Windows XP End of Life Approaching

[Topcat]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

For a unknown reason I find it silly to keep the XP activation servers running.

They really can't. It denies the end user use of a product they paid for. If someone wants to use an antiquated operating system that isn't supported anymore, that's their choice....but MS denying them use of something they paid for would turn into a legal debacle. Lets say for example you bought a nice shiney new trans am back in 1995, while GM no longer has to make parts for it anymore, they can't take the keys away from you and say you can no longer drive it.....

[Elysarian]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

They really can't. It denies the end user use of a product they paid for. If someone wants to use an antiquated operating system that isn't supported anymore, that's their choice....but MS denying them use of something they paid for would turn into a legal debacle. Lets say for example you bought a nice shiney new trans am back in 1995, while GM no longer has to make parts for it anymore, they can't take the keys away from you and say you can no longer drive it.....

Except that software is a little different from cars...

You don't buy software in most cases, you buy a licence to use it, the car analogy can still be used here: the government grants you a licence to drive a car and may take that away from you for a reason of their choosing (therefore revoking your "rights" to use your car legally).

While I do agree that for MS to prevent installation of XP would be a dick move, they are theoretically allowed to do so (best case would be to release a patch that disables product activation imho)

[Per Hansson]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

They really can't. It denies the end user use of a product they paid for. If someone wants to use an antiquated operating system that isn't supported anymore, that's their choice....but MS denying them use of something they paid for would turn into a legal debacle. Lets say for example you bought a nice shiney new trans am back in 1995, while GM no longer has to make parts for it anymore, they can't take the keys away from you and say you can no longer drive it.....

You don't have ownership of the product, you have a software license.
It's like a company car, they allow you certain usage rights but if you go outside of those rights your license to use the car can be revoked.

http://slated.org/windows_xp_eula_in_plain_english

[Uniballer]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

FWIW, I absolutely hate just how often M$ release new OSes now. 7 barely had the chance to season before releasing that disaster known as Windows 8.

Did you notice that Microsoft actually did something smart after their Vista debacle? They ran a heavily advertised extended public beta test on Win7 to get public testing and comments before they released it. Smartest thing they ever did, and probably a big part of why Win7 was so well accepted by the public and industry. It worked pretty well for a change, and didn't have too much annoying horseshit. Apparently they didn't learn their lesson because they sure didn't do that with 8 .

[TELVM]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

The seat of my pants also sees another EOL extension as well.

They've been spreading FUD trying to shepherd the flock into the Tiles Wonder, but facts are stubborn things:

^ Fresh today

So ultimately some degree of sanity is coming back: "Threshold" to be Called Windows 9, Ship in April 2015

... In some ways, the most interesting thing about Threshold is how it recasts Windows 8 as the next Vista. It's an acknowledgment that what came before didn't work, and didn't resonate with customers. And though Microsoft will always be able to claim that Windows 9 wouldn't have been possible without the important foundational work they had done first with Windows 8—just as was the case with Windows 7 and Windows Vista—there's no way to sugarcoat this. Windows 8 has set back Microsoft, and Windows, by years, and possibly for good ...

[Heihachi_73]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

Windows 8, 6.66%. Windows 8 really is the devil.

[Topcat]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

You don't have ownership of the product, you have a software license.
It's like a company car, they allow you certain usage rights but if you go outside of those rights your license to use the car can be revoked.

http://slated.org/windows_xp_eula_in_plain_english

You are correct in your terminology, but in principle, I am right.....but you know as well as I do that would be suicide for MS to pull something like that, unless perhaps they offered a free "upgrade" to 7 or 8. MS isn't the big dog on the block anymore, and if someone who paid for it all of a sudden couldnt use it anylonger, there's other choices now. Even if its still XP, MS definitely wants you to use their products regardless.....they don't want you to have anything to do with that evil linux, android, OSx, and the many many varieties of those.....hence, the activation servers aren't going anywhere.

[rhomanski]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

Considering that Ford execs just admitted they watch you everywhere you go and what you do with the new cars, I'm proud to drive my old cars. Even if Pontiac is no longer made, my Firebirds probably won't go anywhere without me.

[Topcat]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

Considering that Ford execs just admitted they watch you everywhere you go and what you do with the new cars, I'm proud to drive my old cars. Even if Pontiac is no longer made, my Firebirds probably won't go anywhere without me.

100%. The newest car in my fleet is my wife's 2002 Kia Sportage. Very simple vehicle. My pickup is a 96 RAM 3500 with the old 12V Cummins. Very simple. I have zero desire for a new car with more spyware embedded in it than a dirty porn site.....many feel the same way about OS's as well.....the reason so many won't give up XP....

[mockingbird]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

Don't get all hot and bothered by the prospect of not being able to activate XP in the future. Your expectations are grand, and while I don't discount the possibility that the internet and phone activation might stay alive, it is an absurd prospect to expect it from a company like Microsoft. And they couldn't care less about you and all the others still using XP, and if I were in their position, I wouldn't either...

As far as I'm concerned, when the product goes out of support, it's abandonware. There are still plenty of VLK keys available that pass WGA and don't require activation. There's also SLP activation which only requires a slight BIOS modification. All in all, you're getting worked up over nothing.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

I agree Topcat, MS would never kill off XP, even if technically they probably could.
It would just be a PR disaster, not like they have enough of those already...

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

you buy a licence to use it

Yes and your product needs also the blessings of the European Union and other large markets to to walk in.

If those guys in Brussels start getting wild, MS will loose their smile and their pockets will become so lightweight which will never forget it.

If Russia and China follow that path too, the former MS employes would start sleeping in the house of Bill and they will use also his toilet.

[stretch0069]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

I run Win7 Home on my laptop....two boxes run Win7 Pro.....meh...I'm getting used to it. Things I used to do in XP can be done, but are more convoluted. The problem is work. They upgraded all our PCs to Win7. Now crap in the classrooms doesn't work right. You can't copy to the Public Desktop....and our "IT" people don't help the situation AT ALL.

No experience with Win8.

On a side note...our new main ATC system got rid of all WinXP and replaced it with CentOS. M$ loosing out on the big gubermint $$$$$

[TELVM]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

Microsoft finally fixes Windows XP SVCHOST bug

Hallelujah!

[cheapie]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

Microsoft finally fixes Windows XP SVCHOST bug

Hallelujah!

Finally... (my sister uses XP, and she was being quite annoyed by this bug)

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

If some one discovers the exact KBxxxxx of this fix, just post a link.

[c_hegge]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

Windows 8, 6.66%. Windows 8 really is the devil.

Actually, I'm surprised that 8 is more popular than Vista. After I had a play with 8, I said to myself "What was I complaining about Vista for?" I mean, It is a bit of a memory hog, but it is otherwise functional, and not much harder to navigate than XP.

[Topcat]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

Actually, I'm surprised that 8 is more popular than Vista. After I had a play with 8, I said to myself "What was I complaining about Vista for?" I mean, It is a bit of a memory hog, but it is otherwise functional, and not much harder to navigate than XP.

Actually, I liked the way Vista functioned. *ducks the flying chairs* It was just a horrible bloated memory hogging mess. Then came 7, and the game of 'wheres waldo' with functions and features.... win8, makes Vista seem like the second coming in comparison. I still like my XP...

[ratdude747]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

Installing XP to 3 laptops today (3 latitudes I got for pocket change off a buddy)

[mockingbird]

Re: Windows XP End of Life Approaching

If some one discovers the exact KBxxxxx of this fix, just post a link.

If it has to be one that came out last week, then this is it:
support.microsoft.com/kb/2914368

I checked the detailed information about it, but it didn't mention anything about SVCHOST specifically...