What's up with M$ ?

[Don Y]

I have a ~160GB (maybe 250?) external USB drive that is labeled "Windows Updates". It sits on a shelf waiting to be plugged into whichever machine "needs" updates (I don't let my machines "talk to the outside world" so *they* can't "fetch" the updates using the normal mechanism)

Consider each time you "updated" a machine, you went through the trouble of downloading those updates -- and then DISCARDING them after they were installed... :<

(I build computers for local non-profits; I can't afford to tie up my internet connection 24/7 trying to re-download the very same files that I just used to "update" the last machine that I built for the NEXT machine I'm building! And, the machine(s) after that...)

And, not have to be reliant on MS's servers being "up", your inet connection staying up, etc.

[Terry Coombs]

THANK YOU ! The updates are now installing , this program checks to see what's missing , then installs it .

[Terry Coombs]

wsus offline has accomplished the task , updates are installing now . And now I have an archive of updates ...

[gfretwell]

He is saying if you scratch load a machine, you can't get the updates from M$. They have been available until now. It is something like 133 from a SP3 load.

[rbowman]

Actually, I just got several XP updates today for Office related stuff.

[clare]

I downloaded a bunch of XP updates just a few weeks ago.. Can't remember how or where. There is an "unofficial" SP4 available on Softpedia that installs ALL updates post SP1 for 32 bit XP in one dump.

If you intend to keep using XP and may need to reinstall, download it NOW!!!

[clare]

You would be very surprised how much XP is still in daily business use. Generally NOT in internet connected applications - but plenty even there

[dpb]

On 05/11/2016 8:09 PM, rbowman wrote: ...

Those are Office, not the OS...one showed up here, today, too, but it's been a while since any actually for XP itself.

[Steve Stone]

There is an unofficial registry patch for XP making the rounds over the past few years that redefines your XP OS as a Point of Sale device, and allows you to continue to receive some updates.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\WPA\PosReady] "Installed"=dword:00000001

[Don Y]

This is dubious; it tries to make your XP system look like it is running XPe. The two are NOT the same. MS could easily (intentionally or unintentionally) push an XPe patch that screws up something on XP. You'd have no way of knowing that this was the case.

It's akin to overclocking a CPU -- it *might* work. And, it might NOT. And, if it doesn't, you'll never be able to point to "it" as the conclusive cause of the problem.

[Bud Frede]

It's their product, they can do what they want with it. If you don't like it, you can always switch to Linux, FreeBSD, etc., or buy a Mac.

XP is 15 years old now, so it's not like they cut it off in its infancy. Time to move on. Or I suppose you could see if you can pay MS for support. I guess if you offered them enough money they'd keep you going indefinitely.

Too bad you haven't been using Free Software. If you had been, even if the creators decided they didn't want to support it anymore someone else could - even you!

[Bud Frede]

Then I suppose the business community would have paid MS enough to get them to prolong the support. Or maybe they don't actually care that much.

Refresh cycles in business for desktops and laptops is 5 years or less from what I've seen. Businesses will have done at least a couple of refreshes since 2001, so they're likely to have moved on from XP already. If they didn't, then it's their own fault. Who would expect Microsoft to support an OS for business use for even as long as they did?

[Bud Frede]

I agree. Anyone who wants to maintain an antique computer or antique software needs to first make sure they have everything they will need for the foreseeable future. That kind of planning and preparation should have started years ago.

Windows has improved over the years in some ways, so the latest versions may be attractive to some people. (I'd say that 7 is better than XP in almost every way, and I'm not even a fan of Windows.)

[Don Y]

+1 This is why I do all my software development under FOSS.

OTOH, most of the "desktop" applications really suck in the FOSS world; I'm still waiting for a FOSS CAD package that can do what AutoCAD did 25+ years ago! :<

So, I run XP on those workstations to avail myself of the "better" software available on that platform.

("Security" not being an issue as the machines aren't routed!)

[Don Y]

The problem is that "antique" is a handful of years. If you want any real control over your environment, you have to be proactive in monitoring the "support" that is available (as it varies over time -- old updates are no longer available, etc.)

My oldest "PC" is a Compaq Portable 386 (lunchbox) -- from the late 80's. A dog by today's standards. But, gives me an ISA box (I have the optional expansion chassis installed) as well as 5" floppy capabilities. *But*, I've made a conscious effort to have all of the files needed to rebuild the machine available (e.g., the "setup" mode is performed from floppies, not some hot key at POST).

My oldest Sun box is a Voyager: (Hmmm... for $500, I'd consider selling mine -- and mine actually WORKS!) Again, it's imperative to have squirreled away the various bits of software to make it *usable*!

I have a 7even laptop as well as a Vista laptop (and a W2K and an XP).

I tried 7even on one of my workstations and found it more sluggish than XP -- esp at application startup. I've noticed that FrameMaker likes to hang when run on the Vista laptop (haven't tried it on the

7even laptop/desktop).

Yet another incentive to NOT upgrade...

[Mark Lloyd]

[snip]

SP3 won't install unless you have one of the other service packs already installed. Unless your XP disk has SP1 or SP2 already on it, you'll need that one too.

I recently installed XP. Then SP2 and SP3, then the updates. I was using Autopatcher, and kept the directory from the last time MS had new updates for XP.

[Mayayana]

| I agree. Anyone who wants to maintain an antique computer or antique | software needs to first make sure they have everything they will need | for the foreseeable future. That kind of planning and preparation should | have started years ago. |

While you're teasing people about antiques, be sure you download Win7 SP1. There's no reason to count on anything from Microsoft. Broken links is almost an industry for them. They often rework things in an attempt to coerce their customers.

(I happen to be writing this on my home-built,

6 month old, 8-core XP rocketship. I have a Win7 computer but it's too slow and naggy for regular use. :)

[dpb]

On 05/12/2016 8:43 AM, Don Y wrote: ...

...

I spent a memorable summer lugging one of those back and forth between Oak Ridge and Raleigh developing code for online coal elemental S analyzer--we were using the NCSU NE department's high-intensity neutron source for the developmental work; the analyzer was a gamma-spec device destined for power plant emissions monitoring control...

While the laptop belonged to the company was consulting through, I had to add the '387 coprocessor on my own in order to be able to get a spectrum fit and peak-stripping computation done in under minutes in order to have any chance whatever of getting anywhere--they were too cheap to buy a second actual hardware system and the other developer doing the user-interface commandeered it 'cuz had to have access to the actual hardware while I did the physics end...

Oh, the memories... :)

[ItsJoanNotJoann]

Take a class in not being an asshole and you'd know that Microsoft ceased support for XP over a year ago. Doesn't matter about updates, new or old, you're just setting yourself up to be hacked. But as ill-mannered as you are you probably deserve it.

[ItsJoanNotJoann]

Thank you. I work for a global company with 10 of thousands employees and last year we were told to upgrade to W-7 or you're on your own. No upgrades, no support, and no whining if you don't upgrade and are hacked.