Windows XP Support question

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Hi All,

Tonight, I started a Windows XP partition that I haven't run in months. I was surprised to see upon shutdown that there were 31 updates ready to install. Perhaps I misunderstood when Microsoft announced they were discontinuing support for XP. Are they still doing auto-updates from their website?

This would actually abate a fear I've had since they made the announcement - that is, If my system ever crashes and I have to do a fresh install of XP (I think my install disc is only SP 2), would I be able to still get the updates all the way to SP 3?

It looks like I'll be using XP for the foreseeable future.

Many thanks for any info,
Lou

[Phil_S]

Those updates have got to be dated before the end of life date.

I'm no expert on this, but I'd expect all the regular updates to remain available via Windows Update for a while. How long is anyone's guess. The updates are cataloged on your hard drive and unless manually deleted should still be there. You might be well served by copying them to a safe place.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Thanks, Phil. After I started this thread, it occurred to me that the updates could have come in the last time I had the partition running months ago, and when I powered it down way back when, I chose "power down without installing updates" (god forbid). The updates are still installing, but after they are done, I will reboot then go to Windows Update and see what happens.

I am running XP as a virtual machine on a MAC Mini, using the latest version of VMWare Fusion, so "saving the updates in a safe place" totally eludes me. I have, however, taken Fusion Snapshots of the partition, both after a fresh install with all updates, as well as lately, with all my client data (PCB Layouts, Schematics, etc). And to be clear, I am now talking about a different XP partition that I use daily, and not the one I opened today after not touching it for months. It is my hope that, in the event of a crash, all I need do is reinstall Fusion, then restore the partition of my choice.

And .i just realized I keep saying Partition when I actually mean Virtual Machine - sorry....

Lou

[JazzGuitarGimp]

So, after installing the initial 31 updates, I rebooted, then launched Windows Update. It found 18 more updates, which means XP update is still live - at least for the time being....

[sliberty]

Are you running some apps that will not work on Windows 7 or 8?

If not, don't worry, be happy. If / when CP is totally gone, you can always rebuild with 7 - very stable. I am not a fan of 8, but I suppose that would be an option too.

I also run Windows on my Mac Mini, although I do it in Virtual Box. The main reason I use it is for Quicken. Even the new Quiken for Mac that was recently released blows (IMHO). So I am stuck.

[Phil_S]

So, after installing the initial 31 updates, I rebooted, then launched Windows Update. It found 18 more updates, which means XP update is still live - at least for the time being....

It is possible these were already downloaded but they did not install in the first pass. Sometimes there are dependencies that require multiple rounds of install and reboot to get through all the available updated.

Info on file storage here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... a3529187c6

Better discussion here: http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-upda ... dates.html

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Are you running some apps that will not work on Windows 7 or 8?

I need to do a little digging on this. The PCB layout software I use is very pricey. The annual maintenance was costing me $4,500. Up until about 2010, I was earning $70K+ per year using it, so the maintenance was justifiable. But since the economy tanked four years ago, I am no longer earning enough money to pay the annual fees. I've been off of maintenance for about four years, if memory serves - possibly five years. My parting with the company was pretty ugly - as I tried to make them understand that, as much as I wanted to stay on maintenance, I could no longer afford it. Being a single-seat, sole-propriator and all. I did my best to convince them to give me a discount, but they weren't buying it! i just chocked it up to yet another greedy effin corporation. I'm not sure how long Win7 has been out, but I'm thinking it wasn't quite here when i stopped the support contract. I am oretty sure Vista was the newest OS - and there is no way I'm going to migrate to Vista!

[JazzGuitarGimp]

So, after installing the initial 31 updates, I rebooted, then launched Windows Update. It found 18 more updates, which means XP update is still live - at least for the time being....

It is possible these were already downloaded but they did not install in the first pass. Sometimes there are dependencies that require multiple rounds of install and reboot to get through all the available updated.

Info on file storage here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... a3529187c6

Better discussion here: http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-upda ... dates.html

Thank you, Phil. I'll read through these as i am getting my third XP VM (the last VM that hasn't been run in months) up to date.

[David Root]

FWIW I am still getting Windows updates to my XP.

I bought a refurbished commercially used desk CPU about 8 years ago when we lived in Tucson. It has XP Professional on it and I think it was configured as a business version rather than personal.

My understanding is that the business versions are still being updated, but not the personal ones, although I still get the end of service notice displayed every morning while I power up.

[Phil_S]

I still get the end of service notice displayed every morning while I power up.

Well, doesn't that make you want to upgrade to 8?
That is just an evil message with no way to turn it off. Not surprised.
Curiously, my wife's home computer is XP Pro and she never mentions this, so I think maybe it doesn't display on hers.

[Structo]

Don't feel bad, I am still running XP Pro SP3.

It still works great, especially after I installed a SSD for the Win Pro XP.
I simply cloned my hard drive to the SSD.

Boot times got down to around 20 seconds.

I know that XP is not designed to work with a SSD but if you make the setting adjustments suggested by others doing it, it works great.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

I am also on XP Pro SP3.

Since I no longer have a maintenance contract with mentor graphics, I cannot ask their tech support people if my version of the program will run on Windows 7. So I have posted a question on their community forum. Hopefully, someone will know if this is doable.....