Question:
Windows XP Being Discontinued. Can I Still Use It, Do I Have To Upgrade & How, Plus Many Other Questions. HELP!?
Just Me
2014-03-19 04:10:27 UTC
I've got a 2003 Dell computer with Windows XP. It meets my needs and I have no desire to buy the latest and greatest in faster computers or fancier operating systems. Cracks me up how people are always spending big money for the latest smart phone or gadget with a few more bells and whistles on it, having to learn the whole thing over again.

So I have several questions:

1- I hear Microsoft is going to discontinue support for Windows XP? Where can I get the current last update of XP from Microsoft? I don't think this computer has been updated in a while. I need a link for that.

2- Will anybody continue to offer upgrades for it in unofficial capacity where I can simply go to a site and download the latest patches for free? Link?

3- What would happen if I just continue to use Windows XP as time goes by? Would things like Flash Player no longer work?

4- I just heard on the news this morning that the majority of ATM machines are at security risk due to using XP. Will my computer be at risk, or will my free AVG anti-virus software continue to protect me so long as that is kept updated?

5- Can I update this computer's software to a newer OS or does that require hardware upgrades to? What would be the drawbacks of updating the OS but not the computer? And also what OS would you suggest? Can I get it for free?

6- While on the subject, what's the best free anti-virus software out there right now? One that doesn't have a time limit on use.

Thanks for the help!
Seven answers:
Argus Tuft
2014-03-19 04:22:14 UTC
You can still use, and yu can update it if and when MS decide to release an update. ALL official support will cease as of April 8, 2014.



If you choose to continue with XP, make sure your anti-virus is ALWAYS up to date. Google 'free anti-virus software' and chose what is best for you.



You can update to Windows Vista, or W7, but not all XP machines are compatible.
yogicskier
2014-03-19 04:11:59 UTC
Microsoft sells software, and if too many people keep using their old software they won't make any money. What this really means is that if any incompatibilities with new software or devices show up, Microsoft won't be there to fix the driver or other service on your computer. In other words, that new printer you buy next year might not work on your computer.



That doesn't mean that things like Flash won't work, because Adobe will be providing fixes as new web browsers show up or are updated. It all depends on the system involved and the number of people using it.



AVG works fine as an anti-virus, from what I've seen and heard. Just keep it up to date.



You might be able to upgrade to Windows 8 or something, but eleven years is pretty old for a PC. Even Macs, which are pretty good at backwards compatibility, can get a little rickety after that long.



The bottom line is that as long as enough people use XP there will be support. There are online forums that provide free software and updates (Sourceforce, for instance, has many good programs for free download). Check the link below for more info, or buy a Mac like I did.
?
2014-03-19 04:53:43 UTC
patch tuesday (the first tuesday of the month) should be the first week in April. these will be the last updates. making a back-up image of your c drive probably isnt a bad idea. you update xp through xp (internet explorer to be precise). if it hasnt been updated then just double-click on the little yellow shield in the right-side toolbar. that will start the update process.



any "updates" offered by anyone after official support finishes are almost certainly malicious.



you should already not be using IE for anything other than updating windows. flash will continue to support browsers that support XP (firefox for example)



i heard that POS (point of sale) machines are at risk. i was not aware that ATM machines ran windows. POS machines run XP embedded but the underlying technology is windows so it can be exploited in many of the same ways. also, they do not run firewalls, or antivirus or get updated like regular XP so are literally sitting ducks.



you will need an absolute minimum of 2GB of RAM and a P4 or better to run windows 7. 2GB and a P4 is the ideal setup to install something like linux mint on. this could be a good opportunity to learn about some alternative OSs.



microsoft will continue to update definitions for XP machines running microsoft security essentials for several years at least. it is adequate, free and requires little to no configuration. it does not expire.



100% of all security vulnerabilities related to IE are remedied by simply running as a guest user. once the last updates have been installed, add a password to your current computer account (admin) and downgrade that to guest user. create a second user with admin status and continue using your computer as before. when you need admin privilidge, simply enter your password when prompted. uninstall any software you dont use and install noscript, adblockplus anf ghostery in firefox. uninstall java and if possible put a NAT router between you and the internet. disable universal plug and play and stay away from bad sites. you should be fine.
David
2014-03-19 04:21:16 UTC
1. I think that Service Pack 3 is the latest. I guess they will release a service pack with all the updates to this point.

2.NO. Only Microsoft can offer updates and they announced that they will stop those.

3.I believe most applications will continue to support XP for at least 5 years. So there should not be any change.

4. Your computer will not be at risk, but if hackers find a security hole that is not patched there will be no way to patch it due to the discontinued support. So viruses can use it to infect your computer, but that is not so likely to happen.

5. Yes you can. I recommend at least Windows 7

6. There is no BEST antivirus...use AVG or Avast
anonymous
2014-03-19 10:52:18 UTC
A "Windows Update" modifies the existing operating system to close (or disable) a pathway within the structure of the operating system itself, that allows a malicious code to enter and do something it was not intended to do.

"Anti-virus" updates don't change those pathways (since the operating system is only known to Microsoft), but instead, those updates are essentially a list of known malware codes: a bit like a specific pattern. In theory, it would stop that code from "running".

This approach has the disadvantage of being one step behind the malware writers who constantly modify their code 'pattern' for the specific task of avoiding detection (among other changes). Even current OS "definition based" anti-malware defences have this 'after-the-fact' behavior.

There may be many "3rd party" security suites that will cover the XP system, but again: it will be after the exploit has been unleashed onto the 'Net, discovered and back-engineered, and therefore already infecting systems around the globe.



The above covers the realm of the operating system (XP), but additionally you must update all "3rd party" software as well. Those often provide these malware payloads with the power to sneak thru defences and gain access to those operating system flaws, and infect the device.

You can take your chances, but if you've been using XP for high-value on-line work, reconsider even connecting to the 'Net with it...even new OS's should be carefully reconsidered for that matter. There are so many malware payloads for Windows, they have stopped counting.



Why not get off the Microsoft crazy train all together?

Linux offers many flavors of free operating systems, and are far safer than any Microsoft one.

Not completely foolproof however: you must still keep your head in the game and watch for tricks used to get your information, or click links, and so on.

Here's one easy to use system: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing but there are many others available.

"Dual boot" allows you to keep your XP 'as is', then just use Linux to do Internet tasks.

------------

ATM's and PoS devices would be out of your hands. Until the banks move to alternate OS's, patrons will be exposed to a wide range of exploits, which will almost certainly grow as long as they remain with XP.

Inquire at your bank and ask what operating system they are using (although they may be tight lipped about these matters.) Get (in writing) what their policy is regarding account theft from compromised ATM's. If what they regard as acceptable doesn't suit your standards, find a bank that does.
?
2014-03-19 04:22:54 UTC
Microsoft will no longer be providing security (or other) patches for XP. That means that your computer, even though it is protected by an antivirus program, will be more at risk for exploits that target known vulnerabilities (these exploits may or may not be detected by antivirus programs).



You can continue to use it, for sure. Just be aware that there is a heightened risk, once support is dropped, and take precautions, like storing your data on offline media, making an image backup of the disk, before support ends, so you can restore it in case of a "catastrophe", and keeping your antispam/antivirus programs up to date.
anonymous
2014-09-08 13:09:06 UTC
problematic issue. look into at yahoo and bing. this may help!


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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