Support for Windows XP is ending soon

Start menu?  You mean the one sided instead of two sided menu?

The Control Panel can look pretty much the same - just change it from "Category" view to "Small Icons".

As far as not remembering you on web sites - use Firefox of Google Chrome.

Once you get to a point where you aren't installing/changing things - the sign-on to do administrative things (safety/security - UAC - could be turned off, I don't recommend it) should be less frequent.

What's an example of round-about ways to do things?  Perhaps you can change a few settings and be back to a more familiar environment there too.

Best answer I can give: If you are running Windows XP on a machine you obtained BEFORE 2009 - you shouldn't worry about upgrading to Windows 8/8.1 on that particular machine in any case. It's unlikely to work and unlikely to have the specifications necessary to run properly. Find a nearby local computer sales store (not a big-box store, mom and pop deal if possible.)

Hi. I have a question for you.

In your post yesterday, you state that if you're running a machine obtained before 2009, there's no point installing Windows 8, OR 8.1, because it probably won't work correctly, yes?

I'm using an HP/Compaq Presario desktop PC built in early 2006. It's running an AMD Athlon 64-bit CPU & 3 Gb of RAM; it used to belong to my sister, who was talked into buying a new one by her daughter (she's now wishing she hadn't, 'cos she's getting all kinds of problems with the new one, but that's another story), and for a few years, this one sat idle, gathering dust. I cleaned it out, updated all the O/S software (that was a LOT of updates...226 in total!), and vastly upgraded the RAM; it's now got 6 times what was originally fitted.

I ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, fully expecting to be told that it didn't stand an ice-cube's chance in **** of working. I was astonished to find that, with the exception of just 3 drivers, it would run Windows 7 NO problem!.

Now then; bearing in mind your post, what makes Windows 8 SO different from Windows 7; to the extent that, according to you, it probably wouldn't work on my system?

I'm genuinely interested in the answer to this one!

Mike.

Best answer I can give: If you are running Windows XP on a machine you obtained BEFORE 2009 - you shouldn't worry about upgrading to Windows 8/8.1 on that particular machine in any case. It's unlikely to work and unlikely to have the specifications necessary to run properly. Find a nearby local computer sales store (not a big-box store, mom and pop deal if possible.)

  Hi. I have a question for you.

In your post yesterday, you state that if you're running a machine obtained before 2009, there's no point installing Windows 8, OR 8.1, because it probably won't work correctly, yes?

I'm using an HP/Compaq Presario desktop PC built in early 2006. It's running an AMD Athlon 64-bit CPU & 3 Gb of RAM; it used to belong to my sister, who was talked into buying a new one by her daughter (she's now wishing she hadn't, 'cos she's getting all kinds of problems with the new one, but that's another story), and for a few years, this one sat idle, gathering dust. I cleaned it out, updated all the O/S software (that was a LOT of updates...226 in total!), and vastly upgraded the RAM; it's now got 6 times what was originally fitted.

I ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, fully expecting to be told that it didn't stand an ice-cube's chance in **** of working. I was astonished to find that, with the exception of just 3 drivers, it would run Windows 7 NO problem!.

Now then; bearing in mind your post, what makes Windows 8 SO different from Windows 7; to the extent that, according to you, it probably wouldn't work on my system?

I'm genuinely interested in the answer to this one!

Mike.  

Wow - you quoted me and then misquoted me in the same response? hehe

"If you are running Windows XP on a machine you obtained BEFORE 2009 - you shouldn't worry about upgrading to Windows 8/8.1 on that particular machine in any case. It's unlikely to work and unlikely to have the specifications necessary to run properly."

It's not a hard and fast rule - thus the "shouldn't worry" instead of "shouldn't" alone and  "unlikely" instead of "*WILL NOT*".

There's always going to be some systems that will still work - but they are exceptions to the rule - not the norm.

Example: only THREE drivers?  That's a lot when you consider that there are usually motherboard chipset, video, audio and network for internal drivers (four) so three would be 75% of the good/needed ones.  ;-)

Windows 7 and Windows 8 requirements (on paper) are about the same and Windows 8 will handle the memory better than Windows 7, in my opinion.

If you can get ACTUAL Windows 8.1 drivers for the system for the main components - chipset, video, audio and network at least - then it'll work fine.  It might work 'okay, but possibly unstable' if you can get the Windows 7 drivers.

The difference here is that you have some computing skills and can make things work - most people would not know what to do or what a driver was, much less where to get them and/or how to install them properly (especially if they had to use compatibility mode)

In the end I would say you are trying to make something a certainty that was expressed as an uncertainty and even agreed upon by you as an uncertainty.  With the right skills and effort - you can make all sorts of things work.  Most people who would ask questions about "what they should do with their Windows XP machines" would not have said skills and would likely have to pay someone as much or more than it would be worth to upgrade the system and get everything working properly than just getting a refurbished/off-lease Windows 7 system from TigerDirect with better specs and everything pre-installed.

Hiya, Stan (or should that be Sheenan? It's an unusual name...)

Well, one of the three necessary drivers that needs an update is the network driver, which I've already obtained.

The system is limited to DDR1 memory by the motherboard...but it is currently running in dual-channel mode. I'm not TOO concerned about speed of operation, 'cos I'm an old codger in the UK who's got plenty of time on his hands. Will it run correctly, though...i.e., without instability?

You're right in that I do have a fair bit of computing knowledge, as I've had an interest in the silly things since I left school in the late 70's!

And I do agree that, if you have the knowledge, AND the will to make it happen, you CAN achieve almost anything.

The graphics chipset is the old Radeon Xpress 200, and believe it or not, the Upgrade Advisor says it'll work fine. It's got the latest AMD driver, and having run it through the full battery of DirectX tests, I know it's in tip-top condition (and performing like greased lightning, too!)

And Realtek are still supporting the AC'97 audio chipset; they have driver upgrades all the way to Windows 8.1, and have no plans to stop supporting it for some years yet, apparently. They emailed me back in response to a query about it, and told me so. Seems it's one of the oldest, yet most reliable audio chipsets on the market....for people who aren't bothered about fancy media players, which I'm not. They're the people who do the network driver for my system, as well.

So; there's your network, video & audio drivers taken care of.

I'm guessing that part of the reason lies with that 64-bit CPU...'cos everything on the mobo has to work with it, obviously...and back then, the Athlon 64 was the first 64-bit processor available for home computing that was actually reliable.

Comments?

Mike.

XP life is good, and am confident it will remain so, until I want to buy another computer. Maybe in 2 to 3 years.

I've switched to Avast, MBAM, CCleaner, Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC Media Player. Java is out of my computer, and I'll soon be using a different firewall. A few additonal changes/settings regarding security will be made.