# Windows XP help. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776 "2017-05-16T18:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/1 "2017-05-16T18:59:24Z")
HELL-low. How can I update WinXP (SP3) after a clean reinstall? Yes, I know support ended 3 years ago, but I thought it was still possible to d/l all previously released updates. Microsoft doesn’t seem to allow this anymore. I’m stuck with a 14yo computer, I would love a new computer, I also would love a cure for mental illness, & a larger, functioning dick:p. None of that is happening. So has my computer bit it’s last byte?☹ Thank You for your time. Jason ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/2 "2017-05-16T19:31:29Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > HELL-low. > > How can I update WinXP (SP3) after a clean reinstall? > > Yes, I know support ended 3 years ago, but I thought it was still possible to d/l all previously released updates. Microsoft doesn’t seem to allow this anymore. > > I’m stuck with a 14yo computer, I would love a new computer, I also would love a cure for mental illness, & a larger, functioning dick:p. None of that is happening. > > So has my computer bit it’s last byte?☹ > > Thank You for your time. > Jason Linux is great for giving old boxes nee life. I would start with Linux Mint. Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/3 "2017-05-16T19:35:46Z")
New life. Stupid phone. Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/4 "2017-05-16T20:10:48Z")
Check Ebay. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/5 "2017-05-16T20:40:51Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Linux is great for giving old boxes nee life. I would start with Linux Mint. > > Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk That’s the Penguin, right? :)I have no idea how to use Linux or if any of my old software will work with it. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Check Ebay. No money, not even for used boyfriends.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/6 "2017-05-16T20:43:02Z")
Anyways, the computer is d/ling the updates by itself now. :smack::smack::smack: Take Care ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/7 "2017-05-16T20:50:06Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > I have no idea how to use Linux or if any of my old software will work with it. I personally like linux. I use it as my main operating system for my computers that access the internet. But linux is most definitely not a generic replacement for an old windows operating system. Software is written for a specific operating system, and generally speaking it only works on that operating system. So your windows software will not work at all on linux. There is a thing called WINE which is a windows emulator for linux. If you are a techie geek, you might get your software (or at least most of it) to work under wine. But this isn’t something for a novice user to dig into. Linux still has a LONG way to go before it becomes anywhere near as user friendly as windows. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/8 "2017-05-16T21:12:08Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > No money, not even for used boyfriends.😛 [$7.99](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Windows-XP-Service-Packs-Disc-SP1-SP2-SP3-Unofficial-SP4-IE8-/322517533614?hash=item4b178b03ae:g:iKoAAOSwvihY-59p), free shipping. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/9 "2017-05-17T01:51:05Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > [$7.99](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Windows-XP-Service-Packs-Disc-SP1-SP2-SP3-Unofficial-SP4-IE8-/322517533614?hash=item4b178b03ae:g:iKoAAOSwvihY-59p), free shipping. That never occurred to me! I assumed you meant something like a refurbished computer. I’ll have to wait until the first, but I’ll check it out. Thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/10 "2017-05-17T01:58:35Z")
You are very welcome. I believe that Windows XP was G-d’s gift to mankind, the first trouble free Windows operating system. Replaced, and denied updates as Windows versions continues to be, because Microsoft wants to make more money. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/11 "2017-05-17T02:09:57Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I personally like linux. I use it as my main operating system for my computers that access the internet. But linux is most definitely not a generic replacement for an old windows operating system. > > Software is written for a specific operating system, and generally speaking it only works on that operating system. So your windows software will not work at all on linux. > > There is a thing called WINE which is a windows emulator for linux. If you are a techie geek, you might get your software (or at least most of it) to work under wine. But this isn’t something for a novice user to dig into. > > Linux still has a LONG way to go before it becomes anywhere near as user friendly as windows. Now that I’m back on my desktop… Linux Mint is the distro I recommend to beginners as it requires the least amount of tweaking after install. With Mate selected as the user interface, it functions very much like Windows XP. You have a desktop that looks [like this.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MATE_(software)#/media/File:Ubuntu_MATE_16.04_screenshot.png) There are taskbars/windows. You point and click. As far as old Windows programs, WINE has already been mentioned with which I’ve had varying degrees of luck. But it really depends on whether the OP has a program for which there is no Linux analog. Because the Linux world has its own set of free/opensource applications. For example, Instead of Internet Explorer, you get Firefox. Instead of Microsoft Office, you get Libre Office. GIMP instead of Photoshop. I guess it depends on what the OP’s particular software requirements are. It doesn’t cost anything to try. At the very least the OP will wind up with a bootable DVD for emergencies. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/12 "2017-05-17T02:52:23Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I personally like linux. I use it as my main operating system for my computers that access the internet. But linux is most definitely not a generic replacement for an old windows operating system. > > Software is written for a specific operating system, and generally speaking it only works on that operating system. So your windows software will not work at all on linux. > > There is a thing called WINE which is a windows emulator for linux. If you are a techie geek, you might get your software (or at least most of it) to work under wine. But this isn’t something for a novice user to dig into. > > Linux still has a LONG way to go before it becomes anywhere near as user friendly as windows. Meh, run linux as the host and xp as the client os in virtual. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/13 "2017-05-17T03:04:23Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > You are very welcome. > I believe that Windows XP was G-d’s gift to mankind, the first trouble free Windows operating system. Replaced, and denied updates as Windows versions continues to be, because Microsoft wants to make more money. MS broke policy and just did an update because of the ransomware problem. Take a look for that one. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/14 "2017-05-17T13:07:01Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > MS broke policy and just did an update because of the ransomware problem. Take a look for that one. Cool. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/15 "2017-05-17T13:13:04Z")
You could try “converting” your installation of XP to [Point of Service version](http://www.zdnet.com/article/registry-hack-enables-continued-updates-for-windows-xp/) and continue to get updates until 2019. It involves adding a simple registry key. ETA: Is Windows XP really fifteen years old? Surely it’s only as old as its latest update? ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/16 "2017-05-17T14:00:23Z")
> [@Mavic\_Chen](#): > > You could try “converting” your installation of XP to [Point of Service version](http://www.zdnet.com/article/registry-hack-enables-continued-updates-for-windows-xp/) and continue to get updates until 2019. It involves adding a simple registry key. > > ETA: Is Windows XP really fifteen years old? Surely it’s only as old as its latest update? This hack really works. However, be prepared for days of updating, first batch may total 200 updates, then the updates to the updates. Secondly, I have found that a clean install of WinXP will be pretty slowed down after those few hundred updates. Not sure why. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/17 "2017-05-17T14:30:15Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Linux Mint is the distro I recommend to beginners as it requires the least amount of tweaking after install. With Mate selected as the user interface, it functions very much like Windows XP. You have a desktop that looks [like this.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MATE_(software)#/media/File:Ubuntu_MATE_16.04_screenshot.png) There are taskbars/windows. You point and click. Your earlier post made me wonder why there isn’t an Android build for PCs, since Android is even more user-friendly than Windows yet Linux-based (does regular Linux software work with Android?), and by now has the largest software library of all. Turns out [there apparently is](http://www.jide.com/remixos-for-pc). Any thoughts on Remix? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/18 "2017-05-17T21:48:11Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > As far as old Windows programs, WINE has already been mentioned with which I’ve had varying degrees of luck. But it really depends on whether the OP has a program for which there is no Linux analog. Because the Linux world has its own set of free/opensource applications. > > For example, Instead of Internet Explorer, you get Firefox. Instead of Microsoft Office, you get Libre Office. GIMP instead of Photoshop. I guess it depends on what the OP’s particular software requirements are. Also, some of the most popular software sells a Linix version as well as Windows (& sometimes Apple) versions. You may have to buy a new version for Linux, but often vendors will give previous customers a significant discount for an upgrade (maybe even free). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/19 "2017-05-17T21:53:41Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Also, some of the most popular software sells a Linix version as well as Windows (& sometimes Apple) versions. You may have to buy a new version for Linux, but often vendors will give previous customers a significant discount for an upgrade (maybe even free). Yeah, but what about Doom II? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776/20 "2017-05-17T23:16:51Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Your earlier post made me wonder why there isn’t an Android build for PCs, since Android is even more user-friendly than Windows yet Linux-based (does regular Linux software work with Android?), and by now has the largest software library of all. Turns out [there apparently is](http://www.jide.com/remixos-for-pc). Any thoughts on Remix? Haven’t played with it mainly because Linux is free and serves my needs. But it looks interesting: [Remix OS - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remix_OS) Of course, Chromebooks have been running Android from the beginning. Big milestone for Android today: [Android: celebrating a big milestone together with you](https://blog.google/products/android/2bn-milestone/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-help/786776.md?page=2)