the demise of Windows XP

[dellzeqq]

Yes. I know. You lot all have 'apps'. But....

1. XP works
2. My personal copy of AutoCad 2007 (also unsupported) only works on XP. And I'm not planning on squillions on a new copy of AutoCad because I use Vectorworks 2014 at work.

So - can my XP survive unsupported? If MSE is no longer updated, could I rely on another virus protection programme like BidDefender?

 

[raleighnut]

Set up a solid restore point & make a note of the date. You could then try downloading Windows Defender which supercedes MSE but it may not run on some versions of XP! If you have XP Pro you could also try running a different version of Windows in a partition as a virtual computer (7) just name the drive with another letter ( Z-drive is very popular) and Windows 7 is available in a 32 bit version as well as the more normal 64. I would expect the AutoCAD would run on that.

 

[cd365]

Get a decent windows 7 pc and create a virtual windows xp pc and install your autocad on it. Get that setup how you want it then take a copy of it. Use this copy to work on, copying off your files to windows 7. If your XP copy gets a virus delete this virtual pc copy, take a copy of the original and start again.

 

[theclaud]

Get a decent windows 7 pc and create a virtual windows xp pc and install your autocad on it. Get that setup how you want it then take a copy of it. Use this copy to work on, copying off your files to windows 7. If your XP copy gets a virus delete this virtual pc copy, take a copy of the original and start again.

I am doing my best to picture DZ following these instructions....

 

[cd365]

Slightly complicated I know but once up and running it will be easy. All Internet surfing should be done on a virtual pc!

 

[raleighnut]

Get a decent windows 7 pc and create a virtual windows xp pc and install your autocad on it. Get that setup how you want it then take a copy of it. Use this copy to work on, copying off your files to windows 7. If your XP copy gets a virus delete this virtual pc copy, take a copy of the original and start again.

That would actually be a better way of doing it but it does involve purchasing a new pc.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

If you own a ton of CNC equipment running on XP it's a bit of a ball ache.

 

[raleighnut]

If you own a ton of CNC equipment running on XP it's a bit of a ball ache.

That's also why a lot of companies use quarantined control and design computers and restrict internet usage at work.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

The problem that you have is Microsoft are no longer releasing updates for XP as such when a new issue or security hole is discovered they will not address this. There is no application such as bit defender which will help in this regard.

If the goal is the continued use of AutoCAD I would suggest the following.
1) take an image of your computer drive so you recover to its current state.
2) isolate the PC so that it has no web access (majority of exploits, viruses come from the web and email)
3) buy a cheap laptop/tablet for your web needs.

Forget emulation IMHO AutoCad is such a resource hog that it runs like a three legged dog when emulated

 

[MontyVeda]

You're not alone Dell... there's a few other sticks in the mud here.

 

[Wobblers]

Microsoft will still be updating MSE for the next year. As Mr Haematocrit says, the major issue is that bugs in XP will no longer be fixed after next week. Over time, XP will become less and less secure as more exploits and weaknesses are found, but not patched. Your pc will probably be reasonably safe for a few months at least, if you keep the browser up to date, don't visit any dodgy sites, run something like the NoScript plugin for Firefox (reduces the chances of exploits via questionable javascript being run on your internet browser) and use a hardware firewall: the router your ISP supplied you with will probably be a reasonable hardware firewall.

Your other options are:

1. Disconnect your XP computer from the internet and use it stand alone without any network connections. I have some data analysis software that only runs on XP and that's exactly what I'll be doing: the computer it's on won't get linked to any network.

2. As discussed above, install Windows 7 on your computer, then install a "virtualised" copy of XP on that. XP will effectively run within the Windows 7 environment. You can configure things so that XP cannot connect to the internet so will be more secure, and you'll still be able to conveniently use your copy of AutoCad. This has the disadvantage that you'll need to fork out for a copy of Windows 7 and quite possibly spend more money to upgrade your pc to run Windows 7 sufficiently fast (you may need a new hard disk and extra memory).

3. Convert your computer to dual boot. XP will live on one partition of your computer's hard disk, and never connect to the internet and another operating system on another partition. That other operating system can be anything you choose: Windows 7 or 8 or (the zero cost option) Linux, but you can use that for email and browsing safe in the knowledge that it'll be more secure than XP. That's what I'd do, run XP and Linux, but that's because I'm mean (so I'm told ) and already have a laptop already set up in this way...

For the last two options, I'd get in a friendly geek to set it up for you, if you're not comfortable doing it yourself: you can offer them beer, prosecco ...or just threaten to banish them from the FNR if they don't!

 

[fossyant]

You will be fine. The main PC won't be moving from XP in our house. We have two PCs on XP, two laptops on Vista, and a fast laptop on 8.1.

We stop the kids (son) doing stuff on the main PC as each bloody 'mod pack' for his games contains bloody search engine spam crap.....

 

[Crackle]

Crack on, it'll be all right.

 

[clockman]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/12/nhs_microsoft_win_xp_extended_support/
Saw this yesterday. Microsoft will continue to support XP, if you pay them enough.
I'm glad to see that the government is spending our money wisely! As ever, the civil service waste money on systems that don't really work properly, then throw good money after bad, trying to make these poor & ineffective systems function.
This cannot be an efficient use of tax payers money.

 

[slowmotion]

We're all doomed! I mean, that Millennium Bug wiped out the World as We Know It, didn't it? It was awful. An auto-dispensing Coke machine at Lagos Airport failed to deliver a beverage. Geeks wept for days.

Carry on.