Can someone explain what this means?
Does anyone who uses Windows XP have to get a new computer?
Does anyone who uses Windows XP have to get a new computer?
Windows XP Support ending April 8, 2014
- Thread starter gadgetgary
- Start date
Help Support :
<blockquote>Does anyone who uses Windows XP have to get a new computer?</blockquote> Absolutely not! Computers running WinXP won't spontaneously self-destruct. End of support simply means that MS will no longer issue bug-fixes for the WinXP operating system or (presumably) take tech-issue cases on it ... although I have read that customers on the corporate level have an option to buy a support plan at a co$t.
Security updates will not be issued either
Along with no further bug fixes is no more patches for security issues. I would think hackers are going to be on the prowl.
I use windows 7 and like it very much. If you like XP you'll enjoy Windows 7 just as much.
Along with no further bug fixes is no more patches for security issues. I would think hackers are going to be on the prowl.
I use windows 7 and like it very much. If you like XP you'll enjoy Windows 7 just as much.
Yeah, I didn't specifically mention security fixes but IMO those are bugs. Anyway, practice safe-computing and use a top-rated antivirus and malware scanners as long as XP is supported by those vendors. FWIW, I kept a Windows NT workstation running (*without* antivirus for the last several years) until May 2013, which was long after MS dropped support for it ... never had any infections or hacks on that machine.
Most people today have routers with default-enabled firewalls, intrusion detection and NAT.
This will stop the majority of attacks that used to befall machines that weren't updated "in the olden days."
Provided you aren't downloading illegal content, pornographic images and are careful with your browsing, you will be safe after "doomsday." Why waste money and the Earth on a new machine you don't need?
Most anti-virus software will support XP as it is still the 2nd most popular OS around.
Avast! Anti-Virus is the best out there too (That is a 100% accurate fact too).
There is also ClamWin too.
Case in point, I run (and another person I know) both run websites off Windows 2000 machines. That OS is now 4 years out-of-date, and I've had no infections.
When I'm not typing on my iPhone tomorrow, I'll link you to a unofficial Service Pack from the good folk on the MSFN forums, where users with Windows 95/98/ME, NT4, 2000 still use these os'es on a daily basis without hitch.
All in all, DO NOT LISTEN TO THE PROPAGANDA that Microsoft is vomiting!!! You WILL be fine after April 8th, and if you are a stupid user who downloads illegal content and porno, a new machine is JUST AS LIKELY to be affected (Again, they say the opposite, but that is untrue, and infections on the newer systems are up 50%)
This will stop the majority of attacks that used to befall machines that weren't updated "in the olden days."
Provided you aren't downloading illegal content, pornographic images and are careful with your browsing, you will be safe after "doomsday." Why waste money and the Earth on a new machine you don't need?
Most anti-virus software will support XP as it is still the 2nd most popular OS around.
Avast! Anti-Virus is the best out there too (That is a 100% accurate fact too).
There is also ClamWin too.
Case in point, I run (and another person I know) both run websites off Windows 2000 machines. That OS is now 4 years out-of-date, and I've had no infections.
When I'm not typing on my iPhone tomorrow, I'll link you to a unofficial Service Pack from the good folk on the MSFN forums, where users with Windows 95/98/ME, NT4, 2000 still use these os'es on a daily basis without hitch.
All in all, DO NOT LISTEN TO THE PROPAGANDA that Microsoft is vomiting!!! You WILL be fine after April 8th, and if you are a stupid user who downloads illegal content and porno, a new machine is JUST AS LIKELY to be affected (Again, they say the opposite, but that is untrue, and infections on the newer systems are up 50%)
I'll Add
Windows XP was probably the last "good" OS Microsoft made. It's very lightweight.
As much as Vista/7 look nice, they are bloated. Windows 8 is a disaster, ad WHO in their right minds would force metro onto power users on the Server product line.
Sorry, but M$ need to focus on providing a welcoming platform for people who still want to use their computers for heavy-weight tasks, not just sheeple who want the glitzy OS.
I maintain the recent versions of Ubuntu Linux and Windows 8 are made for SCHOOLGIRLS. Beauty is it skin-deep guys, remember that. Functionality is what you want, not beauty.
Windows XP was probably the last "good" OS Microsoft made. It's very lightweight.
As much as Vista/7 look nice, they are bloated. Windows 8 is a disaster, ad WHO in their right minds would force metro onto power users on the Server product line.
Sorry, but M$ need to focus on providing a welcoming platform for people who still want to use their computers for heavy-weight tasks, not just sheeple who want the glitzy OS.
I maintain the recent versions of Ubuntu Linux and Windows 8 are made for SCHOOLGIRLS. Beauty is it skin-deep guys, remember that. Functionality is what you want, not beauty.
Yes security updates are for bugs in security
I agree with that. I was only pointing out don't forget about that aspect.
Windows 7 seems very efficient with memory management. I run VMware workstation on top of Windows 7 and have 2 linux VMs running (that I use for eclipse development environments) and I don't see any problems. I only reboot when Windows Update requests me to do that.
IMHO: Windows XP is great, I used it for years. But once an OS falls by the support wayside then that also impacts getting new apps to work properly as time goes on. Trust me, update to Windows 7 or 8. If you don't plan on putting new apps on your PC then you probably can stay put.
I agree with that. I was only pointing out don't forget about that aspect.
Windows 7 seems very efficient with memory management. I run VMware workstation on top of Windows 7 and have 2 linux VMs running (that I use for eclipse development environments) and I don't see any problems. I only reboot when Windows Update requests me to do that.
IMHO: Windows XP is great, I used it for years. But once an OS falls by the support wayside then that also impacts getting new apps to work properly as time goes on. Trust me, update to Windows 7 or 8. If you don't plan on putting new apps on your PC then you probably can stay put.
I updated avast! to the latest version a few minutes ago. There's a notice on avast!'s interface screen <blockquote>Browser vulnerability
Microsoft says: using Internet Explorer on Windows XP will soon not be safe.</blockquote> with a button labeled FIX IT NOW which opens the default browser (Firefox in my case) to a page at avast!'s site pushing Chrome as the browser of choice.
Interestingly, I cleaned up a bunch of adware/malware infections on my nephew's laptop last week, and a rogue installation of Chrome (he doesn't know how it got onto the system) apparently was the source of at least some of the infections.
I had to but a new pc last fall when my old one died and it came with Windows 8. No choice in the matter, like it or not. Disaster is an understatement on 8. Its designed for a touch screen which many dont have and it is the most user UNfriendly system I have ever used. I upgraded to 8.1 because it brought back the start button which I found only takes you back to the stupid touch screen. It is next to impossible to find anything on the hard drive. Certain programs refuse to run properly that did fine on XP. Microsoft made a BIG mistake on 8 and I for one, wished they had left well enough alone. I hate 8!!!!
I'm running XP with AVG (free version) for anti-virus here and can't remember the last time I downloaded a new app.
I'm a procrastinator, but may consider installing Windows 7. I really like my Fujitsu Lifebook and don't want to buy anything new. I'm not a fan of touchscreens or simulated keyboards.
I like the "schoolgirl" analogy regarding Windows 8. Not for me. I got Dave an iPad thinking it would be easier for him, and I can't figure it out. No prompts, no help, just super heavy on the assumed knowledge. I find it all very arrogant. I'm going to have to go to iPad school because he has stopped using it except to play music. Even then, I can't figure out how to make it stop playing music.
So how does a person get their hands on Windows 7 these days, now that MS is pushing 8? Is it still on the shelves or downloadable? I haven't looked into it yet (see 2nd paragraph).
I'm a procrastinator, but may consider installing Windows 7. I really like my Fujitsu Lifebook and don't want to buy anything new. I'm not a fan of touchscreens or simulated keyboards.
I like the "schoolgirl" analogy regarding Windows 8. Not for me. I got Dave an iPad thinking it would be easier for him, and I can't figure it out. No prompts, no help, just super heavy on the assumed knowledge. I find it all very arrogant. I'm going to have to go to iPad school because he has stopped using it except to play music. Even then, I can't figure out how to make it stop playing music.
So how does a person get their hands on Windows 7 these days, now that MS is pushing 8? Is it still on the shelves or downloadable? I haven't looked into it yet (see 2nd paragraph).
I bought a new computer that came with Windows 8.1. I adapted to it rather quickly, but I can understand why people have problems with it. It's not very userfriendly, I prefer Windows 7 that I had on the old one. It's harder to close some windows, sometimes there is no "x" on the top anymore that you can click etc. This new computer performs well, but if I ever need a new one again I will consider buying an Apple!
mrb627
Well-known member
New Computer
I recently purchased a new Dell pc. It is a 23" all in one touchscreen machine running Windows 8. I don't have any distaste for Windows 8 that others on this thread have reported. It is simply different. Plain and simple. Searching for things is different, closing programs is different, but otherwise it is very similar to windows 7.
Malcolm
I recently purchased a new Dell pc. It is a 23" all in one touchscreen machine running Windows 8. I don't have any distaste for Windows 8 that others on this thread have reported. It is simply different. Plain and simple. Searching for things is different, closing programs is different, but otherwise it is very similar to windows 7.
Malcolm
"Microsoft says: using Internet Explorer on Windows XP will soon not be safe."
The above incorrectly supposes that any web browser has ever been safe in any Microsoft OS. As long as Windows (whatever version, at this point the company has several viable choices) is not released to open source, hackers will always be a step ahead of everyone else (even MS) in finding security holes. There's no need to defend this claim because the track record speaks for itself.
The simple fact is, MS has a 90+% lock on the world's desktops, and imo they (along with Google) should have been forcibly nationalized long ago. Predictably MS's response to their virtual monopoly has been to hold the world's safe computing hostage to Windows Product Activation, Windows Genuine Advantage or whatever the outrage du jour is being called. No security updates without an authenticity check. Or in other words, their interest in corporate profit supercedes any interest they might have in the ramifications of countless millions of computers running with active virus infections on networks large and small. IMO it'll be example #18,299 of future historians reading in near-absolute disbelief.
The above incorrectly supposes that any web browser has ever been safe in any Microsoft OS. As long as Windows (whatever version, at this point the company has several viable choices) is not released to open source, hackers will always be a step ahead of everyone else (even MS) in finding security holes. There's no need to defend this claim because the track record speaks for itself.
The simple fact is, MS has a 90+% lock on the world's desktops, and imo they (along with Google) should have been forcibly nationalized long ago. Predictably MS's response to their virtual monopoly has been to hold the world's safe computing hostage to Windows Product Activation, Windows Genuine Advantage or whatever the outrage du jour is being called. No security updates without an authenticity check. Or in other words, their interest in corporate profit supercedes any interest they might have in the ramifications of countless millions of computers running with active virus infections on networks large and small. IMO it'll be example #18,299 of future historians reading in near-absolute disbelief.
Win 8 was really built around the idea of pushing touch displays to attempt to overcome Microsofts tablet gap. Personally I don't ever want to touch my display for pointing (except on a tablet), it's just inefficient. Hopefully a more Win 7 like start menu will ultimately come to a future Win 8 version.
Win 7 works very well and I don't see it as bloated. I wouldn't use Vista on anything though. I would be a bit cautious with upgrading old hardware to Win 7. It would be best to upgrade hardware at the same time. Hardware improvements are pretty amazing these days even a lowly I3 just zips along and uses so little power you can just leave it on all the time.
XP will plod along for years so don't fret. I used Win 98 for years after support ended. I just recycled my last XP machine and I'm glad to be clear of it.
Win 7 works very well and I don't see it as bloated. I wouldn't use Vista on anything though. I would be a bit cautious with upgrading old hardware to Win 7. It would be best to upgrade hardware at the same time. Hardware improvements are pretty amazing these days even a lowly I3 just zips along and uses so little power you can just leave it on all the time.
XP will plod along for years so don't fret. I used Win 98 for years after support ended. I just recycled my last XP machine and I'm glad to be clear of it.
I bought a refurbished HP desktop (via a Rakuten/Buy.com storefront seller) for my parents recently that was loaded with Win7 Pro.
I like Win 7. It goes about its job mostly without trouble; overall I've never had much problem with Windows starting with 3.1 and then 95, NT, 2000 Pro, XP Pro and now 7 Pro. I cannot imagine using a touch screen for my computer as the screen would constantly be dirty from skin oils and thus hard to read fine lines and prints, for my use I sure can't see the point of it. However, so long as I have Windows Explorer I can make anything work.
I've had Windows 8 on a non touch work laptop for nearly 7 months now. It took a while to get used to things, but now I am, it just works like Win 7.
You pin all of your favorite apps to the start bar on the desktop and you just point and shoot. Its just change. The underlying OS is rocksolid, it boots and sleeps much faster than Win 7 and that was light years ahead of Win XP.
With the Touchscreen aspect, Michael's mum is 75 and never had a computer. She was doing well with our Ipad, so when Windows 8 arrived we bought her a 24" all in one Lenovo with a touchscreen. She lives in the Windows 8 Metro interface and it lets her do everything she needs to do. IE Email, Youtube (mainly Cat Videos), Card Games, Memory games, Printing photos etc. Watching her try and use the mouse is hilarious, but she types quite well on the keyboard. For an older person, being able to touch what they want, rather than trying to relate a mouse to the cursor moving seems to get rid of half the battle.
The reason for the security warning with Windows XP, is that IE8 also goes end of life. I'm working with a 12,000 seat client at the moment, who is 60% of the way through their Win XP to Win 7 Migration. They still use IE8 for compatibility reasons, but this week, IE8 will be restricted to Intranet sites only, and Chrome is being deployed for the Internet. I'm pretty sure that IE8 is the newest IE that runs on XP, so that is why the security software is pushing the upgrade to Chrome. A Lack of Patching for the OS is one thing, a lack of Patching for a web browser is more of a problem.
So my Windows 8 experience is positive all round. Its Rock solid as far as reliability goes and Metro if you need a basic interface is good at what it does.
You pin all of your favorite apps to the start bar on the desktop and you just point and shoot. Its just change. The underlying OS is rocksolid, it boots and sleeps much faster than Win 7 and that was light years ahead of Win XP.
With the Touchscreen aspect, Michael's mum is 75 and never had a computer. She was doing well with our Ipad, so when Windows 8 arrived we bought her a 24" all in one Lenovo with a touchscreen. She lives in the Windows 8 Metro interface and it lets her do everything she needs to do. IE Email, Youtube (mainly Cat Videos), Card Games, Memory games, Printing photos etc. Watching her try and use the mouse is hilarious, but she types quite well on the keyboard. For an older person, being able to touch what they want, rather than trying to relate a mouse to the cursor moving seems to get rid of half the battle.
The reason for the security warning with Windows XP, is that IE8 also goes end of life. I'm working with a 12,000 seat client at the moment, who is 60% of the way through their Win XP to Win 7 Migration. They still use IE8 for compatibility reasons, but this week, IE8 will be restricted to Intranet sites only, and Chrome is being deployed for the Internet. I'm pretty sure that IE8 is the newest IE that runs on XP, so that is why the security software is pushing the upgrade to Chrome. A Lack of Patching for the OS is one thing, a lack of Patching for a web browser is more of a problem.
So my Windows 8 experience is positive all round. Its Rock solid as far as reliability goes and Metro if you need a basic interface is good at what it does.
"Internet Explorer Will Soon Not be Safe"
It was never safe to begin with!
I think in Asia AND Europe now, M$ must now give users the option of choosing another browser and media player (depending on the market). As such, they do not ship with Internet Explorer. A good thing, IMO.
Although I'm stumped as to what you'd choose: Firefox and Chrome are both "heavy" for light browsing, but Firefox is still the best for "extreme multi-tabbed" browsing.
It was never safe to begin with!
I think in Asia AND Europe now, M$ must now give users the option of choosing another browser and media player (depending on the market). As such, they do not ship with Internet Explorer. A good thing, IMO.
Although I'm stumped as to what you'd choose: Firefox and Chrome are both "heavy" for light browsing, but Firefox is still the best for "extreme multi-tabbed" browsing.
Runing win 7 pro 64 bit
firefox and thunderbird. No issues here.
I built my PC from Tiger Direct thus it had no bloatware when I got it. Runs nicely boots quickly and thus far, virus free.
Win Xp was good, much better than Vista.
firefox and thunderbird. No issues here.
I built my PC from Tiger Direct thus it had no bloatware when I got it. Runs nicely boots quickly and thus far, virus free.
Win Xp was good, much better than Vista.
