Please, let Windows XP die with dignity

[andrew129260]

I think I was misunderstood. I understand that XP support is ending for all XP. I have known that for a very long time. What I am saying is since windows xp will expire, and once it stops getting updates, even though its running in a virtual machine, is their a risk? The reason I am asking is I want to install xp mode for fun, and it would be nice to have it there. But I do not want it there if its going to cause a security issue. Especially due to the fact that programs in xp mode "pop out" and into windows 7. Making me think its possible or highly likely a virus could do the same thing.....
Granted threats are always possible, but I hope this makes sense.

Maybe the security analysts of the forum have a better idea?
Of course, I would like everyone to weigh in on this.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
XP mode could conceivably be at risk - however if you run XP as a VM using something like VMware vmplayer and DON'T connect it to the internet then it will be perfectly 100% safe -


XP MODE doesn't perform well compared with running XP as a true virtual machine --if you don't have a separate copy of XP there is a way to extract the XP system and key from the XP MODE system -- Google for it as it's a bit of a hack and against the rules to discuss that here.

Once you have a separate XP system install that under VMWARE just as you would install it on a physical machine - and after powering up run the "Install VMware tools" application - which will update mouse / video / other graphic and audio drivers and it will run perfectly. You can also Integrate with running machine by operating in "Unity" mode too although I rarely use that method preferring to run as a separate machine.

I suspect though if you MUST have internet connection on your XP machine then use a browser like CHROME since support for the older browsers used in XP will be ended (if they aren't already).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Solarstarshines]

I have used most of windows OS over the years

I have to say a piece of XP went to vista and a piece went into 7 it's not completely dead it's alive in Vista and 7

As a full OS I think that was the best one they ever produced very lean and fast XP it was nice knowing you but like all things you must walk on into the Sunset RIP

 

[Frank1]

I don't plan on retiring my XP Desktop for quite some time...
I'll keep you all posted on how it goes occasionally...

I'm sure it will still work. But will you use it with an internet connection?

 

[Night Hawk]

I have used most of windows OS over the years

I have to say a piece of XP went to vista and a piece went into 7 it's not completely dead it's alive in Vista and 7

As a full OS I think that was the best one they ever produced very lean and fast XP it was nice knowing you but like all things you must walk on into the Sunset RIP

The only real thing XP brought in with was NTFS over continuing to run with Legacy as far as Dos mode and Fat. XP was a rush job loaded with errors finally seeing most of them addresses with SP3 following the ME Flop story which some still say was a good version it's own day. Here I simply had dual booted 98SE with XP in order to keep some of that old Legacy stuff running until there wasn't any capability for 98 to be found.

Now for seeing a VM actually include device drivers for board, video, sound, expansions, etc. one open source program still needs a good lookover called Boch's Supposedly you can drop just about any OS and run it there VM on Vista, 7, even 8. It won't be as Gravy Nice as far as setting things up as you would tend to see with either VM Player or the Oracle VirtualBox however.

 

[tinmar49]

I have a copy of XP that dates back to 2002, it cost £99 at the time and Microsoft have supported it ever since without charging me a single penny more. I think it has been a bargain. When support ends I will probably delete it and put Linux on. Altogether I have four XP's two home premium and two pro. I will keep one of the pro versions and remove the Ethernet controller drivers as the pc has 7 AND 8 on it. I am lucky to have several alternatives to XP. When I compare XP to 7 and 8 it does seem very dated.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Windows XP is absolutely rubbish in comparison to Windows 7 and Windows 8, in my opinion, if people have the choice, why do they want to say with Windows XP?

I'll be annoyed, if people start bashing Microsoft and Windows, when the deadline comes and their computers are full of malware and such; Microsoft have gave warning for years and Windows XP is extremely outdated now.

 

[Night Hawk]

Windows XP is absolutely rubbish in comparison to Windows 7 and Windows 8, in my opinion, if people have the choice, why do they want to say with Windows XP?

I'll be annoyed, if people start bashing Microsoft and Windows, when the deadline comes and their computers are full of malware and such; Microsoft have gave warning for years and Windows XP is extremely outdated now.

I couldn't agree more! XP was actually a rush job coming out only one year the next January following ME which flopped! MS simply took an updated 2000 kernel and added Fat support to allow things like set up floppy disks to work proceeding the now much more commonly seen usb flash drive installation key or mounting an iso image. XP lacked what would soon become standard supports.

Besides the fast turnovers in hardwares like drive capacities where SP1 broke the 137gb barrier XP was also loaded with bugs! SP2 was a large help for many but it took SP3 to address much more of the original design flaws MS never worked out in all those years. 7 on the other hand was El Perfecto as far as how MS wanted it to be a success and as we have all seen MS put the effort in and it paid off!

With 8 you may see the quality of the newer OS but unfortunately have to realize the direction MS was taking to expand into the tablet and Win Phone catagories dumping the traditional items(gui, Media Center, etc.) in favor of touchscreen devices. When people started complaining MS took a fast leap at seeing an 8 2nd edition or 8.1 coming soon! They forgot however that the Start button people wanted back wasn't a touchscreen but click on button for the desktop. oops!

7 still has the upper hand in several ways besides that however. For one thing you can readily find at least beta versions of drivers while 7 was still in RC form and some while still in beta. Vista didn't have that success when people were waiting over a year and some OEMs never bothered to see any 64bit drivers there to this day!

 

[lehnerus2000]

I'll be annoyed, if people start bashing Microsoft and Windows, when the deadline comes and their computers are full of malware and such; ...

You'd better brace yourself.

... Microsoft have gave warning for years and Windows XP is extremely outdated now.

Maybe things are different in the UK & the US, but I haven't seen any prime time TV ads from MS explaining that.
I also haven't seen any messages when I perform XP updates either.

I wouldn't be surprised to discover that some people, who are running XP, are unaware that they are running XP (despite the various splash screens and logos).

 

[Night Hawk]

MS won't be using any tv time to display warnings about any of their older products especially those 12yrs. or older even. That wouldn't serve their interests. Instead as any other company would be doing is promoting their latest(Surface and 8 as well as soon to be 8.1).

Now as far as XP machines suddenly dieing for no reason that doesn't make any sense either. You can still run 98 on a machine if you have the drivers as well as connect online using something other then IE 3 or 4, 5 however. Likely if someone had a Netscape or other open source browser made for use on Windows but one of the early versions written for Legacy that would be what would work. Web sites now of course will require at least IE 6.0 while geared for IEs 7, 8, 9, 10, and soon to be 11. Java, flash players. etc. would be a factor there.

Instead of simply seeing each old XP install quit out of the blue instead notification of support no longer available would most likely be what you would see when having the automatic updates set as well as checking manually. Around that time most support sites of course will be starting to archive XP drivers and tools since they won't be offering any active support either.

 

[x BlueRobot]

I've warned my step-dad about Windows XP support ending as soon as I heard about it, he said he would buy a new laptop when the time comes, which is fair enough in my opinion, since he usually just uses his iPhone to search things now.

Anyone, who needs support for older programs, could either look for a new alternative or run Windows XP in a VM without connecting the Internet.

 

[sfc]

Still now there are a lots of desktop computers which are using Windows XP. Some people are used to using XP. XP will have to die as it was once born, but I think it should be given a little more time to live.

 

[Shadowjk]

How much longer? 13-14 years not long enough?

 

[x BlueRobot]

Still now there are a lots of desktop computers which are using Windows XP. Some people are used to using XP. XP will have to die as it was once born, but I think it should be given a little more time to live.

Windows 7 is built around the same visual framework as Windows XP; Windows 8 is the only modern Windows operating system which strays away from this, hence one of the reasons many consumers have trouble with using Windows 8.

 

[Windows i7 920]

Personally, I hated Windows XP. I had nothing but issues with it, especially with USB stuff. Not to mention that it was (IMO) one of the ugliest GUIs in the history of the PC. Windows Vista was much less buggy for me, and I loved the style. Then with Windows 7... yes, Windows 7 is nice, but I don't like the taskbar as much as I liked the taskbar of Vista. Same goes for 8. Although, I do find the the whole tablet and desktop interfacing mixing to be very interesting. I have even found some productive ways of taking advantage of it.

For me, Windows 8 and Windows Vista are my two favorite versions of Windows.

 

[Night Hawk]

Still now there are a lots of desktop computers which are using Windows XP. Some people are used to using XP. XP will have to die as it was once born, but I think it should be given a little more time to live.

Do you feel lucky? That's precisely what another report about XP's retirement asks with a photo of Dirty Harry(Clint Eastwood) making a point. http://www.sevenforums.com/security...-essentials-download-86-64-a.html#post2327475

I have close friends here who for the longest time wouldn't even consider Vista let alone 7 or now 8 with 8.1 pending on the horizon. I wouldn't mind seeing 98SE stuffed on a second drive or VM but it's simply too old to use on a day to day basis not having seen any support now for a decade or so! Finally one friend is now constantly using a 7 laptop and another who bought an 8 laptop someone else didn't want only a few months after 8's launch date. He now has 7 installed rather XP or Vista on the older Vista case I passed along when his old XP case literally fell apart face plate falling off in pieces, etc.

For that friend he considered Vista since he had already bought a Vista laptop for his other half shortly before 7's launch. By the same token I had once been reluctant to rush into 98SE having liked 95 many moons ago but knew that day was coming and never regretted moving up from 95 back then. XP? soon turned into a headaches in numerous ways with all types of apps if something hung leaving you to hard boot out of The Blues(BSoDs). Vista brought in an improved crash control process being a newer OS plus being a more stable kernel but was growing in size promptly 7 to be refined and seeing the new MinWin kernel(more of a modular form) continued on in 8.

Advancements as well as overall improvements in things like security, reliability, and for the fan clubs performance are what you see when going newer as well as continued support moving onward from old to new as with any other software company. XP now is simply too old and soon to be forgotten by most who recognise the need to move forward.

Now as far as 8 and 8.1 soon to be MS decided to make a move into the tablet. Win Phone arena with the latest not simply because they were modernizing but looking to expand into other markets. Even Bill Gates expressed in one interview someone posted awhile back that he still favors "His Windows" and stated simply wait for Windows 9! Food for thought by the former MS CEO.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Still now there are a lots of desktop computers which are using Windows XP. Some people are used to using XP. XP will have to die as it was once born, but I think it should be given a little more time to live.

By the way: Welcome to the Seven Forums!



XP will live on way past the end of support. Its use will decline as the hardware that it is running on fails.

 

[Night Hawk]

I could still put 98 on a VM without issue showing how true that is. Besides older hardware failing however don't forget the newer hardwares board, expansion card for video, sound, tv tuner cards, printers, and all else will soon no longer see any driver support for the discontinued OS! This will even more true with the OEMs with their new and new to come models for desktops as well as laptops, tablets not offering any XP support either.

Now as for running XP or some other Legacy version on VM you can always see that but it wouldn't for much other then nostalgia since the old pc games especially those can't even detect sound cards or onboard sound since no drivers were even written as well as the limitations in those Golden Oldies. Likewise XP has limitations only expanded on further at this due to all the newer hardwares and devices that have come about over the years. SP3 was the last hope for XP there as it finally addresses a number of issues with the older version.

The XP die hard fans will no less want to continue running the older version but end up running into a countless list of snags once all support is dropped. So you can see how a form of Catch 22 dilemma will appear for anyone trying to keep XP alive for any period of time once this comes about.

 

[DreadStarX]

Still now there are a lots of desktop computers which are using Windows XP. Some people are used to using XP. XP will have to die as it was once born, but I think it should be given a little more time to live.

XP's already had its time line extended by a year or so, once. Microsoft is ready to put their greatest OS to rest, where it can live in peace, in our memories.

 

[Computer0304]

Nooooo, I will miss XP. It was the first Windows OS I had. Well, good thing I upgraded my desktop computer to Windows 7 this year. But I actually know that some people that I know are still using Windows 2000 and Me and 98 and even 98. Goodbye XP. RIP XP