Do a good deed today, uninstall Windows XP.
Let's compare the major computer operating systems at the moment. We have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. We have various Linux distributions, and we have Mac OS X.
Of these, obviously Windows XP has the weakest security, by far, and Windows XP has the biggest marketshare, too. Globally close to half of all computers still run XP.
And today, Windows XP is ten years old.
The attackers have never had it so good. The easiest target is also the most common target. This can't change quick enough.
Do a good deed today. Uninstall an XP. (Not me I Love XP)
Do a good deed today. Uninstall an XP.
(22 posts) (13 voices)-
Anonymous
UnregisteredPosted 12 years ago # -
Idunnobutiwastold
Gaming AcolyteWindows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File; 544 MB:
https://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?DisplayLang=en%3ftid%3d1213391297&id=25129Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers; 316 MB:
https://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=24
Posted 12 years ago # -
mikiem2
ModeratorPersonally I'll stop using XP when I no longer have to run XP -- today there's still several things I can't do in Vista/7. With that out of the way so I don't appear a win7 automaton/fanboy, the latest stats-related info I came across is here: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1762614
While the Gartner press release may seem to lean towards pro win7, I think there's still useful info to be had -- if as they forecast win7 is running on 42% of PCs worldwide, with the Mac OS on 4.5% & *nix <2%, XP still has the majority, probably more so as those figures don't appear to count all the regularly licensed copies running in VMs [not the XP Mode that comes with some versions of win7], nor the dual-boot machines, many of which came out of the box with win7.
Posted 12 years ago # -
sukibabe
Games Junkie"Globally close to half of all computers still run XP." -- we're in good company!
"And today, Windows XP is ten years old." -- Happy Birthday, XP! And many more returns!!
DITTO
Like it was once said, they will have to pry it out of my cold dead hands!
When I talk to businesses on the phone, I make it a point to ask them what computers they are using, I have never had one say anything but XP!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Anonymous
UnregisteredFrom someone who was very reluctant to change from XP to Win7. Lose XP, install Win 7 for a smoother faster OS!
I now run Win 7 and haven't looked back! Have yet to find any worthwhile game or program that won't run in Win 7! Compatibility mode is easy to set up when needed.
Vista was not a good option, but Win 7 is. Just check that drivers are available for any plug in hardware, notably printers, scanners and graphics tablets. You'll need Windows Live mail if you use your ISP's pop3 email as Win 7 doesn't come with Outlook Express.
Biggest task other than install was restoring my previous email, found in the windows.old, documents and settings, user account, local settings, identities folder. (In the windows.old folder you will find all old documents and the old Program file folder, as Win 7 unlike XP doesn't kill off all of your old documents!)
The new user account is now found in C:\users by default, not docs and settings as in XP. You will need to reinstall major program applications. But you would need to do this anyway on re-installing XP unless you've ghosted the OS install and drive.
Biggest gain:- I haven't had to re-install Win 7 as I fairly frequently had to with XP (even with SP3), given that I install/uninstall a lot of programs and games to try them out!
You might need some basic online tutorials for Win 7, and if you need to access any folder that Win 7 blocks, just download the 'Surf' file manager and run this as an administrator and you'll be able to access ANY previous or current file/folder. :)
Posted 12 years ago # -
RosnSC
MemberChazzo said, "I now run Win 7 and haven't looked back!"
One of our 2 computers runs Windows 7, while the other (mine) runs XP. I use the Win 7 one because it is much newer/faster. Having said that, I have definitely "looked back". I still prefer XP over 7. For one thing, I find it easier to find a downloaded file on my XP computer than on the 7 one. Case in point is today's game giveaway download. I happen to be using the 7 machine, right now, and downloaded the game onto it. I had to hunt and hunt for it. Much simpler on the other one.
Posted 12 years ago # -
copmom
MemberI'm an old diehard. I stick with XP! There have been so many new kinds of Windows that were problems (like Vista), that I prefer sticking to the tried and true. When I went from Win98 to XP it was like I finally had a brand new computer, and until I know that Win7 is truly an improvement, I'm sticking with what I've got.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Anonymous
UnregisteredAt work I recently installed Win 7 on my laptop to be my host OS. I am running VMware because some of the software I use still doesn't like 7. At home I am using Win 7 on my newest machine but have another machine running XP(which I hardly use anymore). I would say it all depends on your situation and how you are using your machine.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I purchased a new computer a couple of months ago and it came with Windows 7. I have no complaints (yet anyway) but I still like XP. Mostly I suppose because I am more familiar with it than 7. Learning 7 is an ongoing process for me since 7 is more like Vista than it is XP and I've never spent much time on Vista.
Setting up 7 was easy and transfering my pictures and such was a breeze with the transfer cable system. For $25 I didn't have the headache of doing it on my own. A couple of the games transfered but most did not. I do still have the XP machine set up so I can always go back and play those anyway. ;)
I am glad I upgraded and have been enjoying learning Windows 7, I just don't want to get rid of XP.
Posted 12 years ago # -
mikiem2
ModeratorI now run Win 7 and haven't looked back! Have yet to find any worthwhile game or program that won't run in Win 7! Compatibility mode is easy to set up when needed.
Purely FWIW, XP allows kernel mode software & drivers -- with a lot of audio hardware/chips that was how manufacturers got stuff working. Alternatives are starting to appear, but, using Creative & M-Audio as examples, they're just now getting things working somewhat well that they couldn't get functioning since Vista!
Another area that's problematic in win7 is video... it's less a problem nowadays simply because fewer people are capturing/recording analog, having moved on to streaming video, OTA digital etc. Win7 does finally have the Media Center MS should have released with Vista, i.e. one that works, but it also adds a DRM layer that makes it less attractive than 3rd party solutions. At any rate, while I spend most of my time in win7, there are a lot of times where my only choice is to boot into XP Pro -- the stuff I need to do won't work at all or nearly as well in a VM.
When I went from Win98 to XP it was like I finally had a brand new computer, and until I know that Win7 is truly an improvement, I'm sticking with what I've got.
If it helps, I have the majority of my software installed in both XP Pro 32 SP3 & win7 ult 64 SP1. I run 6 GB RAM which is all available in win7, ~1/2 available in XP Pro. Truth be told I spend most of my time in win7 because it has better large font display support, so I'm not always putting my glasses on/off or glancing beneath the lens to read/write something [progressives make me dizzy & bi-focals drive me nuts]. Doing the same things with the same software, sometimes the extra RAM in win7 helps, but most of the time speed's either identical or XP's a bit faster. XP is also much less demanding when it comes to hardware. I recently installed XP Home on a very old laptop, with a 400 MHz CPU & 4 GB hard drive -- it's slow but it runs fine for basic games, web browsing etc. I've had tremendous problems trying to get *any* single core CPU, including 3+ GHz, running Vista/7 well [if you remember win98 & win98 SE, that's *kinda* like Vista & 7].
A couple of the games transfered but most did not. I do still have the XP machine set up so I can always go back and play those anyway.
Bearing in mind it doesn't always work perfectly, you could try one of the Paragon apps to convert a backup of your XP machine to a VirtualBox VM. I did this with my wife's PC [her system dual-boots Vista HP & win7 HP] so she wouldn't have to re-install all of her games in win7 -- Maybe 1/2 of them worked that way. It was also a bit of work that turned out time wasted... My wife is Windows version agnostic -- the way she looks at it, she runs software, not Windows, so wherever her software runs fastest, that's where she's happiest. On an AMD quad system with an ATI 4870 & 6 GB RAM (a fairly decent machine I think), she feels that games I've installed in both run faster/better in Vista than win7, so for her there's no reason to try running anything in any VM.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Whiterabbit-uk
Games GuruI appreciate that many can't afford to purchase Win 7 and have to make do with XP. not that XP is a bad thing (implicit in the word make do) as it gave me a decade of use and despite the occasional BSOD it ran fine for me, that said, if you can afford to purchase Win 7 I'd highly recommend you do so. (I wish I could afford to give you a copy GoodGotd - maybe when I finally get my compensation). Since installing Win 7 last summer I’ve had no BSOD,s, the computer has run the best I've ever seen it despite all five of my HDD's being almost full to the brim and load up times have been brilliant, plus you get some excellent desktop wallpapers (lol). It's got some fantastic attributes that knock the socks off XP, plus, if you purchase either the Pro or the Ultimate editions you can download an XP image for free that runs from within Win 7, so you don't need to lose the OS totally.
I was quite happy with XP, and until I was given the opportunity to get a copy of Win 7 cheaply (my wife has an Email linked to an educational establishment, so I was able to get one of those student offers for both Win 7 Ultimate and a copy of the latest MS Office both dirt cheap. I'm sure most of you who still use XP would have taken up the offer if it was available to you.
Still if you are happy with XP then there’s really no reason to change. I had to in the end as some of my favourite games (e.g. Just cause 2 and Shattered Horizon) won’t play on an XP system as they require a minimum of DX10 which XP doesn’t support.
.Posted 12 years ago # -
Anonymous
UnregisteredIf you can get Win 7, go for it! It is a big improvement over XP, especially in load up/boot times.
As for finding files, provided your HDs are NTFS (and if not, why ever not!) download the file search utility 'Everything' and you'll have lightning fast searches, once your drives are catalogued, which only takes a few minutes with large HDs and multi HDs (internal and USB external).
By default in Win 7, downloads are likely to be to C:\Users\your user account\My Documents\Downloads which should be one of the favourites in the Computer Explorer window.
The other big advantage is that Win 7 is generally much more secure than XP.
Posted 12 years ago # -
mikiem2
ModeratorOne of those purely FWIW things, I'm not at all sure win7's price has much to do with adoption rates, since in the US they had the family packs with 3 licenses for ~$100, & there are always more than plenty of folks 'round the world running stuff they never paid for -- in some countries I don't think Microsoft can legally sell anything.
I do think win7 hardware requirements have something to do with it, & I think apprehension over the unknown plays a part in/for biz that doesn't use win7 yet... If you have employees, chances are you're well aware that they're human, & in short, can screw up. Change, especially major change, invites screw-ups. Microsoft can trumpet all the proposed benefits all day long, 24/7, but I'm sure there are lots of owners & managers who look at it as what we have now works -- what we change to may not, at least at first. In addition to the cost of migration, how much are screw-ups going to cost?
And finally, I think an awful lot of people could simply care less what their hardware runs, as long as it works -- it's the hardware itself that's important. I believe that's a big part of what Jobs brought to Apple -- the same basic strategies that led BMW to become a high priced, highly prized brand. Often it's not because they're less capable technically, but because they just don't want [or have the time] to bother with the tech aspects of what makes whatever they own/use run.
Still if you are happy with XP then there’s really no reason to change. I had to in the end as some of my favourite games (e.g. Just cause 2 and Shattered Horizon) won’t play on an XP system as they require a minimum of DX10 which XP doesn’t support.
I don't know how good or bad it is, but the way I've presented the argument in favor of win7 is: eventually you will have to upgrade Windows just to keep doing whatever it is you do, because software & new hardware, even if just a printer, will demand it. Historically not every version of Windows is a winner. Historically you could usually get away with skipping just one version. If you skip grabbing a deal on win7 today, you're banking on 1) finding a better deal on win8, & 2) that win8 won't be a dog... Both are unknown today -- win7 is the much safer bet.
Posted 12 years ago # -
mikiem2
Moderatorif you purchase either the Pro or the Ultimate editions you can download an XP image for free that runs from within Win 7, so you don't need to lose the OS totally.
I think the better option, assuming you'll actually use XP, is to install win7 over the top of XP & dual boot, even if/when you bought a new machine with win7 pre-installed to replace an XP system [though in that case check license requirements 1st].
I think most all versions of win7 can use win7's Virtual PC [VPC], but the modded XP Mode that actually runs OK in the VPC is only available to a couple of win7 versions. VPC uses remote desktop so you can see all the files/folders on all your drives, but that slows down file transfers [a lot] & only works with higher end versions of Windows as guests [not Home]. Otherwise Windows guests run much more sluggishly than the same guests in a VirtualBox or VMWare host. Whatever host you use however, the advantage of VMs is in their portability & ease of restoration -- copy over the virtual disk file & everything's restored. Because you're adding layers of software & sharing hardware resources between any VM & Windows, you'll find all software runs slower, though you might not notice it too badly with apps having very, very few resource demands.
Dual booting into XP & win7 OTOH has almost no downsides -- you'll lose your win7 restore points when you boot into XP -- & I think Microsoft maybe promotes XP in VMs so strongly because that guarantees you'll be using win7.
Posted 12 years ago # -
RosnSC
MemberI will add to my previous comment about preferring XP, to include the comment goodgotd made about making the switch - "give me 7 free and give me the new hardware to run it, and maybe I won't heap scorn on that slogan. maybe.". The cost of the software, and the incompatible hardware, neither of which I can afford to upgrade, make it necessary for me to stick with XP on my current machine(s). 'Course right now I am using an old (roughly 6 years old) laptop, along with my Compaq monitor, btw, because my 'good ole' Compaq desktop went on the blitz, yet again. Don't know what happened, but it just went out on me, in the middle of whatever I was doing at the time. It's the same one I told you all about, a couple/few years ago.
Well, even though I prefer XP, I will likely be making the 7 move purely I am planning a new PC purchase in the near future, and most PC's on the market are now running it. Looking at them online, it is seldom I see one that runs XP, still. BTW, in reference to my above comment about my Compaq desktop PC, did I mention that my new machine will not be a HP Compaq?
Sign me,
An old die hard for *some* things that work well, but will reluctantly make upgrades for the greater good...(chuckle)P.S. Did I mention that I was running Norton Security Suite on that Compaq when it blitzed out on me? I have always sworn by Norton, but am beginning to wonder.
Posted 12 years ago # -
NolafromNZ
MemberThey will have to pry XP from MY cold dead hands too! There is nothing wrong with my 7 and 8 year old laptops or my 9 yr old desktop, all running XP, so I cannot justify buying a new computer to upgrade to Win 7 being on an Invalids Benefit. And at least I have so far been able to fix or work around the problems that I have, like laptops overheating without a cooling pad and causing BSODs, and the main problem being Windows Explorer needing to close practically every day if I don't use another Explorer program (I use ShellLess Explorer, a GOTD). So at this rate, and given the amount of time I spend playing games on my laptop, they probably literally will have to pry it from my cold dead hands.
Posted 12 years ago # -
mikiem2
ModeratorI am planning a new PC purchase in the near future, and most PC's on the market are now running it.
IF it helps, right now I'm seeing some incredible deals on kits, CPUs, hard drives, memory, & graphics cards -- the economy's rough. If the parts in a PC were bought not too long ago, whomever made it has to sell for more than current pricing because that's what they have in it.
Today I've seen 8 GB RAM for $30, this week I've seen 1 TB hard drives for $40, I commonly see AMD quad CPUs at 3+ GHz for ~$100, & if you're for gaming there's an AMD/ATI 6870 for around $150 including 2 IMHO halfway decent games. For comparison I've seen that memory well over $200, the card for ~$300, the drive for $110, the CPUs for $120. Kits can be all sorts of price ranges, but Tiger, CompUSA, Circuit City [all the same company] have been advertising some very nice closeout prices -- they buy a lot of closeouts, auction stuff etc., but research the details before you buy... e.g. you may buy a kit with 2 or 4 GB RAM, want to upgrade with a separate purchase like that 8 GB mentioned, but will the parts in the kit allow you to use it?
If you can use a screwdriver, & aren't one of those people who cut their fingers to shreds handling metal parts, you can assemble a PC -- everything's standardized so stuff fits, screw holes line up & all that good stuff. Just ground yourself to discharge static electricity, & remember that the bigger the case, the easier it is to fit your fingers inside of it. :-)
As far as Windows goes, you'ld have to check your version of XP -- some brand/models come with a disc that is tied to the hardware, & if that's what you have, you'll have to research to see if & how you can get around that. In My experience when you're building a system yourself, Microsoft considers that an upgrade, & will reactivate OEM &/or Upgrade versions of XP, even if/when you have to call -- an OEM XP license OTOH isn't good when you buy an out of box PC. If there are family members you can split the cost with, the other day I saw using Google shopping that a few places still had the win7 family pack for ~$100. Note that if you go that route it's pre-SP1 -- plan on a long update process or use your current system to create an SP1 install disc [more work but less total time spent].
Posted 12 years ago # -
mikiem2
ModeratorThere is nothing wrong with my 7 and 8 year old laptops or my 9 yr old desktop, all running XP, so I cannot justify buying a new computer to upgrade to Win 7 being on an Invalids Benefit.
Know where you're coming from -- I just upgraded an old win98 SE laptop to XP Home. That was interesting, as it doesn't have native USB, has a plain CD ROM drive, no networking, & a whopping 4 GB of hard drive space. And I even got .NET 3.5 on it. It'll run most apps & the Firefox browser portably. The biggest problem is it has so little RAM, even maxed out.
I try to run later systems for video etc., & to learn as much as I can... Call me silly but I still hold out hope that despite various government & medical communities' active discouragement, someone will come up with a cure or at least treatment for my illness before it's destroyed my body completely. [Even when the gov gave our illustrious CDC money for research, the CDC flipped them off & spent it elsewhere!] So I buy everything on closeout &/or clearance, try to keep up as best able, & hope it'll be able to help me get a job someday. :-)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Anonymous
UnregisteredI got XP & win 7 on laptop but like XP best it hard to find all the things in win 7 dont like the way to find Programs need to find files fast in XP try Agent Ransack it free and for get win 7 as 2012 win 8 is out 4 times better than win 7 I go to win 8 and the price is bad in new zealand $ 500 best to buy in the us only $ 100
http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/news/2104506/windows-speed-file-operations
Microsoft's Windows 8 to speed up file operations
Building Windows 8
An inside look from the Windows engineering teamhttp://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/08/29/improvements-in-windows-explorer.aspx
Improving our file management basics: copy, move, rename, and delete
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