Survivors Guide to Windows XP in 2014

First, I wish to begin with the source as follows from Microsoft themselves:
Support is ending soon
On April 8, 2014, support and updates for Windows XP will no longer be available !on"t let #our P$ go
unprote%ted

W&at is Windows XP end of support'
Microsoft has provided support for Windows XP for the past 12 years. But now the time has come for us, along with our hardware and
software partners, to invest our resources toward supporting more recent technologies so that we can continue to deliver great new
experiences.
As a result, after April 8, 2014, technical assistance for Windows XP will no longer be available, including automatic updates that
help protect your PC. Microsoft will also stop providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP on this date. (If
you already have Microsoft Security Essentials installed, you will continue to receive antimalware signature updates for a limited
time, but this does not mean that your PC will be secure because Microsoft will no longer be providing security updates to help protect
your PC.)
If you continue to use Windows XP after support ends, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security
risks and viruses. Also, as more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, you
can expect to encounter greater numbers of apps and devices that do not work with Windows XP.
W&at does it (ean if (# version of Windows is no longer supported'
An unsupported version of Windows will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update. These include security updates
that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, which can steal your personal information.
Windows Update also installs the latest software updates to improve the reliability of Windowsnew drivers for your hardware and
more.
Support end dates
Here are the dates when support will end for PCs running Windows XP and Windows Vista without the latest service packs:
Support for Windows XP is ending on April 8, 2014. For more information, see Support is ending for Windows XP.
Support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) ended on July 12, 2011. To continue support, make sure you've installed
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2).
Support for Windows Vista without any service packs ended on April 13, 2010. To continue support, make sure you've
installed Windows Vista SP2.
Support for Windows XP SP2 ended on July 13, 2010. To continue support, make sure you've installed Windows XP Service
Pack 3 (SP3). For more information, see Learn how to install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3).
)ote
There's no SP3 for the 64-bit version of Windows XP. If you're running the 64-bit version of Windows XP with SP2, you have
the latest service pack and will continue to be eligible for support and receive updates until April 8, 2014. To find out what
version you're running, see Is my PC running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows?
If your version of Windows is still supported, you should always be sure to install the latest updates or service packs for Windows.
You can download and install these through Windows Update.
For information about using Windows Update in Windows XP, see Stay up to date automatically.
For information about using Windows Update in Windows Vista, see Install Windows updates.
For information about using Windows Update in Windows 7, see Install Windows updates.
For information about using Windows Update in Windows 8.1, see Windows Update: frequently asked questions.
Windows will %ontinue to run
Even if you have an unsupported version of Windows XP or Windows Vista without any service packs, Windows will continue to
start and run.
For full details about the support policy, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ.
So W&at !oes All of *&is +eall# ,ean'

It means the ship is sinking and fast, and while your Windows XP computer wont !ust up and die come midnight "pril #
th
, e$pects the following
you will have to deal with straight from Fo$ %ews themselves:
Jackpot for hackers
A lack of software support can create security problems.
"Every standard desktop-security risk that a computer faces will be amplified, because there are no fixes being written by Microsoft,"
said Scott Kinka, chief technology officer at Evolve IP in Wayne, Pa.
'To some extent, patching Windows 7 or 8 provides a potential road map to hackers into XP machines.'
- Scott Kinka, chief technology officer at Evolve IP
"This involves every form of malware possible," Kinka said. "Just assume someone is on your PC while you're working. Every
password, trade secret and bit of personal information is at risk."
Most versions of Windows are based on previous versions, Kinka added, and patches to the newer versions could put XP users at
greater risk.
"When an exploit is identified in a newer operating system that is still widely used, it's generally also a risk on older versions of the
operating system," Kinka said. "As a result, Microsoft has made it a practice to patch all of their supported operating systems at the
same time."
Let's say a vulnerability is found and patched in Windows 7 a few months after April 8, when there will still be millions of people
using XP. When the update comes out, not only will XP not be patched, but hackers can examine the Windows 7 update to learn
where the same vulnerability exists in XP.
"You just invited them in the front door," Kinka said. "To some extent, patching Windows 7 or 8 provides a potential road map to
hackers into XP machines."
It's also important to remember that it isn't only the OS that loses support at the end of a Windows life cycle.
When Microsoft stops supporting Windows XP, it will also stop supporting Office 2003. Many third-party developers will follow suit
and end support for XP-compatible versions of their own software. Users may not be able to call those manufacturers for assistance
with critical software that runs on XP.
"End of support will not just affect the operating system," Kinka said, "but every piece of software that runs on it whether it's
written by Microsoft or not."
There is some good news, however, regarding Web browsers and anti-virus software. Google will support the XP version of its
Chrome Web browser until April 2015, and Mozilla has no plans to stop updating Firefox for XP. Most anti-virus software makers
plan to support XP until at least April 2016.
A possible workaround
Windows XP users may already be experiencing problems with software upgrades. Operating systems evolve with every iteration and
become more sophisticated with the addition of new features that serve an increasingly demanding ecosystem of software, peripherals
and users, said Victor Thu, director of desktop product marketing at virtualization-software maker VMware in Palo Alto, Calif.
As a result, the most up-to-date OS usually takes up more memory and requires faster processors than its predecessors in order for
users to take full advantage of its advanced capabilities.
Wolfgang Kandek, chief technology officer of Qualys in Redwood Shores, Calif., said there are three types of users who continue to
use XP:
Those unaware of the impending end of support,
Those who don't care,
Those who use Windows XP-specific software or applications.
"The third category is those that we can more effectively encourage to move over to a more secure operating system," Kandek said.
"You don't have to abandon or change the applications you use just because Windows XP is losing its support a common
misconception. Users can simply isolate the applications and run them via the built-in Windows XP Mode within Windows 7
[Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate editions]."
Such XP-enabled virtual machines give Windows 7 users the best of both worlds: updated, more secure operating systems without the
cost and hassle of updating applications. (Microsoft recommends "you only use Windows XP Mode if your PC is disconnected from
the Internet" after April 8, 2014.)
- Fox News, http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/04/01/is-it-still-safe-for-businesses-to-use-windows-xp/
Solution -1 . /pgrade to Windows 0 and s1ip 2ista and Windows 8'
DRIVERS. :-P
Hate em, a necessary evil that determines if your computer will even work with the Windows operating system, let alone not crap out
on you within a month.
You see, Windows operating systems do stuff to your memory and hard drive every day that has an effect on the life cycle and entire
pc performance, even if you did your homework and tested your PC to see if it is compatible at this website:
RESOURCE ALERT!
FOR WINDOWS 7
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/upgrade-advisor
FOR WINDOWS 8
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-assistant-download-online-faq
Use those and avoid Vista like the plague!
1. Bloatware Supreme Supersized With Cheese
This beast is more bloated than Jabba the Hutt leaving a Vegas buffet. I thought my top-of-the-line AMD X2 dual-core chip running in
a box stuffed to the gills with ultra-fast RAM would do the job, yet still my machine is sluggish. I did some side-by-side tests of this
machine vs. Ubuntu Linux running on a six year-old Pentium 4 machine with 1/8th the RAM. Hmm the tired old box running Linux
danced circles around the sparkling new Vista box. The Linux machine actually opened apps like Google Earth in less than half the
time.
2. More Security Than Gary Coleman Guarding A Mall
Vistas solution to security vulnerabilities assumes that I will have no problem clicking OK several times and typing in my password
every single time I want to do something as simple as moving a file. And any videos I happen to be watching will freeze during the
whole process. I wonder if anyone has had the patience to make it more than a day with this UAC nightmare turned on before shutting
it off for goodRIP UAC. Microsoft also insists that, to maintain a secure machine, I create a user account for myself and not use the
admin account for day-to-day work. Makes sensebut wait a minutemore than half of my software doesnt work now!
. The G!"#Graphical !ser 3nterferen%e
Sometimes my files display as gigantic icons, sometimes as file details, but hardly ever the way I want them to display. And when I
display by details its a crapshoot which details Ill get. Windows thinks its smart enough to figure out which details I want to see
based on the folders primary type of file. Cant you just friggin show me filename, the size, and the date??? Is that too much to ask?
And where did the up folder button go? Oh forget it, just give me a DOS windowI can do everything much easier with that. And
the whole Aero interface thing? I just shut it off after seeing the resources it was hogging up. Besides, the Aero theme just looks
downright boring after using Linuxs sleek Compiz Fusion GUI.
$. %o T& 'or (ou)
Vista Media Center is that module of Vista that runs through a TV screen via remote control and is meant to handle TV recordings,
play my music, display my photos, and deliver online content. Everything is sent to TVs throughout the house via extender boxes
(Xbox 360s). Now a dose of reality: the system sometimes forgets to record my shows, and when it does, about one in five recorded
shows has incoherent audio. The system needs constant hard-resets to recover it from crashes. And my all my Xbox 360 extenders?
Well they dont wake the server like they should, they cant play any video codecs except WMV files (unless I transcodea real
mess), and without fail, they will always disconnect from the server when first trying to connect. The system always decides to start
self-maintenance at the worst times which makes the picture stutter constantly. To add insult to injury, the setup wizard will actually
refuse to go to the next step until my Microsoft-brand remote is plugged in, even if I dont want one. WTF??? And the one plugin I
use (to watch Diggnation) always ends up crashing, sending the whole system down in flames in the end. The simple act of watching a
TV show has never been so complicated. Oh how I miss my old TiVo box.life was so much simpler in the good ol days.
*. Windows Mo+ile ,e-ice Center#Any+ody .ome/
After I couldnt get my good old Treo 650 (Palm) to sync with Vista, I gave in and switched to a Windows Mobile device. What could
possibly go wrong with a Windows device talking to another Windows device? Aaarrggh. Its bad enough that Microsoft now forces
me to purchase the full-version of Outlook just to make use of my synced mobile devices data, but the problem is that the whole thing
just doesnt work most of the time. Every time I plug in my phone, I cross my fingers as the little sync icon starts spinning. And 9
times out of 10, the little red X appears, indicating a failed sync. Go ahead and click details and youll get a page not found
error on Microsofts website. Thanks for the help.
0. Weird12ama
The unexplainable lurks around every corner of Vista. When copying a file, the countdown timer will go from, say, 30 seconds
remaining, to 976 days remaining, and back again. When selecting multiple files in a folder with changing files (files coming in by
download, for example), my group of selected files will mysteriously change, leading to disaster when I hit the delete button and find
that I just deleted a bunch of files I never selected to begin withDOh!!
3. 1h ,raconian 4icensing
Purchasing an upgrade no longer means simply feeding it my XP disc during the install to prove I am truly upgrading. To do a clean
install, Microsoft actually expects me to first install XP, then install Vista on top of it. This is a real pain in the butt if youve had to do
a total of five clean installs like me (fortunately theres a trick to get around this that the geniuses at MS missed). But after a horrific
crash and reinstall, I ran into a huge problemVista wouldnt activate. It no longer recognized my machine with the new hard drive I
was forced to install. While yakking with my new tech support buddy in India, it became apparent that the only solution to my
problem was for them to issue me a fresh activation code. But first, I had to prove that I had purchased a genuine copy of Vista.
Where did you buy it? Costco I shot back. What is Costco? Oh, well let me tell you The interrogation went on and on, but I
seemed to be passing the test. It all came down to one final question: Does your disk say Do not make illegal copies of this
software? YES, YES, I see it right here! I joyously replied. Ok, heres your new activation code Victory at last! But wait,
what had I actually just won? I was back to square one.
5. Screech6Crash#%o Air+ags "n This Thing/
The Blue Screen Of Death is back with a vengeancethis time more damaging and frequent than ever before. But the fun only begins
there. You havent lived until youve heard the sound of a frozen MP3 when the machine locks uphow dare I attempt to scan
documents and listen to music simultaneously! There must be somewhere between 31 flavors and 57 varieties of crash types with this
pile of crap.
7. &ideo 'iles %ot 'or &ideophiles
With all of the hundreds of video codecs out there, it seems that Vista is only good with onenative WMV files. Running codecs
galore was effortless under XP, yet somehow has become rocket science under Vista. Opening avi files often launches a multitude of
avi chunk viewer windows that never stop even when I check the do not show again checkbox. What the hell are chunks and why
would I want to view them anyway? Mpg files frequently trigger Rundll32 errors which, as an added bonus, lock the file from being
modified or deleted until I reboot and carefully modify it using the command prompt (hope you didnt forget your DOS commands).
And Ive given up trying to view .mov filesthey play for about two seconds before giving me a buffer overflow error. I usually
end up sending videos over to my Linux or XP machines just to view them.
18. The !ltimate "pod Bric9 Ma9er
It turns out Vista does not play well with Ipods. I use third-party software to sync my music library with my Ipod. I have even tried
different software and tried three different machines thinking it might be a hardware issue. Problem is that Vista will often completely
freeze during an Ipod sync. I leave the room and pray to Lord Gates every time I hit the sync button. When I return to see the frozen
screen it only means one thing: my Ipod is now a brick in need of reformatting and complete rebuilding. Ive been through this
laborious process more than a dozen times. I have now imposed a restraining order that states my Ipod is not to come within 30 feet of
Vista.
11. 1%:1'' ; <-erything "n Between
Microsofts promises of powering on or off in a matter of seconds actually relies on the S3 sleep mode, which unfortunately doesnt
seem to work properly on any motherboard in existence. Half the time I power on out of sleep, I end up with no internet connection.
And half the time I power down to sleep, the system wakes right back up again. Talk about insomnia. Even worse is when I attempt a
full power downthe system appears to ignore my command and sits idle for an eternally long period of time (while apparently trying
to resolve some process I guess) until it finally shuts downI often have to start killing left and right with the Task Manager to
successfully shut down. And when its time to turn the evil machine back on I get the fun of gazing at an endlessly long-lasting
Welcome screen.
12. 1uch= My Credit Card "s Burning)
Ok, so to get started, I needed two copies of Vista Ultimateone for the main computer and one for the media center server. Gotta
have Ultimate, otherwise no remote desktop access ability (shouldnt this be a basic feature?) $240 each. No problem. Now my Palm
doesnt workneed a Windows Mobile device phone. Chi-Ching. Now I cant see my calendar or contactsneed Outlook 2007 for
that. Chi-Ching. Time to set up the media centerneed three Xbox 360s because no one else has dared make Vista media extenders.
Chi-ching! Chi-ching! Chi-ching! Well those didnt come with remotesgotta have those. Chi-ching! Now to set up the media center.
Hmm, cant run the setup wizard without a Microsoft-brand remote. Chi-ching! But when all is said and done and Ive dismantled the
beast Ive createdthe experience of running my Vista installs disks through the shredder? PRICELESS!!!

So who do you turn to for an Official Windows 7 disc, let alone safely backup your data, install and activate Windows 7, set it up, run
the updates properly, and reinstall all your old software programs and download your pictures, photos, music, videos, and documents
properly so that its all not scattered everywhere!?
THE CHALLENGE OF THE EVIL OF MICROSOFT!
In the interest of providing more consistency and predictability with how we manage the Windows lifecycle, we are confirming our
current policy of allowing retailers to sell the boxed version of the previous OS for up to 1 year after release of a new OS, and that
OEMs can sell PCs with the previous OS pre-loaded for up to 2 years after, the launch date of the new OS
That was from Microsoft back in 2012.
SAD FACE, means good luck finding an official unopened, not pirated disc for Windows 7 Professional for under $200 with a
official Activation Key at any local computer store since they technically cant get it anymore and Microsoft will not sell it to you
directly unless you can survive all the propaganda brainwashing you to cough up for Windows 8 and a new computer too!
But there is hope.
PROMOTIONAL OEM DISCS AND THE GEEKS WHO LOVED THEM :)
Imagine how a business with dozens of computers comes to Microsoft, or millions, like Dell and HP?
Thats right, they order in bulk! Meaning there are still thousands of official sealed Windows 7 Promotional discs floating around in
the hands of computer repair experts and those who worked at a company that gave them an promotional Windows 7 disc
complimentary to install on their computer that never did and stored away till one day they put them up for sale in a garage sale!
Auctions (online and offline)
Garage Sales
Local Goodwill / Thriftway stores
Hackers trying to put gas in their car who forgot about the disc in their massive collection of nonsense (happens more then you
think)
Local third party computer repair shops
Warehouse and left over inventory collections at stores like Frys Electronics and Best Buy (ask a manager)
And my favorite, big sites like Ebay, Craigslist, Amazon, and Newegg.com!
With that being said buying a disc is one thing, having an expert install, set it up, and make sure it is properly updated and organized
like you need it to be is a whole another problem that can cost you dozens of hours of headaches if not a crashed computer in a month.
:(
OR YOU COULD
Mention this Guide for a 50% off discount off of scheduling an appointment with me to install and set up Windows 7 for you! ;)
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE 15 MINUTE CALL!
https://conquer.leadpages.net/shane-anciso/

Solution -2 . W3)G 3*4 A%t li1e not&ing &appened, li1e a nin5a 6in denial7
Seriously, your computer will not burn to ashes come April 8
th
.
But you might want to uninstall these software programs just in case. ;-)
Download and install Revo Uninstaller (Get pro on the 30 day free trial)
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html
Uninstall antivirus programs that are not supporting Windows XP and actually cause problems to performance:
AVG
Norton
McAfee
Webroot
Uninstall these software programs whose updates have been tested and shown to cause startup issues:
Adobe Reader
Java
Itunes
Safari
Quicktime
Realplayer
Anything involving torrenting (Death Sentence after April 8 as all the hackers will be using this method already to hack
Windows Xp computers who seed on the network)
Appli%ation virtuali8ation to t&e res%ue
Fortunately, there are ways that organizations can work around this application compatibility issue while staying on Windows XP.
One such method is to use a tool such as VMware's ThinApp application virtualization.
With ThinApp, administrators wrap software deployments inside a virtual shell, which contains the components that are necessary to
run the software on any supported system.
With such a tool, organizations can, for example, deploy Office 2013 on Windows XP systems -- a scenario that would not be possible
otherwise, since Microsoft doesn't support an XP/Office 2013 combination.
While this method adds a layer of administrative overhead to software deployments, it is an effective way to stick with Windows XP
while continuing to enjoy the benefits of new software.
9everage t&e gift of anti:(alware e;tensions
Security will be the biggest problem for those who choose to stay with Windows XP, and organizations will need to remain ever
vigilant in their fight against digital crime. Fortunately, Microsoft and others are making this just a bit easier. Microsoft this week
announced that it will continue to provide anti-malware support for Windows XP through July 2015. In addition, other security
vendors have pledged to continue to support Windows XP. This is where the Rumored Extension till August 2015 came from!
So in summary here is what I have found and tested still supports and works best to defend Windows XP:
1. Microsoft Security Essentials
Download Link : Download
2. Avast Antivirus Free Edition for computers with 2GB or more ram and 2.0 GHZ processor only! (Otheriwse will slow down your
pc!)
Download Link : Download
< Ad:Aware =ree Antivirus> 6Great for $o(puters wit& less t&an 2 G? ra( and less t&an 20 G@A pro%essor47
Lavasoft's Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ program is different than the "Ad-Aware" you may already be familiar with. This program is a
true, always-on, completely free antivirus program.
If my list was anything other than alphabetical, Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ probably wouldn't head up the pack, mainly because email
scanning isn't supported. However, if you love Lavasoft's other free products, Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ is a pretty solid choice.
Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ Review and Free Download
4 A(iti Antivirus
Amiti Antivirus is a free antivirus program that includes heuristic scanning and supports 4 different scan types, including one that can
check for viruses that are currently running in memory.
A(iti Antivirus is great for $o(puters wit& less t&an 1 G? ra( and less t&an 18 G@A pro%essor47
I really like how easy Amiti Antivirus is to use. All the settings and options are organized on the left side of the program in their
respective areas without being overly cluttered.
There's also a tool included in Amiti Antivirus that can be used to quickly clean temporary system and Internet Explorer files to free of
disk space.
Amiti Antivirus Free Download
5. Avira Free Edition for 32 bit computers or computers with less than 2 GB ram and 1.6 ghz
Download Link : Download
6. Spybot 2
Great to use as a companion to any of these anti virus programs simply for their whitelist and browser vaccination programs!
http://www.safer-networking.org/mirrors/

7. Malwarebytes Chameleon and Mbar tools (Download Malwarebytes Pro 30 day trial to get these tools)
Use in addition with any of the above as your antivirus and run once a month to scan your pc overnight.
www.malwarebytes.org/trial/

EXTRAS:
www.ninite.com
Download:
VNC Video Player
Foxit Reader (for PDFs)

9o%1 s#ste(s down w&en possible
High levels of system rights are one of the primary vectors used by attackers to compromise a system. When coupled with potential
security issues in the underlying software, these increased privileges can be devastating. Windows XP users generally have very high
levels of access to the system and their efforts can inflict significant damage when care is not exercised. Microsoft has taken steps to
reduce these kinds of risks in newer operating systems, but to implement newer systems in XP would have meant completely
reengineering the product. So, we have what we have.
For organizations planning to stick with Windows XP, it's time to look at solutions that can help save users from themselves. This may
mean trying to operate without local administrative rights or even using a tool such as Deep Freeze to prevent a user from accidentally
changing something on a system and introducing a compromise.
Su((ar#
When you leave the office on April 8, 2014, that will be the last day you're running supported Windows XP systems in your company.
But guess what? Nothing will look different when you walk in on April 9. Over time, though, there will be application and security
challenges that must be overcome. It will take some time and vigilance for administrators to make sure that their organizations can
continue to do business and remain secure while also continuing to run Windows XP.

But does that mean staying with Windows XP or upgrading to Windows 7 are the only options?
And what if your computer wont work with Windows 7 and its backward Windows XP compatibility?
And what about the pain of backing up, and restoring all of your software and data to the new operating system?

Anybody looked at Linux lately as an affordable, FREE alternative? :-D

93)/X ,3)*, *@B G+BA* /):C)OW)' 6SB$+B* WBAPO)47

For most computers I recommend Mate &' bit which you can download the latest version ():
http:**linu$freedom+com*linu$mint*linu$mint+com*stable*()*download+html
,akes a while but once done burn it to a disc or usb drive with the following tools:
-./
http:**www+linu$liveusb+com*
01 * 121
http:**www+freeisoburner+com*
From there reboot and then boot from the disc or usb into an option 3inu$ Mint gives you called 4,rial5 so you can test it to your liking before
you download it6 "nd heres a handy video to show you how:
https:**www+youtube+com*watch7v8#9:%t;M<:.M
,hen watch and do what this video advises:
https:**www+youtube+com*watch7v8=>F!b?%'P%k

From there I recommend backing up your data onto a e$ternal hard drive like so:
https:**www+youtube+com*watch7v89X"w%&f.#@"
"nd then watch this video on how to upload your data into 3inu$ Mint after you install it:
https:**www+youtube+com*watch7v89AMv#Bp;,Cs
,hen go to 3inu$ Mint and download Wine, Wine,ricks, and Playonlinu$:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N7r2ZMoFSI
http://code.google.com/p/winetricks/wiki/Installing
http://www.itworld.com/software/398283/install-playonlinux-422-linux-mint-16
Then heres how to reinstall your Microsoft Office!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqsKP-GlCMM
Then heres how to reinstall most if not all of your Windows XP software:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAEEcem1ECM

Or you could mention this ad and have an expert set this all up for you for under $100!
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE 15 MINUTE CALL!
https://conquer.leadpages.net/shane-anciso/

Thank you for reading this guide!

Shane anciso
Secret Simple Fix It Now
I'm a Austin Mobile Computer Repair specialist who responds in minutes to your phone call or email, comes meet you to your home
or office, repair your computer same day before your eyes, & work around your busy schedule.

I'm a Online Marketing Consultant too!
I can also be reached by phone at: 806-318-8247
Or Email: inbox@shaneanciso.com