What will you do when Windows XP support ends?

[windude99]

I'm wondering , since I still have one XP box (its actually installing XP right now) that is going to run XP and the programs that I have that won't work on Windows 7 (including games that wouldn't play well in Virtual PC) and I have a Windows 7 license for it, but it's one of those stupid OEM licenses that if I used it I would be breaking Microsoft's license terms. So, what will you do with your remaining XP boxes once support ends on April 8, 2014? Also, any tips to help keep XP secure even after support ends are welcome.

 

[Maguscreed]

All I have left using it is a old... nearly ancient laptop that I haven't even pulled out of my pack in many months. Since I've all but quit using it already thanks to my smartphone and the fact that there are computers pretty much everywhere I go anyhow. I'll probably just let it sit in the closet until the end of time now.

If microsoft wanted to do something really cool, they'd pull all the copy protection from it. An allow it to be shared under a creative commons license. That would be of great benefit to a great many people. They've pretty much run the profit dry on it anyhow.

 

[windude99]

All I have left using it is a old... nearly ancient laptop that I haven't even pulled out of my pack in many months. Since I've all but quit using it already thanks to my smartphone and the fact that there are computers pretty much everywhere I go anyhow. I'll probably just let it sit in the closet until the end of time now.

If microsoft wanted to do something really cool, they'd pull all the copy protection from it. An allow it to be shared under a creative commons license. That would be of great benefit to a great many people. They've pretty much run the profit dry on it anyhow.

Yea, but I read a comment on an article talking about open sourcing it would be a good idea and the commenter said that since there si XP code used in Windows 7 today, people could build a really good os that is similar to Windows 7 for free.

 

[Maguscreed]

Competition is a good thing. I wish there was something to truly combat windows on the market. free or not.
As it stands being forced to choose between mac and pc, well it's never going to be an issue for me. I enjoy my games and like being able to fix my own computer when something goes wrong with it.

...and don't dare try to tell me linux is an option. It is not an option for a normal user. It just isn't for too many reasons to list. I understand the support it gets and people are very diehard for it. They want it to be that 3rd option, they even love it. It just doesn't change the reality of the fact linux is NOT user friendly.

I'm steering off topic.

 

[pparks1]

I only have XP on old crap test boxes anyway. I'm not really worried about security there at all.

 

[karlsnooks]

windude,
Following options come to mind:
1. Use as door stop,
2. Use as boot anchor,
3. Use as weight on fishing / crabbing line.

Seriously, just keep using XP. The system won't crash and burn. If you plan to access the internet, then I would recommend installing a good free AV and then updating the AV regularly.

That's if you are using MSE, since you will no longer be receiving MSE updates.

 

[Maguscreed]

actually as xp inevitably falls out of favor after this.
It's likely viruses targeting it will become far less common too, as they target holes in the newer os's.

 

[windude99]

actually as xp inevitably falls out of favor after this.
It's likely viruses targeting it will become far less common too, as they target holes in the newer os's.

Well, the bad thing is that a lot of the malware targeting newer os's vulnerabilities affects XP also.

 

[pparks1]

We still have 2 more years. Are people really going to be clinging onto too many boxes? If so, they probably don't care that much about updates anyway.

 

[Maguscreed]

Well building my new machine about bankrupted me so I can't blame people that don't game and don't feel they really NEED the newer more powerful machine, for holding on to anything that works.

Regardless of what the news tells you we are still in the midst of a world wide recession after all.

 

[pparks1]

^ True, but most people that I know who are still rocking old XP machines are finding that
1). They need more RAM and old RAM is expensive now
2). Old machines have IDE controllers only and IDE hard drives are becoming harder to find
3). Hard drives and such are failing.

When they get down to replacing some of these parts, they often times find it advantageous simply to just buy a new machine.

 

[Maguscreed]

Those factors I also considered when I finally did upgrade, the previous machine had been a beast too. Actually held the number 1 spot in it's category on the futurmark site for a brief moment. (somewhere between a day and 2 weeks I honestly don't know when the other guy knocked me down) When it was first built and clocked up.
The big problem is ...as you said the increasing price of the older gear.

 

[karlsnooks]

When pocketbooks are thin, then a new computer is not in the plans.

In fact, go to the thrift stores, goodwill stores, or anything of that nature and you will find that you can pick up old stuff dirt cheap. Better yet, many people throw it away and it's there for the picking. Places like Craig's List and Angie's List are excellent places to find 100% free old computers.

 

[windude99]

When pocketbooks are thin, then a new computer is not in the plans.

In fact, go to the thrift stores, goodwill stores, or anything of that nature and you will find that you can pick up old stuff dirt cheap. Better yet, many people throw it away and it's there for the picking. Places like Craig's List and Angie's List are excellent places to find 100% free old computers.

Someone above said that Microsoft Security Essentials which is my primary antivirus) will stop receiving updates. Do they mean definition updates or program updates. The new version of Microsoft Security Essentials (4.0) is so much better at detecting malware than previous versions. If I have to stay with 4.0 for a while, then I will because it does really well at detecting malware.

 

[F5ing]

I understand MSE will continue, but only for Vista and 7. Defender will be for 8 and higher (but will have MSE functionality built-in.

 

[seekermeister]

I only have XP as a secondary system on my HTPC. I almost never use it, but keep it...just in case. I don't think that it matters if it is supported or not, because it is not connected to the internet, so vulnerability is not an issue. I shall keep it just as it is, until I decide when to get rid of it.

 

[karlsnooks]

No more updates of any kiind after xp expires.

 

[M1GU31]

i'm surprised ppl still want to use xp even though it's ancient, I still have a machine with xp and it seems to run ok but the cpu seems to spike randomly when putting it in full screen mode on youtube. I'm guessing the processor or the machine it's self is starting to ware out unfortunately or there's something I missed that I haven't found out yet.Anyways I can still see people using xp until the machine its self breaks down then they will end up buying new pcs containing either win 7 or win 8 as its primary OS.

 

[V43L1N]

Personally, I'll be throwing a party the day support is pulled for XP...

On a more serious note: As a sysadmin I will be relieved when support is pulled. A decent amount of the older systems I am responsible for run XP, and they have frankly become a burden. As pparks1 said, older hardware is starting to get pricey, and the XP systems we are responsible for run on ancient hardware.

Any system that comes in now, is replaced with a Windows 7 box and we call it a day.

 

[Maguscreed]

HD video really does want a dual core.
Most the machines running xp I'm guessing are old single core Pentiums.
My last xp machine was a dual core, but the fx60 that was in it cost nearly a grand.