End of XP Support April 2014

camdave · Jul 04, 2013, 15:48:50

Purely from the point of view of security, i.e. leaving aside the relative merits of Windows 7 and 8 (or even Linux) should I be concerned when XP support stops next April?

To put it another way should I be budgeting to replace a six year old desktop and a laptop of similar vintage early next year even if they have possibly another two to three years of life in them (assuming of course they don't develop major faults before then). We are 'safe surfers', do regular data backups and have always installed up to date anti-virus software etc. on my home computers for the past twenty five years.

Technical Ben · Jul 04, 2013, 17:20:07

You could possibly dual boot to linux for internet use, but that depends on how deep into the rabbit hole you wish to go.
Windows 8 is not too bad for just net use and light use.
Else a new laptop is quite cheap again if just for office use.

Clive · Jul 04, 2013, 22:05:48

Such a shame when there are so many good XP machines still in use. Is anyone likely to offer third party updates for this popular OS?

Simon · Jul 04, 2013, 22:59:49

I will be hanging on to it till the bitter end.

Gary · Jul 04, 2013, 23:42:08

Quote from: Clive on Jul 04, 2013, 22:05:48
Such a shame when there are so many good XP machines still in use. Is anyone likely to offer third party updates for this popular OS?

Why? It my be popular but it cant hold its own with the advances in security over the years, its what 14 years old, malware has changed and modern operating systems are much more robust. XP needs to die and people need to move on... Windows 7 was a great OS but people just don't like change and then they put themselves at risk.

Glenn · Jul 05, 2013, 08:01:48

On the same hardware Windows 8 runs far quicker if the correct drivers are available. The Dell E5430's that we use at work are acceptable with XP, but are very fast with Windows 8 installed.

Clive · Jul 05, 2013, 08:42:33

Quote from: Gary on Jul 04, 2013, 23:42:08
Why? It my be popular but it cant hold its own with the advances in security over the years, its what 14 years old, malware has changed and modern operating systems are much more robust. XP needs to die and people need to move on... Windows 7 was a great OS but people just don't like change and then they put themselves at risk.

Three of my machines are Win 7 but I still have an XP desktop for occasional use. If it gets wrecked I wouldn't be bothered.

Gary · Jul 05, 2013, 09:16:15

Quote from: Clive on Jul 05, 2013, 08:42:33
Three of my machines are Win 7 but I still have an XP desktop for occasional use. If it gets wrecked I wouldn't be bothered.

Does say alot though when an OS can live that long. I'm scared that banks still use older versions sometimes

Gary · Jul 05, 2013, 09:17:40

Quote from: Glenn on Jul 05, 2013, 08:01:48
On the same hardware Windows 8 runs far quicker if the correct drivers are available. The Dell E5430's that we use at work are acceptable with XP, but are very fast with Windows 8 installed.

They are fast because you cant fine how to us it.

In all fairness windows 8.1 should help but the pc market is not doing well anyway.

Glenn · Jul 05, 2013, 10:53:29

Windows 8 is simple to use, your Metro screen is the old start menu.

Gary · Jul 05, 2013, 11:39:34

Quote from: Glenn on Jul 05, 2013, 10:53:29
Windows 8 is simple to use, your Metro screen is the old start menu.

It may be for you or I Glenn but for many people and there are many videos on youtube showing this, and sales support it, 8 is a horrible, people don't like the Modern UI (they dropped Metro I think) 8.1 is bringing back the start button of sorts and the ability to boot straight into the desktop which people want. So MS has done a U turn of sorts, 8 has not sold well, 8.1 might not make it much better but time will tell. 8 its not intuitive for causal users who make up the vast majority of buyers.

When someone who used Windows seven cant work out how to shut down windows 8 its not great news. MS needed to have two distinct versions one for tablet one for desktop, the Surface has not taken off wonderfully either and the RT version is awful, apps are in short supply too and that's after a year. Windows 8 has left more machines on the shelf than before which is not good news for companies trying to sell it.

J!ll · Jul 05, 2013, 14:21:00

Quote from: Clive on Jul 05, 2013, 08:42:33
Three of my machines are Win 7 but I still have an XP desktop for occasional use. If it gets wrecked I wouldn't be bothered.

I have XP desktop and it's still going, just

also have Windows 8 on my laptop and I did not find it that hard to get used to or shut down.

camdave · Jul 06, 2013, 07:47:04

Interesting comments. However nobody has directly addressed the question of security after support for XP ends, I suspect there is no definitive answer to this one. I asked a local PC repair guy and he suggests just carry on as before using AV software and backups.

Note to J!ll: I helped make the windows for the first 'Oriana', launched in 1959 – does that make me the oldest poster?

As to Windows 8, I can't see what the problem is. Having 'played' with various machines in store it seems to be just a case of adapting to change.

tamtap · Jul 06, 2013, 08:17:40

To answer your question there are a lot. Becuase you are forever stuck at IE8 you are going to have all the vulnerabilities that are patched in IE9 and IE10.

For example http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36866.

Of course this doesn't include OS issues as well.

For home use I wouldn't worry too much but its not a supportable option in a production environment.

Simon · Jul 06, 2013, 09:24:40

The quick answer to that, of course, is to use an alternative browser.

What I'm considering is whether XP might be less targetted by malware writers, and therefore, the risks of infection diminish. I think the main problem though, will be that newer software won't run on it, and drivers for newer hardware won't be available.

Clive · Jul 06, 2013, 10:03:50

That is the time-honoured method of killing off old operating systems Simon. It can be very effective.

cavillas · Jul 06, 2013, 10:40:10

I know a number of people still quite happily using windows 2000, windows 95+ and even Millenium. They have no reason to change if their machines do what they require of them and I don't expect they will.

Steve · Jul 06, 2013, 10:48:19

I suppose if your not connected to the Internet it doesn't matter although if you are then ignorance is bliss.

Technical Ben · Jul 06, 2013, 18:03:48

Quote from: Steve on Jul 06, 2013, 10:48:19
I suppose if your not connected to the Internet it doesn't matter although if you are then ignorance is bliss.

I might leave a little XP machine running just to see what might happen.

J!ll · Jul 08, 2013, 16:16:32

Quote from: camdave on Jul 06, 2013, 07:47:04
Interesting comments. However nobody has directly addressed the question of security after support for XP ends, I suspect there is no definitive answer to this one. I asked a local PC repair guy and he suggests just carry on as before using AV software and backups.

Note to J!ll: I helped make the windows for the first 'Oriana', launched in 1959 – does that make me the oldest poster?

As to Windows 8, I can't see what the problem is. Having 'played' with various machines in store it seems to be just a case of adapting to change.

You could be!

camdave · Jul 17, 2013, 10:14:23

Thanks to all who have contributed to my threads on XP, Macs and Linux. The input has been very useful and I have now made decisions on all three of our machines.

My wife's six year old XP desktop will be replaced early next year with a new Windows 8.1 desktop. I will keep my four year old Sony all-in-one (VGC-JS1E) which runs Vista for as long as possible because it does the job and I like it - visually it is as smart as a Mac. My old re-con. Thinkpad running XP now has Linux installed as a dual-boot system.

Funds permitting I may even switch to a Mac when the Sony gives up, having used Windows for nearly thirty years I fancy a change. As you can tell I like to plan ahead!