Life after April 8: what exactly "end of support means for XP"?

[DK]

Will *any* Windows/Microsoft Update work on XP?

Will old updates and fixes still be available online or not?

E.g., if I have a computer that was offline since 2009, would it be
possible to update it to 2014 in May 2014?

Also, if I continue running XP, would I be able to get Office
security fixes on it?

Strange that such a basic info is hard to find...

Any ideas?

 

[Flasherly]

Strange that such a basic info is hard to find...

Any ideas?

Tried dragging alt freeware?

 

[lew]

Will *any* Windows/Microsoft Update work on XP?

Will old updates and fixes still be available online or not?

E.g., if I have a computer that was offline since 2009, would it be
possible to update it to 2014 in May 2014?

Also, if I continue running XP, would I be able to get Office
security fixes on it?

Strange that such a basic info is hard to find...

Any ideas?

Have read most ATM machines are running winxp and that it
is a big deal to "upgrade".....

Will you still be able to get your money?

 

[Jon Danniken]

Have read most ATM machines are running winxp and that it
is a big deal to "upgrade".....

Will you still be able to get your money?

Updates for WinXP continue to be made for those who are willing/able to
pay for them:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...aft_XP_patches_after_April_14_but_not_for_you

Jon

 

[lew]

Updates for WinXP continue to be made for those who are willing/able to
pay for them:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...aft_XP_patches_after_April_14_but_not_for_you

Jon

Most likely the ATM fees will be increased to cover the costs....

 

[lew]

On 04/06/2014 03:56 PM, lew wrote:

[snip]

Have read most ATM machines are running winxp and that it
is a big deal to "upgrade".....

Will you still be able to get your money?

This is getting exaggerated like with Y2K. ATMs don't use the internet
like home users do, and so will be immune to most malware.

So all ATM machines have their own separate hardwired network
connectivity for all the different banks in different cities/states?
And how is "internet" defined now?

 

[Flasherly]

So all ATM machines have their own separate hardwired network
connectivity for all the different banks in different cities/states?
And how is "internet" defined now?

It's called "Embedded Windows" - probably still defined as once it
was: buy a USRobitics and connect, via telephony, into BumFak, Egypt,
during a sandstorm;- oops, 'scuse me but 3COM bought out USRobitics --
industrial grade and all of that: Quality with a Vengence.

Ever seen a $1200 modem for 56K connection made from the same people
who make guided missle-head electronics from Paradyne?

 

[Mark]

On 04/06/2014 03:56 PM, lew wrote:

[snip]

Have read most ATM machines are running winxp and that it
is a big deal to "upgrade".....

Will you still be able to get your money?

This is getting exaggerated like with Y2K. ATMs don't use the internet
like home users do, and so will be immune to most malware.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25550512

 

[Motor T]

Have read most ATM machines are running winxp and that it
is a big deal to "upgrade".....

Will you still be able to get your money?

It's my understanding ATM's use the 'Embedded' XP version, and
support for those versions will continue until sometime into 2016.

 

[Michael Black]

It's my understanding ATM's use the 'Embedded' XP version, and
support for those versions will continue until sometime into 2016.

The issue has never been that the OS would magically stop working on a
specific date.

It just means Microsoft won't provide security patches.

But embedded is a different thing. SOmeone is willing to pay the money,
and one might even imagine support will go on into the future.

But, it's also simpler. A stripped down operating system, with one
specific application running on it, and that is put into endless machines
with the same hardware.

That's way easier to do testing on that a system at home where the
operating system is full of endless things, and anyone can add any sort of
application. Then the variables go way up, it's not just whether this
applicaiton is vulnerable, but whether this combination of application
with the OS and the configuration is vulnerable.

At home, the combinations are endless, and Microsoft doesn't want to deal
with that, especially when it's on a person by person basis.

An embedded use means Microsoft only has to talk to one or a few companies
who put the ATMs together, there aren't variables coming from endless
software. And since ATMs existed before the internet, there has to be
some separate network there, making it all even less vulnerable.

Michael

 

[Flasherly]

It just means Microsoft won't provide security patches.


At home, the combinations are endless, and Microsoft doesn't want to deal
with that, especially when it's on a person by person basis.

Present rate is $400US per year for W-XP updates from yo-mama M$, and
doubledown @$800 per year afterwards.

I stopped running antiviral sorts around the transition from 98 to XP.
(Seemed then to me too much scare tactics and grab-ass reaching for
one's backpocket involved in an industrialized counter-terrorist
computer sector;- nevertheless, for everyone else the practicality is
they're scared and whining they're never protected enough;- It's one
of if not the longest, most requested song on American airwaves
played by tiniest violin that fits, just so, between thumb and
forefinger.)

 

[Mark]

The issue has never been that the OS would magically stop working on a
specific date.

It just means Microsoft won't provide security patches.

But embedded is a different thing. SOmeone is willing to pay the money,
and one might even imagine support will go on into the future.

But, it's also simpler. A stripped down operating system, with one
specific application running on it, and that is put into endless machines
with the same hardware.

Have Microsoft ever offerred a stripped down version of XP?

 

[Michael Black]

Have Microsoft ever offerred a stripped down version of XP?

Microsoft can do whatever it likes.

Indeed, people forget, but they started out selling BASIC to endless
companies. They didn't sell it by themselves, they'd write a version and
sell it to a company who either embedded it in the computer or sold it to
the customer. There was a time when just about any computer came with
Microsoft BASIC, and the companies were going to MS to get it, rather than
MS going after the companies.

Same with MS-DOS. Microsoft didn't have an operating system for IBM, they
had to buy an existing OS and fix it up. And then they sold something to
IBM, but not the full rights. So Microsoft then went and sold the same
basic software to endless companies, modifying as needed to fit the
hardware.

So I'm sure if the ATM companies needed something, IBM would provide, so
long as they were getting paid. And thus it's worthwhile to Microsoft to
keep supporting XP in ATMs, since it's relatively simple, and the return
good.

Michael

 

[Mark]

Microsoft can do whatever it likes.

But did they?

Indeed, people forget, but they started out selling BASIC to endless
companies.

IIRC they started developing compilers.

They didn't sell it by themselves, they'd write a version and
sell it to a company who either embedded it in the computer or sold it to
the customer. There was a time when just about any computer came with
Microsoft BASIC, and the companies were going to MS to get it, rather than
MS going after the companies.

Same with MS-DOS. Microsoft didn't have an operating system for IBM, they
had to buy an existing OS and fix it up.

Yes. It was called QDOS which stood for "Quick and Dirty Operating
System".

And then they sold something to
IBM, but not the full rights. So Microsoft then went and sold the same
basic software to endless companies, modifying as needed to fit the
hardware.

So I'm sure if the ATM companies needed something, IBM would provide, so
long as they were getting paid. And thus it's worthwhile to Microsoft to
keep supporting XP in ATMs, since it's relatively simple, and the return
good.

Until a new security vulnerability is discovered and exploited.