WINDOWS XP GOING TO DIE (no more support) 2014

[John of PA]

You can run DOS in Win XP

I still use DOS, Lotus 123 DOS with some old spreadsheet files from 20 years ago that I still use. You can run DOS in XP, just click RUN then type the word COMMAND and a DOS window pops up. Type EXIT to get out. As for buying a new computer, I am going to go one more tax season with XP, then I will probably buy Win 8 next fall (after the bugs are out of it). Drake told me thier software is still running fine on XP. Hope it all works out well for you, thanks for those detailed sharings on this subject.

[FEDUKE404]

Insight into holding on to Win XP

My software company (cs) says that there could be functionality problems going forward, after 4/9/14. I realize that 2013 tax year programs will be safe but 2014 and after may not function properly as all new software updates will not consider Windows XP.

That is exactly the major problem to be faced, when "support" ends.

You may have a perfectly fine Win XP computer up and running, and your current software encounters no problems. (Likely the same software would also run in Vista or Win7 or Win8 or whatever.) But when Win XP support fades into the darkness, that software (often depending upon its complexity) might no longer operate with the arrival of a 2015 version. A similar fate met software which once was designed to work in Windows 3.2, or W 1998, or W 2000, or .... If you cling to your old computer, you are definitely living on borrowed time! It is far better to deal with the need to upgrade to a newer system soon, and fight your way through the necessary learning curves, than to unbox/download some software next January and then suddenly realize it will no longer run on your old computer.

Another issue to show how things change is the following: I was cleaning out some old emails/"favorites"/etc that had been rattling around in a semi-archival state. A very large number of some of those older stored web page links were gone (no surprise) but many others would only partially load, and would flash error notices of varied types. It is that type of scenario you will (eventually) face by hanging on to a Win XP system...."bless its heart."

But in the matter of full disclosure: I still have an older DOS program (PFS First Choice) running on an old Windows 98 computer I keep in the corner when I need to access some files stored there. It really bugs me there is no way (that I've been able to find) to run that DOS program on either my Win XP computer (laptop inherited from daughter) or my current Win7 computer. Yes, I know you can access the Command prompt, but the First Choice DOS software (while not fancy) needs "path" statements and related subdirectories to function properly. You would think some computer geek could come up with a solution, but I guess there is no/little demand for such. The best I've been able to find is over-priced commercial software which will "convert" the FC data files into formats more suitable for software such as Excel.

Enough of my rambling. Bottom line: Like it or not, other than running "old" software it is not a productive approach to put your newer eggs into a Win XP basket. At some point, whenever that is, you WILL only have nothing more than omelet material!

FE

[BOB W]

That was a great response.... I'll wait and see also...... But if all else fails, I need to have plan B thought out and be able to make a change when the time comes by knowing my options.

[Golden Rocket]

We'll Wait and See

Windows used to "own" customers and be able to force updates on them. After Windows 3.2, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, people got tired of buying a new car every time they paint new stripes on the road. It might be said that Windows 98 was the last operating system that would accept all updated software -- undoubtedly the most stable system they've had. After Windows 2000 gave problems, The Microsoft solution was the XP, and people have been afraid to leave it.

After years of being able to cram new products down our throats, Microsoft had to finally come to grips with reality when they decided to market their VISTA product. It was a bad product, so users simply held on to their XP units. After 2-3 of market failure, Microsoft decided to FORCE people to buy Vista by totally discontinuing their XP.

The public was not going to be bullied around this time. No XP? The public responded by not buying any new computers. I think the final result was Windows had to rescue the situation by cleaning up the Vista mess, deploying Windows 7, and discontinuing the ill-fated Vista.

After 13 years of XP, it might be that the time has come to move on. Dunno. We'll wait and see.

[BOB W]

My software company (cs) says that there could be functionality problems going forward, after 4/9/14. I realize that 2013 tax year programs will be safe but 2014 and after may not function properly as all new software updates will not consider Windows XP.

[DaveO]

It won't die, just won't be updates. I have a Dos 6.22 machine running Windows for Workgroups that still functions.

[BOB W]

For all those XP users, what plan do you have for next year. Buying all new computers? Buying a new PC server only? Will xp desktops work with windows 7 or 8 servers?