Get your family and friends off WinXP...

[azasadny]

Microsoft to drop Windows XP version of Security Essentials

On April 8, 2014, Microsoft will stop supporting Windows XP, meaning that the company will no longer provide security updates for the ageing operating system. From this date on, Windows XP users could be open to attack thanks to eternally unpatched zero-day vulnerabilities. Microsoft has undertaken a campaign to encourage users to upgrade, but despite this, Windows XP’s total market share is still 30.43 percent and the OS appears to be the second most popular version of Windows.
Unpatched vulnerabilities may not be the only thing that Windows XP users will have to worry about from April. As well as ceasing support for the operating system, Microsoft will also stop providing signature updates for the Windows XP version of its anti-malware app Security Essentials. Microsoft will also stop allowing users to download this version of the software.
While some have doubted that Microsoft will drop support on this date, the company has consistently maintained that once April 8 arrives, then Windows XP will not be patched anymore. This latest move is yet more proof that Windows XP users need to move onto a newer version of the operating system as soon as possible.

[Don Ro]

I've got XP Pro. Update to what version?

[GH85Carrera]

Win 7 is pretty good. It takes some re-learning.

[biosurfer1]

Windows 7 isn't bad. I use Windows 8 on my laptop at home and it's just OK if you ask me. Seems like easy, common items now take 2-3 clicks to get to when it was only a single click before.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Win 7 is pretty good. It takes some re-learning.

But it's much more "user-friendly" than 8. IMO, if you're proficient with XP, WIN 7 will be a relatively easy transition; they dumbed it down quite a bit.

[azasadny]

Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (with Classic Shell add-on). I personally think most people would be happier with Windows 7...

[VaSteve]

Define "zero day". I always thought that was release date. No?

[VaSteve]

Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (with Classic Shell add-on). I personally think most people would be happier with Windows 7...

How do you get classic shell? I hate my windows 8 pc

[notmytarga]

My work (Dignity Health) has all XP - they reload it on Win 7/8 hardware they are buying. This also means that Internet Explorer is stuck at IE 8, which means that many websites and web based utilities don't function. All this so that all the old CHW stuff works.... Maybe their IT is good enough to keep distributing patches internally. I can do a multi-step workaround on some machines to get Google Chrome working to allow more functionality - don't tell anyone! Most machines are pretty locked down. There could be a lot of changes coming up. I think our Electronic Health Record system is based Win 3.1.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

How do you get classic shell? I hate my windows 8 pc

I believe it's just an add-on. You should be able to google it. One of my friends mentioned getting it because he hated 8 so much (older guy--50s--so, resistant to technological change and learning new things).

[azasadny]

A "zero day" is a computer security exploit that is released into the public without any prior warning or patch released to prevent it. "Zero days" to get ready or prevent it...

[VincentVega]

Vista!

[azasadny]

You can download Classic Shell from Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

[id10t]

Originally Posted by notmytarga

My work (Dignity Health) has all XP - they reload it on Win 7/8 hardware they are buying. This also means that Internet Explorer is stuck at IE 8, which means that many websites and web based utilities don't function. All this so that all the old CHW stuff works.... Maybe their IT is good enough to keep distributing patches internally. I can do a multi-step workaround on some machines to get Google Chrome working to allow more functionality - don't tell anyone! Most machines are pretty locked down. There could be a lot of changes coming up. I think our Electronic Health Record system is based Win 3.1.

Hard to patch software when you don't have the source code.


Long live Linux, Free Software, and the GPL

[kach22i]

I still have a working computer using Windows 98-SE, don't use it much and it's not connected to the Internet.

I used that computer regularly for at least three years after they stopped supporting it.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by notmytarga

My work (Dignity Health) has all XP - they reload it on Win 7/8 hardware they are buying. This also means that Internet Explorer is stuck at IE 8, which means that many websites and web based utilities don't function. All this so that all the old CHW stuff works.... Maybe their IT is good enough to keep distributing patches internally. I can do a multi-step workaround on some machines to get Google Chrome working to allow more functionality - don't tell anyone! Most machines are pretty locked down. There could be a lot of changes coming up. I think our Electronic Health Record system is based Win 3.1.

It was our clinicals software holding us back as well. Still doesn't work on anything but IE8/9 and you have to run in 32 bit. Sucks, but we are finally able to move off of the XP machines which is good because we have to. HIPPA requires an OS that is not EOL. Can't wait to change clinicals software and get out of the 90s.

By the way, we are moving existing XP Pro to Win 7 Pro.

[MysticLlama]

Just go straight to 8.1 and set the boot to desktop option.
Right click the taskbar, go to properties, change the option on the navigation tab.
When on the new Start screen, find the apps you use a lot, right click them and pin them to the taskbar.

My work (Dignity Health) has all XP - they reload it on Win 7/8 hardware they are buying. This also means that Internet Explorer is stuck at IE 8, which means that many websites and web based utilities don't function. All this so that all the old CHW stuff works.... Maybe their IT is good enough to keep distributing patches internally.

The problem isn't that Microsoft just quits distributing stuff, it's that they aren't writing any more patches to distribute in the first place.

I am trying to get my planning done for this, the workstation in the company are more than half 8.1, with a few 8s and 7s around, but some of our POS systems are still running XP based stuff, so all of that has to be flipped.

[VincentVega]

Vista!

[John Rogers]

In the past year I went to several seminars where the speakers all said "Windows XP users could be open to attack thanks to eternally unpatched zero-day vulnerabilities". So when the questions time came along I asked just what the hell that means and if someone or some group was going to distribute a virus or something, why wait until later? None of the speakers could explain any details and I got the idea that they were spouting off memorized information? I also hear this from government security "experts" and they don't seem to know why or what? It seems to me that if a user is not smart enough to not visit bad websites, not have anti virus/malware installed and blindly install everything Microsoft sends their way, then they will get hit no matter what!

[intakexhaust]

For home or private use, especially car heads I wouldn't trash XP just yet. There's a small demand for older laptops with early OS plus cables needed for earlier car components.

Another advantage for some might be running older software and are comfortable with it. Why spend for updated versions? ACAD for example. Use the older PC but not for online use. Then bite it and get a new $200 laptop for your social, net use. Cost is close to what the OS might cost anyways.

You could also run XP on VM - virtual machine with XP if you have Win 7 pro or ultimate. That way its isolated. Download free from MS. Works great for all older programs.