# RIP Windows XP: 2001 - 2014 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659 "2014-04-08T18:37:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/1 "2014-04-08T18:37:36Z")
Windows XP, the venerable Microsoft operating system, died today after being taken off of life support. It was 13 years old. XP was the child of pillar-of-the-community NT and town-drunk ME. This unlikely amalgamation lead to a rocky start for XP. In its early days XP would allow anyone into its life and couldn’t keep a stable relationship. But after completing its second Service Pack, the young operating system became a (mostly) respected workhorse and long-serving member of the business community. XP is survived by its children: Vista, 7, and 8.1, and also by cousin “Windows XP for Embedded Systems”. In lieu of flowers, Microsoft asks that you kindly purchase Windows 8.1. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/2 "2014-04-08T18:47:53Z")
XP is not going anywhere today just because Microsoft is no longer supporting it. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/3 "2014-04-08T19:17:39Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > XP is not going anywhere today just because Microsoft is no longer supporting it. Sure it is. It says right on the box: “Where do you want to go today?” ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/4 "2014-04-08T19:29:27Z")
My XP machines run third-party firewall and anti-virus, are backed up regularly, and don’t download Windows updates anyway. Nothing will change, the computers are just as functional today as they were yesterday. If I wanted to be extra-safe I could run my web browser in a sandbox, I would think my web browser would be the most likely attack vector. That said, for those that don’t know much about computers and security and browse with Internet Explorer, I’d think about upgrading. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/5 "2014-04-08T19:31:50Z")
I just bought a new computer this weekend to replace my 8 year old XP. A friend transferred all my stuff for me. He also downloaded a classic start menu so the transition has not been that bad. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/6 "2014-04-08T19:45:41Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > XP is not going anywhere today just because Microsoft is no longer supporting it. > [@TimeWinder](#): > > Sure it is. It says right on the box: “Where do you want to go today?” Bravo **TimeWinder**. My loud snort was heard by everyone throughout the library. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/7 "2014-04-08T19:54:17Z")
This post written on an ancient Dell Latitude D610 laptop\* running Windows XP. \*purchased used/reconditioned, at that. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/8 "2014-04-08T20:05:10Z")
I’d call it more like “Taken off life support, but not quite dead yet.” Seriously though, Windows 7 is fine. Vista sucks, 8 sucks, but 7 is fine, and not even so very different from XP as to cause anyone who’s not a total chump much, if any heartburn at all. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/9 "2014-04-08T20:25:27Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I’d call it more like “Taken off life support, but not quite dead yet.” I wouldn’t even call it that, as the activation servers still work. I’d say it’s closer to XP signing a “do not resuscitate” order. Or that the doctors have said they’ve done all they can do and can just now ease the pain. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/10 "2014-04-08T20:27:22Z")
Yes, but those metaphors don’t easily lead to a cutesy death notice, now do they smart guys? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/11 "2014-04-08T20:52:45Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I’d call it more like “Taken off life support, but not quite dead yet.” So it’s only mostly dead. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/12 "2014-04-08T21:08:32Z")
in China it is massively by far the largest operating system and will continue being supported. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/13 "2014-04-08T22:22:06Z")
My brother is still running Windows 95. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/14 "2014-04-08T22:54:40Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > in China it is massively by far the largest operating system and will continue being supported. Which is a totally odd decision, because supposedly it’s so popular because it’s been widely pirated, and some 70% of users in China don’t install security updates. > **[Windows XP will continue receiving security support in China](https://www.pcworld.com/article/444151/chinas-windows-xp-users-to-still-get-security-support.html)** > > Windows XP still reigns as the most popular PC OS in the nation ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/15 "2014-04-09T01:15:11Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > in China it is massively by far the largest operating system and will continue being supported. Will Chinese developers continue, unofficially, to update it? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/16 "2014-04-09T02:52:41Z")
Another shitty operating system from Microsoft. Good riddance. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/17 "2014-04-09T07:20:18Z")
Actually one of the few that I don’t consider shitty. I remember when I started uni and was getting fed up with Win 9x so I considered switching to Linux. Then XP came out and was received positively. It was the only time I bought an OS in a box. (still have it!) When they announced the end of support, I installed Linux on my next laptop, and haven’t used Windows at home since the summer of 2011. I never liked Vista/Win7 and haven’t even seen 8 live yet. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/18 "2014-05-02T06:38:47Z")
The critical Internet Explorer bug in the news the last few days has been fixed for XP: [http://www.tomsguide.com/us/internet-explorer-flaw-patched-xp,news-18721.html](http://www.tomsguide.com/us/internet-explorer-flaw-patched-xp,news-18721.html) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/19 "2014-05-02T14:24:08Z")
everyone (running Windows) needs the Internet Explorer patch. it is good they provided it for XP too. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659/20 "2014-05-02T14:43:50Z")
I got the Internet Explorer patch this morning, although I already had the ultimate IE patch called “Firefox”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659.md?page=2)