Options for When Microsoft Discontinues It's Support on Windows XP SP3

I wasn't quite sure where to put this thread, but I have a thread in another forum called: My Computer Growls! where I am concerned about my computer going bad and needing a new one.

But another factor that will influence whether or not I need to buy a new computer is that I read not too long ago that Microsoft will eventually be discontinuing support on Windows XP SP3.

Also, I just looked up information that says that SP3 support will only be lasting for two more years, ending in 2014:

Windows XP no longer supported

Therefore, I'm supposing if enough RAM and hard drive memory is installed in one's computer, they could install the Windows 7 OS...if they didn't want to buy a new computer.

Soooooo....I guess what I'm asking about in this thread is: if it would be practical to just 'supe up' your old computer by purchasing more RAM and hard drive memory, and the soon to be needed Windows 7 OS...or would it just be more practical to buy a brand new computer with Windows 7 already installed?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

I wouldn't invest anymore. Keep file backups, maintain it but when it eventually fails purchase new comp.

 

Windows XP will not stop working when Microsoft Discontinues
Support "if you want to keep using it" and I see no reason
to quit using it as long as you can find drivers that will work
with your hardware and you know how to sincere your system

 

Yeah, but from what I understand about the discontinuation of Microsoft support...that means that Microsoft will no longer provide the much needed security updates and patches for your computer...which would basically leave your computer at the mercy of any new vulnerabilities that are found in the Windows XP OS.

 

Yes once support for the system is fully discontinued there will be no more support packs or updates, the OS will still work, however the user will be on their own to fix the problems. In terms of your original post if you are able to swap out your RAM chips and processors without compatibility issues that would be an option. However if your computer is as old as XP I would recommend an upgrade to a new unit.

 

Once an OS becomes unsupported and its user base drops down, less malware targets it. Gradually a lot of malware becomes completely incompatible with the OS, just like the user applications and security software. Keeping an unsupported OS on the web is not a task for the novice. There are ways to secure the older systems and compensate for the lack of patches (default-deny), just as there's ways around the (often deliberately introduced) application compatibility problems (unofficial upgrades). Some of us are still using 98 by choice, and are running current software on it. Safely running an officially unsupported system requires you to take over that support. With XP, I have no doubt that there will be many unofficial projects to keep it viable. This approach is for those who want to keep using that OS. That said, you still have about 2 years before XP is unsupported.

 

I wouldn't worry about it,I see no reason to drop XP if your system is working good.

 

Exactly.

 

"Noone Particular" put it very nicely, though Windows 98...come on...

As long as you are aware of the major improvements and technology advances available to you in Windows 7 and even Vista...

I just hate, HATE when people say "Windows sucks" and you find out all they have ever used is XP. >.>

 

You would be amazed at what's been accomplished. Similar projects exist for Win 2000 though they're not as far along. As popular as XP is, and as much as a lot of people don't like the changes in the later versions, I have no doubt that there will be plenty of them for XP when support does completely end. Many of the "advances" in the newer operating systems have been retrofitted into earlier ones. On 2K for example, one project is implementing APIs found in XP into 2K, fixing a lot of the software incompatibilities that are appearing. On 98, KernelEx is doing the same thing. Don't underestimate these projects and what they are and can accomplish. That said, don't think they're just something the casual user can install and forget either. They're for users who want to stay with a particular OS. IMO, they're doing what MS should be doing, continously making the OS better instead of trying to force people to replace it. AFAIC, testing and working with these unofficial upgrades is much more interesting and rewarding than testing software or new security apps, plus it teaches you a lot more about your OS than most anything else you can do with it. It's especially fun to put an older OS on newer, more powerful hardware than was available at the time.

For those who love their XP units or completely dislike the newer ones, the end of official support isn't the end of the world. It may well be the beginning of a whole new one. Some of the 9X users who ignored the "get with the times" rhetoric are still here, laying the groundwork and building the tools.

 

In regards to this, if you love tinkering around with hardware then by all means, trick that computer out. But if stability is the most important thing, then you need to consider the life expectancy of your hardware (like Cudni said). Personally my favorite computer is the old one (which still runs XP BTW). But I'm always messing with its innards. And any important data is backed up to a separate hard drive so that if the old hardware finally gives out I won't lose the important stuff.

Don't forget about the Windows Upgrade Advisor that will tell you if your computer can handle the upgrade. (or if you would rather look for yourself, go here)

But who knows, maybe Windows 8 will be out by then and you'll rather have that.

 

Windows sucks,Well if they where refering to ME ( Millenium) Well then.thank the computer gods for the birth of XP.

 

And most of the people that slam ME never used it either. I ran it on a PIII 550 with 512MB of RAM and RAID 0 and it was the fastest OS I ever experienced. It gave me less trouble than any other OS and people still badmouth it to this day.

I can't wait to see XP die. All of the customers that call us have problems with XP. None of the Windows 7 customers have any of the same issues.

 

Well that may be true,they may bad mouth something with out ever trying it,but in my case ME was the worst OS I have ever had.I Upgraded to XP on the Same PC when it was released besides the kinks and bugs and Software compatibility in the beginning it was stable from the get go.

 

For me, XP has been an OK operating system. With some tweaking and stripping, it can be made quite a bit faster, lighter, and have a smaller attack surface. The real eye opener for me was when I repartitioned that PC and installed 98SE on it. The difference was unreal. The more I upgraded the 98 install, the faster it got. It became hard to want to use the XP side of the system. Except for an online game I like, the 98 unit was doing everything the XP unit did, except faster and equally stable.

I've been hearing statements like that since 98 was supported and XP was fairly new. I'd much rather see people tell M$ what to do with their planned obsolescence policy and either switch operating systems or take the unofficial support path. Real progress gets much faster when it isn't choked by the bottom line and user control.

 

when xp goes away i used this to remember xp

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=232753&page=30


or

xp in virtualbox

 

You use a mac theme on mint to remember XP?

I have to say I've got XP as a host on one machine and it functions but it sure isn't lightning fast. I'm of the paranoid variety so I've got lots of security "bloat" piled on it.

I've got XP in a virtualbox VM and it's super fast. Of course I don't update it or run any kind of protection- that one is purposely vulnerable.

 

When I want to see XP, I either run it directly or run it as a virtual guest system, on my 98SE host.

 

What VM software is available for Win 98SE? Or did you have to configure something yourself?

 

Virtual PC was 98 compatible before Microsoft got hold of it. It was also able to run some Linux, including some live CDs. I've used both GParted and an older Acronis rescue CD on it with no problems. They open up a lot of possibilities. Needless to say, this is not a standard issue 98 system on its original hardware. The hardware 98 systems came on wasn't able to support this kind of load.

A lot of the more recent Virtual systems have trouble with 9X systems, especially with them causing 100% processor usage on the host. The original version had that problem solved. MS removed those abilities the instant they acquired it, then tried to tell people that it wasn't possible. The installers for a lot of their stuff contain version checks, often for no other reason than to create "obsolescense". This has been standard practice for a long time, one they've managed to force on hardware vendors for drivers too.

XP user will find themselves in the same position, dealing with increasing incompatibility that's been deliberately introduced. If the unofficial upgrades that will show up for XP become popular, I'd expect MS to try some legal maneuver in order to kill the projects. They've pretty much ignored the 98 projects as there's so few using them. XP, thanks to its popularity could be a completely different matter.

 

"If the unofficial upgrades that will show up for XP become popular, I'd expect MS to try some legal maneuver in order to kill the projects. They've pretty much ignored the 98 projects as there's so few using them. XP, thanks to its popularity could be a completely different matter."


YOU CAN BET ON IT

 

You have two options:
1) Use a supported OS
2) Accept that you will be on a vulnerable OS

 

All systems are "vulnerable"
regardless of which one you run

 

I guess HM meant degrees of vulnerability.

 

Vasa's got it.

Saying "oh well you're vulnerable either way" doesn't change that to create an exploit for one machine is much easier than for another. The fact that an attacker doesn't have to create them at all means you will be especially vulnerable - XP won't be getting patched, hackers can keep on reusing the same exploits over and over.