bit longer John - there's no guarantee Windows 8 will last longer than either "Millennium Edition" or "Vista" ……………:roll::roll::roll:

I hung on to my abacus for when everything else fails ………….:cheers

p.s. My first "real" computer was an Amstrad 1512 too Mike - that was after the Sinclair ZX and the "better" BBC …………………..

Oh yes, Peter, I will wait as long as possible - we'll see what shakes out.

I actually went through first year university with a slide rule - most everyone else had those new fangled, expensive first gen. calculators. I did get one for second year though.


 John