XP Updates After Support Ends

By Gerowen
in Microsoft (Windows)

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Grand Master

Gerowen

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Quick question, when product support finally ends for Windows XP and they start pushing patches, will you still be able to pull updates already published? Here's the reason I ask.

Let's say a year after support ends a friend brings in an old PC running XP and I go to install Windows Updates, will they be available through the normal procedures, or will I be stuck with whatever I've already downloaded to my personal server?

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https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1080041-xp-updates-after-support-ends/
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Grand Master

Dot Matrix

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  On 27/05/2012 at 17:43, Gerowen said:

Quick question, when product support finally ends for Windows XP and they start pushing patches, will you still be able to pull updates already published? Here's the reason I ask.

Let's say a year after support ends a friend brings in an old PC running XP and I go to install Windows Updates, will they be available through the normal procedures, or will I be stuck with whatever I've already downloaded to my personal server?

Seeing how the authentication servers are staying online, updates should be there too. You just won't be getting anything new - which is a dangerous game to play.

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nytiger73

Posted
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I agree. That's a very dangerous game to play. If you're in that position, I'd strongly recommend telling your friend that he's using an 11 year old operating system and that he needs to upgrade ASAP. Now if this machine is never going online, I suppose you could get away with it, but I'd get him to upgrade ASAP.

Grand Master

Arachno 1D

Posted
Posted

There is an issue with that though as some hardware just wont support anything beyond XP be it through lack of system power,no driver support,external peripherals used or the simple fact a user may not want to pay out more on a system that is worrking quite well as it is.

Older patchs are usually availalbe for older MS operating systems for several years after end of cycle but may be liable for a paid service charge depending on how MS is feeing in regard to support on certain software.The release of newer important patches for XP is unlikely to happen very often be it through unwarrented costs to MS or their desire to force users to upgrade.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

I personally do not think XP is junk and everyone running it should install Windows 7. But, having said that I do think you should tell any of your friends who still have XP to start saving their money now. Then when XP gets discontinued they can just buy a new machine.

So all in all, XP is fine, use it while it's still supported. then once it's not, just buy a new machine.

  • DConnell and goretsky
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Grand Master

Arachno 1D

Posted
Posted

Its not a very green solution though to buy new hardware to replace hardware that in essence still works just because you cant get driver support..........OH that so reminds me of 98 to ME [bLEGH!] and XP upgrade issues....

Yes even 98 patches are availalbe if not from MS from other sources, but they are becoming less accessable as MS pushes for profit over support for older software.

Grand Master

MS Bob 11

Posted
Posted

@OP, Windows XP updates will continue to be available for a very long time. And even if they stop the WU service or even stop making updates downloadable, there will be hundreds of websites with all post-SP3 public updates and non-security hotfixes. And Windows XP x64 will get updates up to July 2015 because the updates are shared with Windows Server 2003. :woot: :D

  • 3 weeks later...
Grand Master

soldier1st

Posted
Posted

Will you say the same thing about every other windows release thats still in use today? There will always be unnoficial support for older windows releases. Forcing a user to switch is a bad idea as there will be issues. By trying to get the customer to switch on his own decision instead of yours will mean less worries for the customer. Heck, if i was forced to use something i would rebel unless: i was given time to decide if i really want it or not or there was no choice. Giving customers choice means a more satisfied customer.

  On 27/05/2012 at 17:48, nytiger73 said:

I agree. That's a very dangerous game to play. If you're in that position, I'd strongly recommend telling your friend that he's using an 11 year old operating system and that he needs to upgrade ASAP. Now if this machine is never going online, I suppose you could get away with it, but I'd get him to upgrade ASAP.

Grand Master

goretsky Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

Hello,

If the computer in question were functioning as kind of an embedded system (kiosk, industry controller or other system not connected to any network and with no way to attach additional storage to it) than it should be able to run indefinitely past Microsoft Windows XP's end-of-life. If you are connecting the computer to a network, have exposed USB ports, etc, then all bets are off about securing it. It is also important to remember that eventually all hardware fails, and if the computer owner/operator don't keep a suitable amount of spares in reserve, they will have to replace the system in toto with a brand new one.

It is convenient to equate dedicated-purpose devices like televisions, telephones and cars with general-purpose devices like computers, however, computer technology advances much more rapidly than those other devices and even they eventually get replaced (thinking of analog CRTs, analog cellular phones, cars that took leaded gasoline and no seatbelts, and so forth).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

  On 27/05/2012 at 17:58, arachnoid said:

There is an issue with that though as some hardware just wont support anything beyond XP be it through lack of system power,no driver support,external peripherals used or the simple fact a user may not want to pay out more on a system that is worrking quite well as it is.

Older patchs are usually availalbe for older MS operating systems for several years after end of cycle but may be liable for a paid service charge depending on how MS is feeing in regard to support on certain software.The release of newer important patches for XP is unlikely to happen very often be it through unwarrented costs to MS or their desire to force users to upgrade.

Grand Master

goretsky Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

Hello,

Considering the advancements in technology, it may be far greener to replace a Windows 98-era computer with all of its lead solder and power eating components with a newer device that positively sips power in comparison and is able to intelligently throttle power consumption, has multiple sleep/doze/hibernation modes and does not contain any lead, mercury or other heavy metals.

For the most part, driver support is handled by the companies which make the silicon used in devices and not Microsoft. If you are unhappy with their policy of not releasing device drivers for a fourteen-year-old piece of hardware from the Windows 98-era, vote with your dollars/euro/pounds and buy from a different manufacturer, let them both know why you've switched vendors.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

  On 27/05/2012 at 18:53, arachnoid said:

It's not a very green solution though to buy new hardware to replace hardware that in essence still works just because you can't get driver support..........OH that so reminds me of 98 to ME [bLEGH!] and XP upgrade issues....

Yes even 98 patches are available if not from MS from other sources, but they are becoming less accessible as MS pushes for profit over support for older software.

Grand Master

McKay

Posted
Posted
  On 28/05/2012 at 19:32, xpclient said:

@OP, Windows XP updates will continue to be available for a very long time. And even if they stop the WU service or even stop making updates downloadable, there will be hundreds of websites with all post-SP3 public updates and non-security hotfixes. And Windows XP x64 will get updates up to July 2015 because the updates are shared with Windows Server 2003. :woot: :D

I wouldn't trust downloading updates from random people who may or may not know what they're doing. After the end support date Microsoft will stop releasing new security fixes, so your machine will become vulnerable to new security holes. After the support end date if you go to Windows update, the updates issued up until the point support ended will be there.

Rising Star

togermano

Posted
Posted

I think patches for windows XP will continue unofficially the same windows 98 se gets patches unofficially... i have a feeling windows 2003 server will be supported for awhile and may be possible to edit the patches so they work in windows XP as well.....

Rising Star

togermano

Posted
Posted

Alot of windows updates has to do with using microsoft internet explorer as well.... U will prob be fine if use firefox and close all system services ports on the network part so incase there are any holes in the OS it will be harder to exploit x

Grand Master

Hum

Posted
Posted
  On 27/05/2012 at 17:48, nytiger73 said:

I agree. That's a very dangerous game to play. If you're in that position, I'd strongly recommend telling your friend that he's using an 11 year old operating system and that he needs to upgrade ASAP. Now if this machine is never going online, I suppose you could get away with it, but I'd get him to upgrade ASAP.

That's ridiculous -- my Win XP has not exploded. :laugh: People and their fear-mongering ...

Agreed, seta, v

Grand Master

Dot Matrix

Posted
Posted
  On 18/06/2012 at 01:01, togermano said:

Alot of windows updates has to do with using microsoft internet explorer as well.... U will prob be fine if use firefox and close all system services ports on the network part so incase there are any holes in the OS it will be harder to exploit x

Windows Update on XP needs IE, You can't run the service using Firefox.

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