End of support of Windows XP

[Kesetyan]

As for creating a image why all the updates will be on Windows update for a long time.

Hammey,
There are several reasons why it makes sense to have an image backup of your system whatever operating system you use but with the loss of Microsoft support for XP, there is one more reason why the XP user should consider it. 

An XP system image created immediately after the final Windows update, should the need arise, will provide a more convenient method of restoration than reinstalling XP and then searching for all the relevant Windows updates, downloading them, installing them and reinstalling drivers etc.  Admittedly, the latter will give you a cleaner, smoother system and may be preferable for those who have the time but the option of having both strategies available must be worthwhile.

Brief mention has been made of Linux on this thread and disabling the network connection within XP.  That is probably the safest option for XP users who can still use their XP software and peripherals but use Linux for all internet activity.  Not quite as safe is to still keep XP internet connections but only to use XP for non-sensitive internet activity while using Linux for banking and other activities where the utmost security is required.  Linux distributions, as previously mentioned, can be run as live discs or they could be set up as a dual boot system with XP.

[bob3160]

A drastic change to linux just to use the internet is probably not needed provided,
you stop using Internet Explorer 8 - it's not safe regardless of the windows version you're using.
Pick another browser as your default browser - Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc and keep which ever
browser you choose up to date.

[Randissimo]

I have been thinking of what I would do and have decided the XP notebook is going in the round file and the battery is going to recycle.

Try Linux, it will run more smoothly on low-end hardware than Windows XP. Or sell it and buy a tablet/small office computer.

What does get you infected is your browsing habits  looking for cracked software downloading files from a file share program porn sites.

That's so like 90' or 00'. Nowadays, even a cute kitty-picture in a blog or a compromised ad could get you infected and you wouldn't even be aware of it, because unlike those old fashioned viruses, today's malware won't just try to destroy your computer, but rather spy on your computer or misuse it in DDoS or spam attacks against others. 

Brief mention has been made of Linux on this thread and disabling the network connection within XP.  That is probably the safest option for XP users who can still use their XP software and peripherals but use Linux for all internet activity.

It's not only the safest, but the best option XP users could do to prevent having massive botnets. An unsupported, widespread system is the best possible target you could wish for.
For the sake of others, I wouldn't recommend on using XP with internet access.

[david2014]

Now they are talking about avast on windows xp I decided to search a little about the network problem that seems to be generated.

and so says:

an update of avast creates problems with windows xp operating system.
It happens that when scanning the computer, the antivirus detects the malware as a system file TCPIP.SYS charge of running the network .

By doing this, the pc is isolated from a network, you will see that there is no movement or data sent or received . When you ping the modem , it gives this error: " " Unable to find the IP driver , error code 2 "

The solution is to remove the antivirus , then download this file (obviously from a location q if have connection)

download :

http://infomundo.org/software/solucion-avast-con-windows-xp/

It is a small executable q restores the system configuration in this regard. When doing pc reconnects to the network.

see you.

I hope it will be helpful!

Greetings! : D

[Randissimo]

El forum Espanol es aqui: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=25.0
Por favor, utiliza Linux por el internet o utiliza Windows 7/8.1 a la final de supporte de Windows XP.

best solution would be to stop using XP with online access. You could still use all your programs and (offline) games with XP, while surfing with a live linux system or switch to Windows 7 or 8.1 to get better support.

[bob3160]

El forum Espanol es aqui: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=25.0
Por favor, utiliza Linux por el internet o utiliza Windows 7/8.1 a la final de supporte de Windows XP.

best solution would be to stop using XP with online access. You could still use all your programs and (offline) games with XP, while surfing with a live linux system or switch to Windows 7 or 8.1 to get better support.

You've already mentioned that more than once.

[Hammey]

Hi @bob3160 yes of course in the last 25 years of being in the business I have had hard drives fail but only one or 2 times as I change out my drives when they get older both where Seagate drives. I of course keep a backup of all my stuff that I want but I have 4 pc's at home here with many drives so it is very easy just to copy your data to a few of those drive's. And no there is nothing like a fresh install with all  new drivers that have not been over written 5 times with updates. It takes like what 5 min to install windows 7 from a flash drive. Believe it or not there are some people still using windows 2000 and windows 98. It seems like you are all taking this end of support thing like Windows XP will die that will not happen. Anyway I will now step out of this what has turned into a argument post.

[bob3160]

Windows XP died for me a long time ago.
These replies are directed at those who refuse or are financially unable to leave XP.
I don't know of any arguments in this thread unless you think that different opinions constitute an argument.
It would be a sad world if everyone was of the same opinion.

[Randissimo]

You've already mentioned that more than once.

That's because at that time of the posting, the user above me was still using Spanish and I didn't want to leave only Spanish text there.

[HawaiianHope]

Fresh install > add Deep Freeze and Data Igloo > end of problem . Nice new system every time you boot up, no malware, no defragging, no maintenance ............ just enjoy using your system.

Agreeed.. or Windows Steady State, free, works on XP and is from Microsoft.

[Undead-Divine-Assassin]

Windows XP died for me a long time ago.
These replies are directed at those who refuse or are financially unable to leave XP.
I don't know of any arguments in this thread unless you think that different opinions constitute an argument.
It would be a sad world if everyone was of the same opinion.

Not the main reason but one of the reasons I want to keep a true WinXP OS on my machine is not for online activities. The OS is mostly irrelevant as long as your browser of choice is still working well with the older Windows OSs but my interest is still being able to use 'legacy' software, particularly specific games.

Some of these are difficult enough to get running even using WinXP with its earlier Windows versions compatiblity mode, often requiring specialist patches created by enthusiasts long after the developers stopped support. So having WinXP still available is surely the best way of keeping retro gaming as simple as possible because either you're using the OS the games where designed for or the necessary WinXP compatible patches and fixes have long been available.

[bob3160]

Windows XP died for me a long time ago.
These replies are directed at those who refuse or are financially unable to leave XP.
I don't know of any arguments in this thread unless you think that different opinions constitute an argument.
It would be a sad world if everyone was of the same opinion.

Not the main reason but one of the reasons I want to keep a true WinXP OS on my machine is not for online activities. The OS is mostly irrelevant as long as your browser of choice is still working well with the older Windows OSs but my interest is still being able to use 'legacy' software, particularly specific games.

Some of these are difficult enough to get running even using WinXP with its earlier Windows versions compatiblity mode, often requiring specialist patches created by enthusiasts long after the developers stopped support. So having WinXP still available is surely the best way of keeping retro gaming as simple as possible because either you're using the OS the games where designed for or the necessary WinXP compatible patches and fixes have long been available.

For your information, some of the old 16 bit games actually work on Windows 8.1
They never worked on Vista or Windows 7.

[Randissimo]

I wonder if you could get charged for purposely acting grossly negligent by using Windows XP after the end of support with internet access and thus having a high chance of becoming a victim to a botnet which would be used against others even if the state is only temporarily due to kiosk software or image backups.

Would banks or insurances still pay and/or refund you for the damage you caused or has been caused to you if you have that much layers of additional protection on an outdated operating system or would they rather pay if you only have the basic protection (Windows Firewall + up-to date router, Windows updates, browser, flash player, adobe reader and java if you're using them) on a still supported OS?
I tend to think it would be the latter case. That's why I would advice everyone to stop listening to "security experts" who claim to be able to make XP unexploitable even after the end of support. While I can't see the future, I wouldn't risk it.

[Undead-Divine-Assassin]

Windows XP died for me a long time ago.
These replies are directed at those who refuse or are financially unable to leave XP.
I don't know of any arguments in this thread unless you think that different opinions constitute an argument.
It would be a sad world if everyone was of the same opinion.

Not the main reason but one of the reasons I want to keep a true WinXP OS on my machine is not for online activities. The OS is mostly irrelevant as long as your browser of choice is still working well with the older Windows OSs but my interest is still being able to use 'legacy' software, particularly specific games.

Some of these are difficult enough to get running even using WinXP with its earlier Windows versions compatiblity mode, often requiring specialist patches created by enthusiasts long after the developers stopped support. So having WinXP still available is surely the best way of keeping retro gaming as simple as possible because either you're using the OS the games where designed for or the necessary WinXP compatible patches and fixes have long been available.

For your information, some of the old 16 bit games actually work on Windows 8.1
They never worked on Vista or Windows 7.

You can get some games and, of course, emulators working on any Windows OS but I was talking about specific games. Anyone into PC gaming knows that even when designed for a particular OS system many PC games are often released with significant problems. There can be a lot of trouble involved getting stuff to work and it often relies on patches and fixes, as I said, created by enthusiasts which may not, for instance, work on 64 bit OSs. That is why maintaining WinXP 32 bit OS, if not as your main OS, but in a dual boot or virtual environment is a very sensible idea if these sorts of concerns are relevant to your interests.   

[Charyb-0]

Avast Blog regarding end of support.

http://blog.avast.com/2014/03/12/avast-will-continue-to-support-windows-xp-for-home-and-business-users/

"AVAST will continue to support Windows XP users by creating protection modules and detections to cover vulnerabilities and other security problems for at least the next three years."

"IE users: Switch to a new, secure browser"