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Windows XP updates? — Parallax Forums

Windows XP updates?

Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
edited 2015-10-17 03:47 in General Discussion
This is way out of scope for this forum but...

There is an old PC running Windows XP here. It runs some programs that don't work on any later Windows versions.

Anyway, the other day I shut it down at night. Only it did not shut down immediately as is normal. No, it started to update itself. 6 updates, took nearly an hour. Then it shut down.

Well, I thought this was a bit odd. XP has been unsupported for a year or more. As far as I know there are no updates for XP any more.

Searching on the net I find there are some registry hacks that can extract recent XP updates. But for sure there has been no registry hacks going on here.

Anyone have any idea what has happened here?

Was that a batch of legit recent XP updates. Or have we been hacked badly?

Comments

  • 78rpm78rpm Posts: 264
    A number of large organisations are still using XP and paying MS for the updates, the NHS being one from what I've read some time ago. Perhaps MS are passing on those updates to other users not paying to reduce security risk?
  • MicksterMickster Posts: 2,693
    I disable auto updates and furthermore, I use the free Reboot Restore on all my PC`s to prevent unwanted changes.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    Likely legit. I just fired up my old XP Acer Netbook and hit "Check for Updates". There's a 14.4MB Malicious Software Removal tool for XP and another 15MB for Office 2007. Screen shot attached describes the XP update.
    xpupdate.JPG
    1024 x 692 - 121K
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
    Yep, same here. I recently resurrected an XP machine out of a blue screen vacation due to a wireless card driver incompatibility and when I got things running clean again and connected to the internet, it downloaded 8 updates. Had me confused at first as well.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2015-10-17 03:58
    Cool, so MS has a bunch of engineers supporting an OS that has not been officially supported since April 2014. Did someone forget to tell them or what? :)

    That's fine until one of those updates bricks the thing. Or causes the old software it is used for to not run any more.

    I must find a way to migrate this OS into a VM before that old PC expires or the killer update comes down the pipe.


  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2015-10-17 05:31
    heater wrote:
    That's fine until one of those updates bricks the thing.
    Until? UNTIL??? That already happened to me a couple years ago. That's why I do not allow Windows updates on any of my PCs -- ever -- neither automatic nor elective. If it works, why screw with it?

    And you can't imagine how much time is wasted in my robotics class for the kids' laptops to install their automatic upgrades.

    -Phil

  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2015-10-17 15:08
    I do see that Windows 7 support is supposed to end this year. Now I wonder what that really means.

    My real problem is that my hardware outlasts Microsoft's support cycle, and I don't see any reason to buy more hardware just because the OS is no longer supported.

    Apple seems to provide support and upgrades until your hardware finally fails.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    Windows 7 extended support runs until 2020. What has ended is "Mainstream Support" which just means no new development is being done and no new features will be added. Hot fixes and security patches, etc will continue.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    There are still plenty of updates tagged for XP. These include MS Office updates, stuff for .NET (can take hours to update these), and I believe even the MS malware scanner. What's not getting updated are kernel things, including those related to security fixes.
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