Windows Operating System support

MusicMan

MusicMan

The Cosmic Force
FOTCM Member
We have recently been informed that Windows XP which I know and love is no longer supported by Microsoft. Today I learned that their Windows 8.1 will not be supported past May13th, even though Windows 8.0 will continue. Even so, for me to upgrade from Win XP will not only require new software but a completely new computer. This may slow down my networking until I work out a solution. Linux is looking good.
 
Windows XP can still be used, but you won't get any further "updates" from Microsoft. I've heard that some people are still using Windows 2000 for very basic stuffs.

At my work last week, everyone was required to get rid of Windows XP machines and start using Windows 7 or 8. The XPs were no longer allowed on the network due to a greater risk of the XP machines having a virus or whatever and having that loose on the network. It was a big deal for them.

You can still use XP for a while and won't affect your internet connection, or so I think.
 
Windows Xp is still more popular than Windows 8, 17.16 percent VS 13.05 percent. Windows 7 is of course the king with 55.11 percent: http://gs.statcounter.com/#desktop-os-ww-monthly-201404-201404-bar

Those who want to switch to Windows 8 but lack start button should wait for August update: http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/23/5643328/windows-8-start-menu-return-in-second-update

I don't like Windows 8, but if I had to use it I would wait for August.
 
I can only recommend Linux, especially Debian distribution which considered to be the securest OS at the moment. This is why such OS for USB-Sticks as TAILS (used by Edward Snowden) and Jondonym Live-CD are both based on Debian.
 
Linux is probably the best choice for older computers - hardware requirements don't increase on an exponential curve with new versions, as is the case with Windows.

While I haven't used it myself, I've seen Linux Mint recommended as a very user-friendly Linux distribution.

Dual-booting is an option if you want to keep around the XP installation, if some particular programs are needed. If you install a typical user-friendly Linux distribution on an extra hard drive, that should be it - along with Linux, the boot manager GRUB will be installed, and when you boot up, you can choose whether you want to start Linux or Windows. To re-use an existing hard drive for dual-booting can be a little more involved - especially if Windows partitions are taking up all the space. Then, GParted Live is a great partitioning tool that can be used to shrink a Windows partition (if there's enough free space on it), allowing the rest of the hard drive to be used.
 
Linux is probably the best choice for older computers
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if Linux is considered the same as Ubuntu.....but fwiw

My DELL 1525 laptop, bought in 2007, failed to boot up in 2012 and i thought it was gone for good. And had i stayed with windows it would have been. An 'IT systems friend' installed Ubuntu and it's been running smoothly ever since. I can open 50+ tabs and it barely stutters. It's so effective and user friendly that i will be installing it as an option on to my mothers Toshiba Satellite running windows 8 (i was gob smacked with how badly designed it is, even for Microsoft, it was actually an impediment to use).

Anyway, not only does it run smoother, all the packages you need are free, you can get 'Wine' which will run windows apps - plus the little extras, like Libre Office Writer and it's easy 'publish to pdf' button (i find that very useful for this site!).

My computer did go a bit funny recently, i accidentally kicked out the power and when i turned it back on.... it would just keep failing to load... so i reinstalled Ubuntu via a start up USB, and the whistling laptop is back in business!

Dual-booting is an option if you want to keep around the XP installation
Click to expand...

The installation does offer 'dual booting', which i have looked over and it looks simple enough ie.graphic interface with step by step instructions.

So whilst my laptop is literally held together with tape and the fan sings to me all day, it runs better than my mothers laptop running windows 8 bought in 2013.

I highly recommend Ubuntu.
 
I'd also recommend Ubuntu for someone coming from Windows, from personal experience its really helpful, then you could move to another distributions once you feel comfortable.
 
Thanks to all for the considered replies.
I have a few Linux distros I can try out (on another computer for the moment - running Mandrake-10). A couple of other complicating factors for Windows are that the ieexplorer is also now defunct, so I have installed Firefox from Mozilla to replace it. The other problem affecting my ISP is the virus/trojan "Heartbleed", so currently having connection problems with them until they get their ducks in a row.
At least I can get Cassiopaea..
 
Regarding Linux, I also recommend OpenSuse, it's a very user-friendly distribution, my favorite so far.

As for Windows, I've switched to Windows 8.1 a few months ago, the lack of a proper Start button is indeed frustrating but you don't have to wait until the next Windows update. The "Classic Shell" utility is available for free, and allows you to start your computer right on the desktop, not on the ugly "Start Screen", and of course brings the Start button back in a highly customisable fashion.

The main issue with Windows 8.1, even with the Classic Shell utility, is that every basic softwares preinstalled with Windows will use the Start Screen (Metro, or ModernUI) interface. Each time you'll open a picture or a video from the desktop, you switch back into the Start Screen to watch your video / your pictures. That's very infuriating. So, in addition of Classic Shell, you'll have to manually install every other piece of software you need to stay on the desktop, like VLC for the videos, foobar2000 for the audio/music, and a picture viewer like InfranView.

Once everything is installed, and after a few hours of tweaking and re-reinveting the wheel, Windows 8.1 is a good OS.
 
For those who use Windows this program I just found might be useful.

Clover is an extension of the Windows Explorer, to add multi-tab functionality similar to Google Chrome browser.

http://ejie.me/
Click to expand...
 
Useful information for anyone using InternetExplorer on Windows XP: it's officially no longer safe, as there is confirmed security gap which won't be fixed on this unsupported system. https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/2963983
 
You should be all fine still using windows xp providing you have a solid anti-virus, such as Avast for example, paired with a decent anti spyware (spybot...) really, you don't 'need' an always uptodate OS although it's usually better.

if you don't use internet explorer (and you should not...) you can use firefox, chrome, or opera instead, and these keep being updated regularly.

same with avast and spybot (both free and very efficient.

That being said, if you don't play heavy games, or absolutely need the genuine M$ Office suite, juste get rid of XP altogether and install Ubuntu, for exemple, as it is fairly easy to use (just make sure to not use Unity or Gnome 3 on an oldish computer...) you will have pretty much all you need from the start.

hope that helps :)
 
So i installed Ubunutu on my mothers computer.

From experience, i would suggest to use a USB flash drive (quicker, simpler, also can 'reserve space' to test out and/or save in test sessions) and use the USB 'installer program' (unet bootin?) so that when you copy the files they are copied 'correctly', thus enabling to work from the boot.

You can add a 'partition' to give the option of booting either Ubuntu or Windows, but i didn't fully understand (i'm no whizz) so i just wiped it :D

Whilst she hasn't used it much, she has already commented how much simpler and quicker it is to use. I also installed: Ad Block Plus, F.Lux (sunset screen dimmer), downthemall (download program), VLC (media player), as well as Wine (for windows) and have set updates to 'GO' (so she won't have to).

I tried to use 'Deja Dup' (back up program) to copy my files before i reinstalled on my own computer... for what ever reason.. (cache of files?) 370g wouldn't copy to a 1TB ext HD, i am guessing the problem is the 'temporary 'file' concept that it uses. So instead i just dragged and dropped onto my my HD. But not before wasting a week or two! :cool2:
 
itelsya said:
I tried to use 'Deja Dup' (back up program) to copy my files before i reinstalled on my own computer... for what ever reason.. (cache of files?) 370g wouldn't copy to a 1TB ext HD, i am guessing the problem is the 'temporary 'file' concept that it uses. So instead i just dragged and dropped onto my my HD. But not before wasting a week or two! :cool2:
Click to expand...

Without having more info to go off of it kind of sounds like you may have deleted files from your external HDD without emptying the trash can icon. I've had this happen to me while using Ubuntu. I would delete something from a flash drive to make space but when I try to add things to the flash drive it would report that it was out of space.

The only way I found to remedy this was to also make sure to empty the trash bin folder and then the usb would recognized that it did in fact have room for whatever I was trying to add. I'm not sure if that is the case in your situation but if so hopefully that will help the next time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Trending content

Back
Top Bottom