Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Microsoft officially end all support for XP from the end of April (some say from early April) I urge those who use XP to stop using it asap.XP will soon be a hackers playground.

I know there are a few people that use it and dont know of this info so thought it would be worth sharing.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Do you think if a massive security hole was found in XP after support ended that Microsoft would ignore the fact or release a fix for it? Like any company they don't want bad publicity.

We still have quite a few PC's at work using XP. We have 3 production critical PC's running DOS still.

All office machines are Windows 7 but a few of the XP machines can access the internet

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

No need to swap out an XP machine if it's not connected to the internet at all, or its user doesn't access the web and it's behind an external (to XP) firewall.

There's still the danger from infected files being manually put on the PC, but that's an issue with all versions of Windows. XP will only become a problem in that regard when a/v vendors won't let their product run on XP.

My mother-in-law uses her machine for her writing. It's not connected to the internet and she doesn't receive files on disc from anyone (there aren't even any USB ports on it, it's that old). She's running Amipro on Windows 3.1.

Re: Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

At work they are forced to buy new PCs because of this (thankfully)

I dunno what they would do. If they said when xp was released that support would end then do they have no obligation?

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

No obligation no but have a reputation to uphold. Then again not sure what sort of a reputation they have :)

Re: Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Haha. Exactly.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I think Restless is urging the less savvy.

Using XP after its sell by date has expired will be like owning a classic car. It will run just fine if you know what you are doing, have an imperial spanner set, axle stands, a haynes manual and access to spares..otherwise it's just going to break down and cause you no end of problems.

Or you could just put your hand in your pocket and pay someone to keep it on the road...oh wait..you already have, you just didn't know about it :eek:

Government pays Microsoft £5.5m to extend Windows XP support - Telegraph

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Like owning a classic car and there is only a minority of people left who know how to fix it. It may run fine for a real long time on private land(offline) but the car is at risk if you take it on the road (online)

Xp was always full of holes. Remember the worm/virus that was on the news? A hell of a lot of people got that one. I remember when installing xp it was best to install avg/anti worm patch before going online or else you would instantly get it... The worm wasn't that malicious and put a message on screen about bill gates.... But it was a wake up call.... Don't use xp online. Time to upgrade

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Well i aint bothering fer the time being, if n when it dies then i will consider.:)

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Why will it break down?

If UK taxpayers are paying for these updates why isn't it available to all UK residents?

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Because it aint going to get anymore oil changes, services, or even have a fuel tank that accepts the nozzle at the pumps :p:D

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I use the free Avast and they sent me a message ' Avast will be supporting Windows XP for at least the next three years by creating protection modules and detection's specifically designed to cover Windows XP vulnerabilities and other security problems'.
Do you think that will cover me? My PC does what I need but can't handle 7 or 8 so it would mean a new one ? Besides which I know XP, I'd hate to start trying to learn 8!

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

What is your PC?
I have installed Windows 7 on some quite low spec PC's before and they ran fine

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

It's a Dell 8300 which when I bought it in 2004 was one of their most powerful. I think it was 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB RM. Totally obsolete now( I'll bet a mobile phone has more than that) but it does what I need. I'm sure I checked with Dell and they said it couldn't handle 7 or 8 and couldn't be updated to do it .

Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Dell would say that. An operating system upgrade is not in their interest, they'd much prefer you to buy a new pc. Prob need more memory and drivers may be an issue, but I bet it will run win7 ok, although some fancy stuff like aero might be disabled.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

DO you know what processor is in it? Is there a label with Intel on the front, if so what does it say on that label?
I have installed Windows 7 on some 2006 Pentium D Dell PC's recently with only 1GB ram and they are fine for what I suspect you will use yours for. They have Windows 7, Office 2014, Chrome and a few other apps and anti virus on them

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

It's an 'Intel Pentium 4 Processor with HT Technology at 3.00GHz and 800Hz fsb'.
It runs BBC iplayer with no problems. As you say, Neil, that's probably the heaviest load I'll put on it!
Windows 7 sounds good, easier to learn than 8. But how long will it be supported for?
You're giving me hope, Neil- I know I should really replace it but it's like a pair of old slippers- I'm comfy with it.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Well windows 7 requires at least 500mb ram so that's fine. But I have too installed it on older systems and as long as you don't put it at too much risk from malware/spyware you would be alright.

Windows 8 ain't all that different from 7 when you get used to ignoring the metro start screen

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

You can download the Microsoft Windows 7 compatibility checker from here Download Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Official Microsoft Download Centre its only 8.3MB and tells you if you can install windows 7 onto your PC

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Neil what do you think of windows 8. After a while its grown on me and there I'd goof improvements to the desktop

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I don't like it, might be ok if you have a touch screen but I like the start button and real desktop. Those stupid big whatever they call them button things just waste space. I think they goofed and assumed everyone has touchscreens. To be honest I can't see me ever wanting a touchscreen desktop. I like the screen quite away from me. I use a touchscreen phone and tablet a lot and somethings are hard to do without a mouse.

When you install it should ask if you want normal or touch screen version in my opinion

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Sods law! Thought I'd take the PC in sometime soon to the shop who sorted it for me last year to see what he thought.
Got an ' update Java' message this afternoon, downloaded it, found snapdo.com had taken over.
Lots of warnings about it so I took it in straight away- you can't find it to unininstall it. He can sort it but looked inside it while I was there. Upspecing it to run 7or8 wold cost a bomb, better to buy a new one.

Doing this on my Nexus7, who needs a PC? I do!

Just a thought-the Nexus 7 won't be contaminated by snapdo will it?

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

XP support extended in UK,not sure it's for us plebs or not

UK government pays Microsoft £5.5m to extend Windows XP support | Technology | theguardian.com

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

The end of Windows XP | XBMC

Nice ideas of what to do with the old hardware ^

Gordon do you have nexus 7 2103 version? And do you use tapatalk? Well. That Java update wasnt a Java update but a dodgy advert. Funny you mention snapdo... I just installed DVD styler and that wanted me to install that crap! No android won't be infected with toolbars and android being Linux based they shouldn't be able to infect system files without root access. However some dodgy sites might drop .apk files onto your phone so if you suddenly find yourself looking at a message saying cannot install file from unknown sources outside play store you know that is what has happened- you cannot install apps outside playstore without changing settings.

Neil. I disagre. I would totally hate it on a touch screen desktop. I never use metro for clicking stuff and The days of me clicking start menu (on my own PCs) is long from over. Since windows 7/Ubuntu 11.04 I press windows key and type what I want to load. Much faster

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Yes,Restless,it's the 2013 one but I don't use tapatalk, must look that up, not sure what the benefits of using it are.
It's a smashing little thing but I'm missing a proper keyboard and 22inch screen!
Had a look,there's a free AGV app you can download for security on the Nexus,looking into that. Is it any good?

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Viewing forums is horrible on android browsers 100% benefits...

I don't bother with those tbh.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I often browse forums on my S3 using the full desktop Chrome - does that make me odd?

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I often do myself. Though the display is about of a pain

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Don't worry about that,its being a Mod that makes yeh odd.:D

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Is it worth worrying about XP when there are vulnerabilities being discovered in SSL?

They are undetectable and will hit you whatever operating system you use...

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I was odd a long time before that :p

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Especially if you use Apple devices :D

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

use firefox and keep your antivirus/anti spyware up to date and you will be fine

hell i know people who ran win2000 right up until the launch of windows 7 with no problems at all

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

There is nothing at all wrong with being odd.....I have probably been odd since before you were born Neil...but I prefer to call it 'unique' free thinking,curious,different.
Being odd is not unnatural and should be celebrated...and just to keep on topic...I liked XP when I had it. Hated Vista, Windows 7 is OK.......won't have windows 8.

when I got windows seven I found that many of my old much loved programs were not compatible......why do they do that?
Especially as there was nothing on the market to replace what I had been using.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I think a lot of it is to do with operating systems changing from 16bit to 32bit and now 64bit. They drop compatibility with older programs so they can drop the old code needed to run them. Some of this is to do with improving performance, security and reliability.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Yes......But I wish they could bring out some of the programs in an updated format so that they could be used.
I used to have a greetings card progam....Picture It. I have found nothing which is as comprehensive and easy to use. I have bought other card making programs but they are nowhere near as flexible in their use. I used to make my own cards all the time, now I only make them very occasionally.
I still lament its passing.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I feel the same way about MediaStudio Pro - which had been bought by Corel and they decided to kill it off when Vista came out rather than make it compatible.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I had some Corel programs too which would not work with windows 7......Grrr!
Blooming Microsoft!

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

You could set up a dual boot system with Xp and Windows 7, or install XP on a virtual machine for those non-windows 7 compatible programs.
Picture It Express was a brill program.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Well, I could if I was clever enough, but I am not that savvy.
My Xp died a couple of years ago now...so it is probably resting in some landfill somewhere.

Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Virtual machines aren't difficult to set up but you would need a retail xp disk.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I didn't need XP retail. I went to the Microsoft site to follow instructions, expecting to have to bung in my old disc, but it just downloaded what I needed.

It's on 64bit Win7 enterprise, which is possibly the reason. It's a bit naughty to do it on a work machine because I only need to run XP to get the video editor for personal use.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

It`s a good workaround for incompatible hardware/software after an "upgrade". I have always needed the disk though, installed with vmware. Nice of Microsoft to offer it for free.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

It might be because you're using vmware, then. I used Microsoft's own virtual environment.

After a bit more digging - it is. If you're running Win7 pro, enterprise or ultimate and your PC is up to the job, you can install a virtual copy of XP.

There needs to be "hardware assistance" but you can check for that at the above link. If your machine is younger than 10 years old, it's probably got what it needs.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

There are lots of online card making sites that you can use to design and print cards without installing anything on your PC, here is one of them Free Printable Cards, Create and Print Free Printable Cards at home

Here is an installable application that works in Windows 7 that does it.

I haven't tried either myself though so can't recommend them.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Is that not a bit like saying they killed Office 95 when they brought out Office 97. I found the 2 versions so different it was like using someone elses software altogether

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Using win2000/me IS a problem. Ugh horrible os

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

2000 was the best operating system available at the time. Don't even mention Linux, it was for geeks and weirdos then, come to think of it, it still is :p

Re: Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Never used Linux till few years ago. At the time I wasn't using PCs. But at work we had to use it for years.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

if you have windows 7 you can get virtual xp free from microsoft so you can run your old programs if they wont work in compatability mode

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Not with Windows 7 home. You need to have pro, ultimate or enterprise.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

lol i forgot about that i only use ultimate mainly because you can also use god mode that makes finding what you want to do a lot easier with fewer clicks

shoulda been called lazy mode

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Well, I finally gave in to the inevitable a couple of weeks ago and bought a new PC with Windows 8.1. Goodbye XP, goodbye old Dell..
It's so much quicker and 8.1 is OK to use with the XP style opening. Mind you when I start going into the 8.1 menus I pull out in fear! Something to try on the cold wet days of winter.
I got the shop who sorted my old Dell problems out to build it, they cleaned up the rubbish on the Dell, transferred what I wanted onto the new one, added a few useful bits,brought it here and set it up for me. Handy if you're a numpty like me.
A couple of friends said I should go for a laptop but when I looked at theirs they were plugged into a proper keyboard and a big monitor so I didn't see the point. I like my big monitor and proper keyboard,I've got the space and I think you get 'more bangs for your buck' with a PC, no miniaturized bits involved and he spec'd it ready for an upgrade if I fancied it. My tablet gives me the portability I need, long gone are the days when I was doing Powerpoint presentations and needed a laptop, thank Heavens.
So happiness, long live 8.1!

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Gordon, it comes to us all in the end I reckon...having to change OS gives me the heebies.
Like you I like my desk top...and will keep one for as long as i can.
it is good that you got someone in the know to set you up.
I think you have to feel the fear and do it anyway :D:D(she says as she slings onto her Windows 7 for dear life)

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

When u get past the 'metro' start screen windows 8 is a lot like 7

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

except for that what takes two clicks to do in win 7 takes 10 clicks in win 8

i just slapped classic start from https://ninite.com/ on win 8 and its 10x less hassle

from what iv read the next operating system from microsoft will have the start button back after all teh complaints .Not everyone has touch screen and win 8 is designed for tablets and is god awfull to use with a mouse.Just like with vista theres a lot of laptops and computers been sold that shoudlnt have win 8 on them

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Two clicks. Well you are already clicking more than i am. On 7 and 8

There is truth to what you say. But I don't click my way through the start menu. Its why I've never bothered using hack progs for win8

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

I bought a new Toshiba desk top PC last year after having laptops for ages.
It is almost like a King size tablet, 23 inch flat screen, about two inch thick with remote mouse and keyboard. I hardly ever use the touch screen, it is harder work leaning forward to touch it than it is to use the mouse. Apart from the fact that the screen kept getting bits of chocolate biscuit or salt from crisps stuck to it. The good thing about a desk top PC is that if you knock your can of grog over (God forbid) it wont get ruined where as a laptop may do.
I think it's the same with every thing new that comes out, once people get used to it they forget the old stuff.
Don't forget, if Mr W.Gates and his buddies don't keep upgrading the software so folk can rush to be the first to have it how will they keep making millions of bucks.
Apple is just as bad bringing out new phones, having spending all night shivering outside the store then spending half a grand on a new one the customer gets home and can't find the difference.
Rant over, turn over and back to sleep, I only got up to go to the bathroom but couldn't resist a peep at the forum on my bedside iPad.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Just a quick example how I use windows 8 to load programs and control panel etc. For those that have windows 8 (bear in mind it helps to be 'ok' at the keyboard)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJViTq3FZUE

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Restless, you've really got to take something for your stomach, it sounds painfull. No nearer knowing how after watching the video and as for being 'OK' at the keyboard, I've no chance.

Margaret, I could have had Windows 7 which everyone seems to like but its mainstream support ends in January 2015, although extended support continues 'till 2020( long after I'd probably need it!). So I assume security updates at least will continue.
I asked the computer man about security on my tablet, whether I should download Avast or AVG- he said security on Android was very good and I didn't need to bother . What do our experts think, please?

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Gordon, I will stay with Windows 7 for as long as possible.
As Accyman says the Windows 8 program was formulated for phones and tablets with touch screens and is not suited to those of us who want to use a mouse...by the time support for Windows 7 disappears there will probably be another Windows that is more suited to other formats...or maybe there won't. if that proves to be the case then I will probably(and I hate to say this) look at a Mac system.
I never thought I would be typing this, but I like iOS system....but it is a touch screen.

I think that even android systems will fall prey to hackers eventually...it is just that Microsoft build systems with great security holes in them and patch them up after they have been released.....or that is what I have been told.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Android is Linux based. Chances are......

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Rob, I am sure that the more people who use android will make it just too tempting for hackers not formulate some way of getting into the system.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

Check this out... http://www.businessinsider.com/blueb...ability-2014-7

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Aargh........it's here already.
If someone can make it there are crims out there who are clever enough to break into it and do damage.
I don't have a smart phone......I have an old Nokia(no camera, no internet on it).....and that is switched off all the time except on the odd occasion I need to make a call.

Re: Windows XP - will you use after April?
 

He's wrong.
Get Lookout https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...id=com.lookout