Clues to installing Windows XP today

[Butcher]

Let me share my experiences about installing WinXP at the end of the year 2014 and ofc later. [If do not want to see the whole story just scroll to the last section! ]

My parents have an old crappy computer (from 2004...?) that they use for Internet browsing, e-mails and basic Word/Excel tasks, so Windows XP can still run on it.
At Xmas I tried to reinstall WinXP from the original WinXP manufacturer's install disc, which was supplied with some XP Service Pack 1b.
However I had to face huge barriers - or at least they seemed to be huge first - when I completed the "pure" WinXp installation: neither Windows Update operated, nor the latest Firefox browser could be installed, and in this setup Internet Explorer 6 could not even display today's web pages correctly or at all + ofc this Internet Explorer could also not be updated, the Windows Update page did simply reject me.
I almost gave up, when it came into my mind, that I should make use of some later install packs and I came to the solution that worked:

After installing WinXP SP1b first, I installed WinXP Service Pack 2, then 3, and finally Windows and Microsoft Update ran well, and all fixes could be downloaded and installed well! I did not try to install SP3 first (without SP2) but I think it should also work, so you can save yourself the install time of SP2 (half hour or more).
Note that the Win XP itself took half an hour to install, the SP2 and SP3 also took half-half an hour (min.), and there were several Microsoft Update cycles (with several restarts) with more than 200 fixes.
Still as Microsoft Silverlight was also needed, I had to install Microsoft Net Framework with two rounds (almost 2 hours), then other rounds of updates.

So the whole old computer setup with XP took a full day, so when you do it continuously from early morning it will last until late evening...

[Ligustah]

I actually had the same pleasure quite a few times as well. Windows can really be a bitch.

However, I'd strongly discourage you from using Windows XP for anything that involves internet access, especially when it's going to be used by people who are not versed with computers at all. The reason is quite simple: Windows XP is not supported any longer, and as such won't receive any Windows Updates whatsoever (I assume that is why you couldn't get Windows Update to work). This means that other Microsoft products that are serviced via Windows Update won't get any updates either - this includes Internet Explorer, which even if not used directly, is used internally by many programs to display HTML content (e.g. XFire).
So there are currently quite a few exploits for Windows XP that have not been fixed, and never will, which means that it's an enormous risk to connect Windows XP to the internet (think trojans stealing login information or botnet programs using the computer to send Spam or to be part of DDoS attacks).

See: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windo...pport-help

If you have such an old laptop, I'd suggest that you try installing something like Ubuntu or Mint Linux on it, which are both up to date and will be supported equally long (if you pick an LTS version, that specific version will be supported for 5 years, before you will need to upgrade - which obviously will be free and in most cases only a single button to press).
The thing is, if people don't know anything about computers, it doesn't actually matter which operating system you provide them with, because they will only do what you tell them anyways. So why not pick the one that is basically even safer than an up to date Windows - because 99% of all malware targets only Windows and OSX - and that will probably run much better on old hardware?
Ubuntu for example can run Firefox or Chrome just fine and also ship with a bunch of other stuff like LibreOffice. So unless they depend on some specific Windows software, which I doubt because you mentioned internet browsing, emails and office programs only (all of which run just fine on Linux).

TL;DR: Windows XP unsafe big time. Don't connect it to the internet.
Feel free to ask any questions that you might have if you decide to install any Linux distribution.

-- Ligustah

[Chuck]

My 2 cents are just install win 7 and ur good 2 go, most old PC's can still handle it.
I had it with my old intel P4 2,8Ghz single core. It handled win 7 for basic stuff quite well.
If not you could try indeed linux like Lig said, I'm using for myself Ubuntu 14.04LTS which is a great OS that recognize almost any hardware without trouble including sound and netword cards . Tho for your parents i doubt they know how linux works, and even im thinking they will call you much more for info where stuff are inside linux or when they screwed linux up which isnt pretty hard. Screwed the kernel version bigtime with just updating linux :/

[Butcher]

Hey Lig, thank you for your advises on the issue, and also Chuck for for sharing your experiences.
Undoubtedly what Lig explained shall be the most safe way of proceeding, though I also have to consider some points.
When choosing a Linux based solution I should fully learn that stuff from the basics as I do not have any experiences with Linux - but as I am the main IT supporter to my parents , I must manage the issues arising.
Secondly my parents are familiar with the most common MS Windows tools I mentioned and they may be less willing to learn another system with its components.
WinXP seems however quite unsafe, that is becoming clear, so it should not be ran too long, I would give it max. some months, and the old PC should be replaced by a new up-to-date power machine.
But as Lig explained several points call for Linux, like more simple installation and a lot larger safety from any hack or virus tools - as I see it - so I suppose the less experienced people may also "destroy" their own system harder with it by doing some not that cool things on the Internet .
So decision remains actually Windows 8.1 or Linux solution, both on a power machine.

Still a lil clue to Win XP: Microsoft extended support of the Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 solution until 2019 - 32bits only. As I read it may cover a lot of updates (3/4...?), so it will not support Outlook Express and Movie Maker, but it will support Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. People interested in it just need to make a little entry in registry, detailed here:
http://www.networkworld.com/article/2226...-2019.html

Though all this stuff is supposed to provide a 'false feeling of safety'.

[Chuck]

Those embedded are most used by companies who uses PC who runs straight from the server like for example McDonald's.
They run on XP embedded, and also all dutch ATM's run on that OS .
You said something about 8.1 or 8, please don't install that for your parents.
I really prefer Windows myself but sometimes i get really annoyed at the way 8.1 works so i reboot and startup windows 7
So basically the best solution for your parents is upgrading to windows 7 cause its partially the same as xp but better GUI. And most features are the same or similar with XP, what doesn't count for 8.1 there are alot of different or removed features.

[djuki]

I kinda agree with Chucky here...
Win 8.1 kinda sucks... But then again, it is the main seller atm.
Thing about win8 is that they made this to boost their OS for mobile phones. But it sucks on a machine that doenst rely on a touch screen.
I still think the best two choises are Win8 (because its most upto date) and Win7 (because for windows its quite good)

I gues its time to get a new operating system. and PC for that matter. a PC should be replaced after 5 years or so. Not because its broken, but it simply finds it hard to keep up. Opening a simple website is getting impossible on a 10 year old system.

Personally I think I'd buy a mac for my parents. They can afford it and it'll save them the trouble of a whole lot of bugs..
I dont have any experience with Linux. it should be really good (and Cheap!!) but downside is you need to know what you are doing... An other downside is (and they share this with the MAC) it is hard to get (read illegal) software for it. And then there is file sharing. A lot of data witch is used by MAC can't be used on a WIN system or at least that used to be the case. (not sure if that is still a problem anno 2015)

Looking at statistics. 90% of home PC's are run on Windows. Somehow there is a reason for that... but btw 75% (just guessing) of those WINdows licenses are are sold in combination with a new PC. So,... buy a PC get a crappy WIN license for almost free...

I renew my PC within 4 or 5 years. I spend like €500 on them And I reuse stuff like mouse, screen and sometimes stuff like a HDD. the rest is for spare parts or a nephew who can use an old GPU... mpov: €500 divided by 5 years is €100 divided by 12 is €8,30 a month. You need to put aside this money. Same as a care or a heater for your house.. You need save up for it...

running XP nowadays in combination with internet is just unsave

I hope it helped..