[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Will I Be Able to Activate XP after 2014? here

[Cybershepherd]

The author is right about Windows 7. However, XP mode does not work for a number of programs or equipment. It's best to use dual boot with Windows 7 on 1 partition and Windows XP on another. As an example, Canon LIDE 30 scanner, Photoshop 5.0, TDBM, and a lot of games do not work in XP mode. I'm sure there are hundreds of other examples. Unfortunately, the equipment and program manufacturers and Microsoft have not seen fit to provide driver updates for such products.

[robotortoise]

Well, of course Microsoft will still be activating XP. Windows XP mode uses a real Windows XP image, just with a modified serial code. If Microsoft didn't let people re-activate windows, Windows XP mode wouldn't run, so....

[dragon69]

i agree with cybershepherd as he or she states some programs don't run or don't run well in xp mode so dual boot set up would be the best option !

[xpclient]

Microsoft lost the meaning of user experience after XP. Vista, 7, 8 all UI abominations and dumbed down crap forced on us. See http://en.wikipedia....n_Windows_Vista and http://en.wikipedia....ed_in_Windows_7 and expect to see http://en.wikipedia....ed_in_Windows_8 soon.

[mikeyr]

"...the active malware threats of 2014 will probably not be targeting an old and out-of-date operating system." Let's see, lots of folks still running an old OS that is no longer supported, no longer protected and no longer updated. Gee, why would anyone want to go after such low hanging fruit?

[dlauber]

Windows 7 Professional also supports XP Mode -- and its less expensive than the Business and Ultimate editions.

[DreddHead]

[q]I highly recommend that XP diehards, assuming they can afford it, upgrade to Windows 7 this year[/q]

What a dumb statement to make as older hardware just isnt supported in the main on win7 driver lists and manufacturers aint going to make new drivers for older peripherals or even internals like graphics card,Its just not economical however green the companys say they are.

[PhilLevin]

I'm a tech writer and use my PC 14 hrs/day. I've been using Win 7 for 9 months now and, while it's a more stable platform than XP, I need a different utility to work around each of its newly minted weaknesses; for example, searching for files is just about hopeless, so I use FreeCommander. As far as the GUI is concerned, it's a HUGE step backward, IMHO.

[campbell2644]

Nevertheless, I highly recommend that XP diehards, assuming they can afford it, upgrade to Windows 7 this year......or save a lot of money and install Linux Mint for free. Don't believe all the nonsense that it's difficult to adapt to a different OS.

[DR]

Upgrading from XP to Windows 7 is not a solution for those of us who have older hardware that can only handle the overhead of XP or older Windows versions

[bridge8303]

campbell2644, on 12 March 2012 - 07:46 AM, said:

Nevertheless, I highly recommend that XP diehards, assuming they can afford it, upgrade to Windows 7 this year......or save a lot of money and install Linux Mint for free. Don't believe all the nonsense that it's difficult to adapt to a different OS.

Yes I do use Linux but only for business use only, a lot of games cannot run on linux and run only on windows especially the games I like to play eg railway simulator games.

[LiveBrianD]

PhilLevin, on 12 March 2012 - 05:53 AM, said:

I'm a tech writer and use my PC 14 hrs/day. I've been using Win 7 for 9 months now and, while it's a more stable platform than XP, I need a different utility to work around each of its newly minted weaknesses; for example, searching for files is just about hopeless, so I use FreeCommander. As far as the GUI is concerned, it's a HUGE step backward, IMHO.

Searching for files? Use the start menu or little search box at the top right of a window. Once you get used to it, it's definitely easier to use than XP.

[Scunnerous]

LiveBrianD, on 12 March 2012 - 07:04 PM, said:

PhilLevin, on 12 March 2012 - 05:53 AM, said:

I'm a tech writer and use my PC 14 hrs/day. I've been using Win 7 for 9 months now and, while it's a more stable platform than XP, I need a different utility to work around each of its newly minted weaknesses; for example, searching for files is just about hopeless, so I use FreeCommander. As far as the GUI is concerned, it's a HUGE step backward, IMHO.

Searching for files? Use the start menu or little search box at the top right of a window. Once you get used to it, it's definitely easier to use than XP.

No he's right - Windows 7 Search is utterly useless for anyone who does real work: it is impossible to make it Search locations and files that it just doesn't want to look in. As a trivial example you cannot make it search for text in files with no extension. I also see no way to separate search by file name from search by contents - more undesired behavior. It's a bad joke.

[jhallgren]

PhilLevin, on 12 March 2012 - 05:53 AM, said:

for example, searching for files is just about hopeless, so I use FreeCommander.

Another alternative to built-in search and FreeCommander is http://www.xyplorer.com which, while not free, has a very active and responsive developer. I've been a satisfied user of XY on older OS's for 6+ yrs now but it's still unknown by many which is unfortunate given the devotion the developer and the forum community for the product has.

[seamore2001]

That is a big relief.

[john3347]

robotortoise, on 08 March 2012 - 09:42 AM, said:

Well, of course Microsoft will still be activating XP. Windows XP mode uses a real Windows XP image, just with a modified serial code. If Microsoft didn't let people re-activate windows, Windows XP mode wouldn't run, so....

There is a lot more difference between Windows XP and XP Mode than serial code. XP Mode is a butchered version of XP that does not function smoothly and has numerous functions disabled or removed. I have XP mode on one of three Windows 7 computer and I still have to maintain a dedicated XP computer to do my important work on.

[john3347]

Scunnerous, on 13 March 2012 - 03:26 AM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 12 March 2012 - 07:04 PM, said:

PhilLevin, on 12 March 2012 - 05:53 AM, said:

I'm a tech writer and use my PC 14 hrs/day. I've been using Win 7 for 9 months now and, while it's a more stable platform than XP, I need a different utility to work around each of its newly minted weaknesses; for example, searching for files is just about hopeless, so I use FreeCommander. As far as the GUI is concerned, it's a HUGE step backward, IMHO.

Searching for files? Use the start menu or little search box at the top right of a window. Once you get used to it, it's definitely easier to use than XP.

No he's right - Windows 7 Search is utterly useless for anyone who does real work: it is impossible to make it Search locations and files that it just doesn't want to look in. As a trivial example you cannot make it search for text in files with no extension. I also see no way to separate search by file name from search by contents - more undesired behavior. It's a bad joke.

LiveBrianD appears to never have had to search for a file having no idea what directory Windows 7 threw it in because he forgot to specify where he wanted the file saved. XP search searches the entire computer, Windows 7 is a seriously butchered search.

[villandra]

Speaking of dumb statements. EVERYONE WHO HAS THE UPGRADE VERSION OF WINDOWS 7 WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO INSTALL WINDOWS XP FIRST - and, I hate to tell you, only well paid computer engineers like you can afford the new install version of Windows 7. In professional yet! You MUST be a millionaire.

[LiveBrianD]

villandra, on 06 August 2012 - 06:24 PM, said:

Speaking of dumb statements. EVERYONE WHO HAS THE UPGRADE VERSION OF WINDOWS 7 WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO INSTALL WINDOWS XP FIRST - and, I hate to tell you, only well paid computer engineers like you can afford the new install version of Windows 7. In professional yet! You MUST be a millionaire.

Keep in mind that the OEM version of XP is about the same price as the upgrade one, actually a few bucks cheaper. (it can NOT be transferred to another PC though, unlike the upgrade and full retail versions)

Also, the Windows 7 (and Vista) upgrades only care that you have Windows installed - they don't care whether or not those were actually activated.

This post has been edited by LiveBrianD: 06 August 2012 - 07:46 PM