Continuing to use XP

[dravis85]

I want to re-install XP to clean up an older computer, but with the shutdown on support, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get the service packs and updates that were out there before the end. Is there any way to get these from a reliable source so that I can at least have my computer be as up to date as the end of support date?

This older computer is mainly used for light to moderate gaming with old games that fail to run on my Windows 7 rig. I'm highly considering buying the updated versions of some of these games, simply for the new additions to content, but there are still other older games I cant get updated because the companies went out of business or some other such that they aren't still updating.

 

[Fardringle]

All existing patches are still available from Windows Update. There just won't be any new ones created to fix any new issues that are discovered in the future.

 

[dravis85]

That's awesome then. I wasn't sure if they had shut down the whole of the updates for the XP machines, but this will greatly help me when I do the re-install. Thanks

 

[Harvey]

Go to this page on Microsoft site to download a stand alone installation file with most of the SP3 updates that you can install offline. Do this from a secure machine so you don't have to go online with an unpatched version of IE, and use a flash drive or burn it to a DVD to transfer it to your new installation offline.

You'll have to update it further with any patches since the file was posted, but it will save a lot of time over downloading and installing all SP3 updates one by one from Windows Update.

I believe the stand alone file includes IE 8, which will save you more time because the remaining updates will include the security patch for IE to avoid any possible problems with the latest vulnerability.

< Update >

I found the stand alone patch for IE 8. Download this to patch IE 8, transfer it to your new installation, and run it offline, instead of having to go online for it with an unpatched version.

 

[nemesismk2]

I am still using windows xp as well because some of my fav games don't work with windows 7 pro.

 

[Anteaus]

I am still using windows xp as well because some of my fav games don't work with windows 7 pro.

Which games are those? I've found that Windows 7 actually has better Windows XP support than Windows XP itself for many games. Back with I had XP SP3 I couldn't get C&C Generals to run at all, but it works fine under Win7. Go figure.

 

[nemesismk2]

Which games are those? I've found that Windows 7 actually has better Windows XP support than Windows XP itself for many games. Back with I had XP SP3 I couldn't get C&C Generals to run at all, but it works fine under Win7. Go figure.

master of orion 2
total annihilation
total annihilation kingdoms

 

[code65536]

Go to this page on Microsoft site to download a stand alone installation file with most of the SP3 updates that you can install offline. Do this from a secure machine so you don't have to go online with an unpatched version of IE, and use a flash drive or burn it to a DVD to transfer it to your new installation offline.

There's no risk in using an unpatched IE to access Windows Update. (Unless WU somehow got compromised, in which case, we've got bigger problems on our hands. ) That having been said, downloading the stuff offline is useful for other reasons, like making it easier to reinstall.

 

[Maximilian]

I still run XP SP2, don't want any of those nonsense updates!

You can pry my XP from my cold dead fingers.

 

[Harvey]

There's no risk in using an unpatched IE to access Windows Update. (Unless WU somehow got compromised, in which case, we've got bigger problems on our hands. ) That having been said, downloading the stuff offline is useful for other reasons, like making it easier to reinstall.

I disagree. Under XP, Windows/Microsoft update uses IE to access and install the patch. That's like requiring users to drive a fatally flawed car to the mechanic's shop for repairs.

I still run XP SP2, don't want any of those nonsense updates!

You can pry my XP from my cold dead fingers.

I still run XP on one of my machines because I need to run some critical legacy apps.

If you go online using XP without installing any security updates, you deserve the worst of everything that can attack your machine and destroy your files and your entire installation.

If you go online using XP without installing the current security patch for IE, thanks for being a selfish, self-centered cyber-Typhoid Mary and a security threat to the entire nation. :thumbsdown:

 

[code65536]

I disagree. Under XP, Windows/Microsoft update uses IE to access and install the patch. That's like requiring users to drive a fatally flawed car to the mechanic's shop for repairs.

Yes, I know Windows Update in XP uses IE. But as I said in my post, unless Microsoft's Windows Update servers are compromised, there's absolutely no risk to that.

Keep in mind that browser flaws require that you visit a malicious site or a site that has been compromised. If every site that you visit is safe (including high-profile sites where a security breach is all but unthinkable, like Windows Update, official Firefox download page, official Chrome download page, Google's home page (but not the results, obviously)--and other places where there is very high confidence in security, like stuff on the local intranet, etc.), you could be using any browser, even IE 4 RTM, and there wouldn't be a security problem.

Your analogy of driving a flawed car to the mechanic is an improper analogy because the danger in that analogy is in what happens on the way to the mechanic, and that doesn't match the nature of browser security threats. The correct analogy would be, "You have a car that has a flaw that allows someone to easily steal it--you can't lock the doors, and you can't remove the keys from the ignition. You leave the car with the mechanic to get it fixed, with the understanding that the mechanic won't steal your car. And there are various places with super-high security where you can park the car and be very certain that it's not going to get stolen, like if you parked right next to a police station within view of a dozen security cameras and officers. In most other places, like the parking lot of a grocery store in a good neighborhood, parking your car with the doors unlocked and the keys in your ignition probably won't result in the car being stolen, but you're running an unacceptable risk. And finally, there are neighborhoods where parking a car with the key in the ignition is just begging for it to be stolen."

 

[Harvey]

Yes, I know Windows Update in XP uses IE. But as I said in my post, unless Microsoft's Windows Update servers are compromised, there's absolutely no risk to that.

Keep in mind that browser flaws require that you visit a malicious site or a site that has been compromised. If every site that you visit is safe (e.g., Windows Update, Google home page (but not the results, obviously), stuff on your intranet that you know hasn't been tampered with, etc.), you could be using any browser, even IE 4 RTM, and there wouldn't be a security problem.

That's all well and good, unless your machine has already been compromised by visiting an affected site, in which case, an exploiter could already have control of your machine.

Until the vulnerability was disclosed, that included major domains including gmail, yahoo and many more. The safest thing to do would be to download the stand alone patch using another browser on a machine running a later version of Windows, copy the file to the XP machine and run patch while not online.

I know few, if any, people will be hit while updating an XP machine through Windows Update, but the offline update isn't a lot of extra work for the added security, and, in this particular case, with half of the nation's ATM's running XP, the potential down side is very bad.

 

[rsutoratosu]

I'm download XP iso now.. never thought I had to use it but for some reason, our avaya software runs horrible in any windows 7/8 versions..

It doesn't connect to internet so it doesn't matter if i still run it

 

[Harvey]

I'm download XP iso now.. never thought I had to use it but for some reason, our avaya software runs horrible in any windows 7/8 versions..

I've found some apps that run on XP won't run under 64 bit versions of later Windows will still run under 32 bit versions.

 

[code65536]

That's all well and good, unless your machine has already been compromised by visiting an affected site, in which case, an exploiter could already have control of your machine.

But in that case, you're already hosed. At that point, it doesn't matter how you get your update! (And once screwed, updating isn't going to undo the screwage.)

My point is, there's nothing wrong with using IE--even a completely outdated version riddled with holes--to get WU updates. Now, if the user decides to go for a porno joy ride with that IE before getting updates, that's a different story. But we're not talking about that here.

 

[Harvey]

But in that case, you're already hosed. At that point, it doesn't matter how you get your update! (And once screwed, updating isn't going to undo the screwage.)

Not necessarily. The problem is a vulnerability, not an actual exploit using the vulnerability. You'd be right if the bad guys had already used the vulnerability for their own purposes, but patching IE removes the vulnerability, which would stop the exploit from working and block the vector for future exploits.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

master of orion 2
total annihilation
total annihilation kingdoms

Look no further...

http://www.gog.com/game/master_of_orion_1_2
http://www.gog.com/game/total_anihilation_commander_pack
http://www.gog.com/game/total_annihilation_kingdoms

Run great on both 7 and 8.

I still run XP on one of my machines because I need to run some critical legacy apps.

Heck, I have an XPbox, and a very old K6-2 PC running a dual-boot Win2k/Win98SE. None of those systems so much as touch a network interface though...

 

[Maximilian]

I still run XP on one of my machines because I need to run some critical legacy apps.

If you go online using XP without installing any security updates, you deserve the worst of everything that can attack your machine and destroy your files and your entire installation.

If you go online using XP without installing the current security patch for IE, thanks for being a selfish, self-centered cyber-Typhoid Mary and a security threat to the entire nation. :thumbsdown:

Im typing this to you on internet explorer 6. Earlier on I downloaded my favourite lady gaga song for free on it! Pokerface.exe, gonna listen to that later then come back here to post some more :thumbsup:

 

[Harvey]

Im typing this to you on internet explorer 6. Earlier on I downloaded my favourite lady gaga song for free on it! Pokerface.exe, gonna listen to that later then come back here to post some more :thumbsup:

Bucking for a Darwin award, are you?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Has no-one mentioned that XP's browser-based Windows Update simply no longer works at all with the included copy of IE (6)? You must download IE8 on a separate machine and install it in order to do Windows Updates.

 

[Harvey]

Has no-one mentioned that XP's browser-based Windows Update simply no longer works at all with the included copy of IE (6)? You must download IE8 on a separate machine and install it in order to do Windows Updates.

You wouldn't need another machine. You can download the IE8 offline installation file from Microsoft in another browser on the same machine.

 

[nemesismk2]

Look no further...

http://www.gog.com/game/master_of_orion_1_2
http://www.gog.com/game/total_anihilation_commander_pack
http://www.gog.com/game/total_annihilation_kingdoms

Run great on both 7 and 8.



Heck, I have an XPbox, and a very old K6-2 PC running a dual-boot Win2k/Win98SE. None of those systems so much as touch a network interface though...

I have tried master of orion 2 with gog but only master of orion would work with my windows 7 unless they have updated it on gog since i last tried which was last year..

 

[coffeejunkee]

master of orion 2
total annihilation
total annihilation kingdoms

That's strange. I can play TA just fine under Win7, doesn't need any form of compatibility mode and even shows up in games panel. I did have a problem with older graphics card drivers (would mess up colors).

 

[FeuerFrei]

I can confirm that Total Annihilation, as offered on GOG.com, runs fine on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. The only hiccup I've noted is a couple times every game the screen blurs and takes on a pink cast for a second. I believe I set it to run in XP compatibility mode - or whatever it's called. No specific reason, I just figured it would be more likely to function properly.

 

[coffeejunkee]

I can confirm that Total Annihilation, as offered on GOG.com, runs fine on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. The only hiccup I've noted is a couple times every game the screen blurs and takes on a pink cast for a second. I believe I set it to run in XP compatibility mode - or whatever it's called. No specific reason, I just figured it would be more likely to function properly.

I'm actually using the original 1997 version. About the screen blurs, what might be the cause is monitoring software like hwmonitor, speedfan etc. Fex. I have to close speedfan or else I get screen flickering.