Relaunch XP ?

From someone who doesn't do gaming, I find the gaming arguments a bit absurd. Gaming performance is much more dependent on hardware than OS and game coders are notorious for breaking the rules of the OS for the sake of performance.

In choosing and OS, I'm much more concerned with security and stability than gaming performance.

 

Three Similarities Between the Zombie Apocalypse and the Death of Windows XP

http://windowsitpro.com/windows-xp/three-similarities-between-zombie-apocalypse-and-death-windows-xp

 

MisterB,

Did you get that 2.5 TB HD working with WinXP 32 bit?

 

Classic Shell = Any version of Windows you want, under the speed, security, and flexibility of Windows 8.1..

Win Win situation, no brainer upgrade, even slow boxes will be faster under 8.1..

 

Not yet. I tried an esata cardbus adapter and it is no better than USB. I have Paragon GPT loader installed and no go, it is just for internal drives. I thought esata would have more of a chance. The USB box has firewire 400 and 800 as well but I think I will get the same result.

In response to the Zombie apocalypse doomsday scenario, what a load of rubbish. It will be more of an issue when Firefox stops supporting Xp than Microsoft. All that is going to happen is that there will be no more patches for exploitable vulnerabilities. In order to get exploited, the user of the system has to be exposed to an exploit just like to catch a disease, you have to be exposed to it. You are not going to catch HIV or Polio unless you put yourself at risk. The risk factors of both diseases are well known and so are the risk factors of being exploited. A reasonably secured installation of Xp that is not used for surfing porn, downloading wares or opening unsolicited email links is not going to run much risk of being exploited. A business user of Xp with a well administered system that doesn't install much new software is good to go for a few years to come and runs minimal risk with or without MS support. I've run Xp systems with updates complete disabled for years with no problems because I rely on my own knowledge and experience to secure my systems, not MS support.

 

Updates and hotfixes are issued for all supported MS operating systems and still, those same OSs are exploited thousands of times every day. Microsoft patches are- primarily- 'after the fact' responses to vulnerabilities which may have existed for quite some time. Very seldom do they represent a truly proactive defense.
As stated above, the principal reason for an operating system being compromised is not the lack of most recent patches but a lack of safe surfing practices.
Some people simply do not care and/or are just plain stupid.
There is no fix for that.

My install is XP SP-2 and has not been updated in more than eighteen months.
I run fully updated Firefox (no Beta), Sandboxie free, WinPatrol free, Zemana Antilogger, and MBAM Pro with real-time active. I also employ Comodo Time Machine version 2.6.138262.166 and re-image about every thirty days using either Macrium 5 free or Paragon 12 free.

Prior to re-imaging I scan the entire drive with MBAM and at least two AVs on disc; usually Avira and Emsisoft as well as portable Hitman Pro.

I honestly cannot remember the last time any malware was detected.

 

It is one thing for XP users to be made aware of the potential vulnerability of the OS once support for it ends. XP users can then make up their minds what they want to do. Upgrade to a new Windows OS. Maybe transition to Linux. Or to stay put with what they have, being mindful of potential risk(s). This steady drumbeat of XP/Zombie Apocalypse is, IMO, nothing short of fear-mongering. And calculated to incite XP users to upgrade thru fear.

That is a fact this is rarely seen in the narrative of fear.

 

I agree. In my test systems I have WinXP SP3 with no antivirus software and no Windows updates since SP3 was installed. They run fine. If I did get infected (has not happened) I'd restore a clean image.

Regarding large HDs. There are several ways you can make them work with WinXP.

If you have the "right" HD firmware, you could let a MBR system see a 16 TB HD. As a MBR disk, not a GPT disk.

 

Linux distros, such as Mint would be a nice change over. I agree.

But again, I will stress 8.1 is light as a feather, and fast as lightening, even on lower performing hardware. I was one of the harshest critics of 8, but 8.1 is really a fine product.

I'd say the choices are, 8.1 or LinuxDistro. I wouldn't recommend 7, because 8.1 can do everything 7 can, but faster.

 

There is one more similarity: they are both science-fiction scenarios that are not going to happen in real world

 

Don't be so sure.

100% of everyone I know that is still running XP has already migrated out, or will within the next few weeks. Even the most dire holdout, my father in-law, has moved to Windows 7.

No reason to be a luddite about the matter. It's like those guys that still have wood paneling on their wars in their homes, mullets, and shag carpet still. You don't want to be THAT guy.

 

Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool will continue to be provided for Windows XP through July 14, 2015

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2014/011914-microsoft-will-furnish-malware-assassin-277863.html

 

I have an old Sony Vaio that is running XP SP2. It is imaged every time I install some new software--sometimes that's a couple of year interval. I use the Norton AV/Firewall it came with. I manually unpack and copy a definition update about once a year. That's it for security and no problems at all since someone gave it to me several years ago. There's a good reason for this. All it is ever used for is Internet Radio and playing mp3s. It has a port replicator with standard RCA audio and video connectors and I have it hooked up to my stereo system as a digital receiver/tape deck. It gets around 20 hours a week online. It will have XP SP2 in this setup for as long as I own it. For the computers I do business on, the security setup is a bit more rigorous.

One thing that gets lost in a lot of computer security discussion is assessing the risk level.

 

Well, you don't know me, and I don't know you. However, because it is my choice and I am the ultimate decider for what I choose to do, does not a luddite make.

P.S. I hope you don't think me nosy, but what was your former monicker in this forum before you became, The Doctor? You, obviously, know your way around here.

 

it's time to bury XP with full honors.

some software i use will not be supported soon, as developers are not interested in investing resources on an OS that will not be supported by Microsoft starting April 8.
some programs from Coffee Cup Software, which i use to create websites, won't even run on XP.

XP might be good on old machine but on a new machine you gotta use a new OS that support new hardware.

 

If they released an "XP2" OS that felt like XP with the security enhancements that have come about since, it would sell like hot cakes. Unless they learn to start hating money at Microsoft it's hard to imagine they won't attempt it at some point. Agree that "one size fits all" is a very flawed concept. Let the Win8 architecture reign on small/mobile devices, and XP'ish on desktops. People can have their cake and eat it too, and they get to push 2 OS's simultaneously instead of one (mo $). And if you want to use the former on your desktop that's your prerogative, and an option. Everyone is happy.

 

Metro irritated me to no end at the beginning but it can be bypassed.
i barely don't see it anymore.

it has been even easier to avoid metro in 8.1 and who knows what Win 9 will bring...

 

Better things to come! Windows 8.x is probably the best Windows OS to date, but their attitude to force Metro was just the beginning of the consumer oriented OS. Fortunately, it kinda failed so better things are coming, I hope.

 

Agreed. 8.1 is remarkably good, probably the best OS Microsoft has ever done.

Classic Shell installed, and we can forget about metro, works perfectly, and you get all of the benefits of 8.1's speed, flexibility, security.

 

They don't need to relaunch XP. Win7 desktop is pretty acceptable. Most people are just turned off by Metro. They just need to find a way to satisfy the desktop users and still retain Metro. Having a Start Menu gives instant gratification. That itself is a good start (pun intended)

 

Sorry, but not everyone wants to use a backwards desktop over another backwards desktop. In fact, I highly doubt most people prefer XP's interface once they give 7 a chance, or even 8.

 

@JL - You are overlooking XP users who have not only tweaked XP to a fault over the past 10 years, have the ability to maintain it past EOL. I have absolutely no desire to go to another MS operating system. I am going to eventually upgrade. However, it will not be because of a dislike for XP. It will be because of a dislike for Microsoft. Thus, my choice wont be 7 or 8. Seen them both, used them on client machines and simply don't like 'em. When I get my act together a bit more I am going to the obvious advantages of Linux.

 

The article made no mention of tweaked interfaces, only keeping the default as if it's superior, which is laughable. I have nothing against XP as a whole, but I call BS to anyone who thinks that Luna is superior to Aero and maybe even Metro when it comes to the average user.

 

ClassicShell boots right to Start Menu, upgraded to look like Windows 8. It's very sexy, and fast as hell.. I barely EVER see the metro interface, and it's only when I choose to see it.. The speed, flexibility, and power of 8.1 is unmatched. Even over my linux Distros. It's simply faster, and more friendly than many Distros.

Whats not to like about this;

 

None of which I made mention of.