Two months from now Microsoft will withdraw all support for Windows XP.
We explain how to keep XP running safely beyond that point
W indows XP is a fast, dependable operating system (os) that runs on a third of the world’s PCs and is the most popular operating system after Windows 7. We know many readers still love using it, but Microsoft is keen to end the XP era and push us toward the radically different Windows 8 age. In fact, it’s just over two months until Microsoft withdraws support for XP completely.
But many people feel pushed into buying a new computer or replacing an OS that’s familiar and does everything they need.
Resistance, therefore, runs deep and many XP users insist they will continue to use it long after the 8 April cut-off. It’s a brave stand, but if you’re willing to ramp up your computer’s defences and look after its security yourself, you shouldn’t need to wave goodbye to XP any time soon.
What happens when Microsoft ends XP support? Search for anything XP-related on a Microsoft website and you’ll see a stark message warning that support for XP is coming to an end and that it’s time to choose a new PC or upgrade your current one to Windows 8. Microsoft won’t actively prevent you using XP, but newer programs may not run on it.
If you’re determined to keep using XP, the most important consideration is how you’ll manage to keep it safe. Security experts warn that hackers are likely to start concerted attacks on XP computers as soon as Microsoft’s support for it ends. Crucially, Microsoft won’t issue any more monthly patches to fix the security flaws hackers uncover. Only businesses with support contracts will receive emergency updates if a serious security flaw is found.
What should you do? If you’re still willing to persevere with XP, the most secure option is to take it offline, perhaps using it solely as a media server.
This means you’ll need a different PC for web access.
For now at least, antivirus companies are continuing to cover XP. All the big-name security brands, including Norton, AVG, Avira and Kaspersky, include XP support in the 2014 versions of their software. But it’s more important than ever to make sure your antivirus software is kept up to date.
If you aren’t already using XP SP3 (Service Pack 3) you should install it as soon as possible from www.snipca.com/9981. If you don’t install SP3, you won’t get important security updates for your computer as support for previous versions of XP has already ended. SP3 is also useful because it lets you run programs that might not run on earlier versions. If you have a 64bit computer, you can only upgrade up to XP SP2. This will also only be supported until April 2014. To check which version of XP you’re running, go to Start, My Computer and right-click Properties. The Service Pack version is shown beneath the Windows version. If you use Internet Explorer, download this along with the security patches you’re offered.
You should also burn a copy of the Service Pack to CD. This way, if you need to reinstall Windows XP you won’t have to depend on the download still being available from the Microsoft website.
Label the SP3 disc and store it somewhere safe. Another useful precaution is to make a complete backup of your PC and create a disk image. Use the free software DriveImage XML (www.snipca.com/9989) to create a backup of your system and burn it to DVD. You’ll be able to use this like a recovery disc to restore everything on your Windows XP PC.
Bring your XP PC’s hardware up to date You can easily and cheaply add several useful technologies that have launched since Microsoft releasedWindows XP.
As long as your PC has a PCI Express card slot you can add USB 3.0 ports via an add-in card. such as this model: www.
snipca.com/9987. USB 3.0 will make it much faster to copy items to and from your PC. Watch this video tutorial on how to install the card (www.snipca.com/10071).
We also recommend buying a USB SD card reader (such as this Kingston model: www.snipca.com/ 10047) to import photos from your camera dongle, and a USB Bluetooth adaptor (such as these Maplin models: www.snipca.com/10044) so you can use a wireless keyboard and mouse.
How to run Windows XP within another operating system If you use Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, or Windows 8, you can run Windows XP programs in Windows XP Mode. This is particularly useful if you eventually switch operating system but still want to use programs you couldn’t otherwise run in Windows 7 or 8.
To do this, you’ll need to create a virtual operating system on your PC.
And in Windows 7, you’ll need to use the Hardware Virtualisation Tool in IE (www.snipca.com/9986) to check your computer supports hardware virtualisation. If it does, download Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 or 8 from www.snipca.com/9983.
Tick ‘WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe’ to install the full version of XP. The exe file without the N in its name doesn’t include Windows Media Player. You’ll need to use Internet Explorer for the download as your copy of Windows first needs to be validated, and you can only do this in IE. You must create and validate a password for the XP Mode installation and allow drive sharing (so you can access your documents and programs). Once XP is installed you’ll see a message that Windows can’t find any security software. This shouldn’t be a problem as you’re running XP from within another, protected version of Windows.
However, we recommend letting Windows search for and install any available updates.
Windows XP Mode support will also end in April, but because it runs as a virtual computer it won’t be exposed to the same security risks as it would be if you were running XP as your main operating system.
In Windows 7 and 8 you can also use Compatibility Mode to run XP programs and games. If a program fails to run, right-click it, then click Properties, Compatibility. Tick ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for’, then click Windows XP, Apply. If the program still won’t run, choose a lower resolution in the Compatibility settings menu.
Dual-boot Windows XP If you dual-boot Windows XP using the free program VirtualBox (www.
virtualbox.org), you’ll be able to run it alongside Windows 7 or 8.
Once you’ve installed a copy of VirtualBox, install XP on the virtual computer using your Windows XP installation disc, then install Service Pack 3 from the Microsoft website (www.snipca.com/9981).
If you don’t have an XP installation disc you can instead download XP from www.modern.ie. Click Test Across Browsers, then ‘Get free VMs’.
Click Windows, ‘VirtualBox on Windows’ then double-click the ‘WindowsVirtualBox.exe’ link in the ‘IE8 – XP’ section. In VirtualBox, click File, Import Appliance, Open Appliance.
Double-click the file that’s extracted and the virtual machine will be created and ready to use.
