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XP End of Life Means Trouble

Microsoft is in the process of winding down support for Windows XP SP2 and after tomorrow will apparently stop releasing patches. If Vista wasn't such a dud, I'd have no problem with this, but given the choice between Vista and XP, the wise chose is the latter. That means millions of corporate customers will remain on XP.

The news is not all bad. If you are on XP SP2, all you need to do is upgrade to SP3 and you'll have all the patches you can handle.

One problem with Microsoft's plan is that plenty of folks will stay with SP2 -- which is now more vulnerable to attack. Some estimates put SP2 at 45 percent of all current XP installs. That's a lot of targets!

Here's one indication that XP isn't going anywhere: A big chunk of new netbooks come with XP, not Windows 7 (and clearly not Vista).

How long should Microsoft support XP, and is it fair for Redmond to force an upgrade to SP3? You tell me at dbarney@redmondmag.com.

Posted by Doug Barney on 07/12/2010 at 11:40 AM


Reader Comments:

Fri, Jul 16, 2010 Chris Florida

I don't really understand why the choice is between XP and Vista in your first paragbraph Doug. Win 7 runs so well on even older hardware running XP. Why not go to 7? I've upgraded approx 200+ workstations from XP to 7 now and so far I have not had one single user need to switch back off of 7. Out of hundreds of installs, only three users had to use Windows XP mode for legacy software. Again, why are you trying to say people are stuck between XP and Vista? I wish I could wave a magic wand and delete Vista from existence.

Tue, Jul 13, 2010 Mike St Louis

I would like to see Microsoft release XP SP4!

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 BWJ Texas

Doug, Doug, Doug, here you go again. Making weird claims while not using all facts available to you. All so you can generate some responses to prove folks are reading your blog. I guess it worked. I'm responding, but you should try harder to prove you are not a technophobe and know at least a little about technology. After all you write for a tech mag. Come on, I remember when your articles and blogs actually had insight. This is just simple Microsoft bashing, which is fine, but doesn't give readers what they want to read - even if you do get a lot of responses. Step up your game a little Doug. Come on, we all believe in you, you can do it... I think.....

Mon, Jul 12, 2010

There are certainly many Netbooks with Windows XP rather than Windows 7 due to hardware and power requirements. Interestingly, just to put things in perspective, I recently purchased a new fairly high end model of HP Elitebook. It came with only Windows XP installed (through "downgrade" rights) even though it had more RAM than Windows XP can even "see". And when I queried HP about getting 64-bit Windows 7 media for this 64-bit machine it wasn't even available. It only came with 32-bit Windows 7. So Windows XP comes on a lot more machines than you might imagine.

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Charlie Boston

Tom, I came here to pretty much answer your question, without knowing you asked it. I have had Vista x64 running on my company Dell E6400 laptop with 4 GB RAM and Intel Core Duo 2.53 Ghz, for about 1 1/2 years and I am very happy with it. I also am dual booting with Windows 7. I like Windows 7 slightly more, but I really have had no big problems with either OS, including on the performance side. Doug, you have got to stop with the anti-Vista mantra. Most of the big problems were fixed in SP1, and probably before that. I suggest you install Vista (fully patched) and Win 7 on the same or identical machines, as I have, and then tell me that Windows 7 is a world of difference. In my opinion, if you don't like Vista as it is today, you just don't like Windows. It's okay to not like Windows, but Vista as the devil alongside Win 7 as the angel is preposterous. MS obviously made a big mistake with Vista by releasing it before its time and it was never able to live that down. Once they got it working right they knew what they had to do - Add a few features and call it Windows 7.

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Ted Hastings Spain

XP is a great OS. Not convinced about Vista, but Windows 7 seems fine. However, if you want MS to continue supporting XP you need to upgrade to the latest SP.

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Tom

'SP3 breaks software that will run on SP2' such as? Did you perhaps experience issues related to NAP? Just curious. Regarding Vista: Aside from the additional HW reqts and early driver issues, our experience has been mostly positive and that Vista is a relatively solid product that works well. Is anyone here also currently happily using Vista?

Mon, Jul 12, 2010

In this economic environment small business owners like myself need XP! Vista was a disaster and I can't afford to go to Windows 7 and Office 10.

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Dr. John Knoxville

SP3 breaks software that will run on SP2. SP3 eats a great deal more of the systems processes, slowing older systems to a crawl, if not making them unusable. A service pack, by its very nature, fixes some things, and breaks others. It's a simple fact. MS knows this, but rather than support the OS, they support the service packs. Buying a new computer and upgrading to Win7 won't fix the issue for these users. What's broken in SP3 will remain broken in 7. And, given the quantity of proprietary or older, essential software out there - software for which there are no quick fixes or updates - MS's position on the matter is a solid blow to any hope of security for these organizations and individuals.

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Phil

Windows 7 should be a free upgrade for anyone stuck in Vista. So if you have to support older computer (5+ years) then XP sp3 is a major performance hit, but might keep some spyware out which would in turn make it run better? Anyways, MS has to focus their patching with so many vectors nowadays. Just be happy that they strive for backwards compatibility, unlike Mac, though a few programs do not run in Win7 still but that is 3rd part related. If you do get a new machine, there is always downgrade rights for free, after Win7 activation with telephone activation of an old XP key; XP SP3 runs great on new machines.

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Jim Denver

This is a really strange post. Why are you even talking about Vista at all? It makes it sound like you are just looking for one more chance to bash an admittedly problematic product. Windows 7, on the other hand, is an excellent O/S, and it seems to me that it is on the vast majority of new netbooks.

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Justin

For a large or medium organization, there isn't an excuse in my estimation for not being at current service pack levels. I can understand the mom and pop operations where the staff does not know any better. Still, Microsoft is not responsible for supporting legacy operating systems forever.

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Tom Iowa

I don't understand why everyone is so much against Vista. I have been using it since it first came out and I have had no problems with it. I Have used it on three different machines and so far no troubles. So whats the big deal?

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Joe

Yes, it is fair for Microsoft to force users to upgrade to SP3. Anyone who has any expectation of security on an OS platform that is 6 years old (SP2) needs to wake up. Microsoft has already supported SP2 too long as it is.

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Joe Florida

I have 3 comments on this one: 1) What is so wrong or difficult about installing SP3 for XP? 2) " is it fair for Redmond to force an upgrade to SP3?" is it fair to expect Redmond to support and operating system for free forever? And yes it is free support because you are not paying for these updates and fixes. 3) You complain about Vista, have you ever heard of Windows 7? Migrate to that!

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