Windows XP Is Growing Bigger Again

[Exterminator]

You’d normally expect an operating system that’s 15-years-old to be the last thing computer users want to install, especially given the fact that there are so many other alternatives, including several of them that are direct successors to this ancient piece of software.

For some users out there, Windows XP seems to be just like a bottle of fine wine: the older it is, the better is gets, and people somehow still find a good reason to install it.

Living proof is the latest batch of statistics provided by NetMarketShare for the month of December 2016, which shows that Windows XP actually recovered last month and is again running on more than 9 percent of the world’s desktop computers.

Specifically, Windows XP continues to be the world’s third most popular desktop OS, but what’s more worrying is that it’s actually increasing its market share, so instead of giving up on it, some people actually decide to deploy this OS on their computers.

Ups and downs (but mostly ups)
Windows XP no longer receives support since April 2014, which means that Microsoft is no longer patching vulnerabilities that it finds in the operating system. Instead, users who are still running Windows XP become vulnerable to attacks, as cybercriminals can always attempt to exploit vulnerabilities that they discover in the OS and which are left unfixed.

For what it’s worth, Windows XP has been on a declining trend ever since Microsoft pulled support, but there were months when it actually recovered for reasons we can’t actually understand.

For example, Windows XP dropped from 10.09 percent in May 2016 to 9.78 percent the next month, before growing to 10.34 percent once again in July. Declines were recorded until November when it recorded a growth from 8.27 percent the month before to 8.63 percent. And this growth continued in December to reach 9.07 percent.

This means that in just two months, an operating system that no longer receives updates since 2014 increased from 8.27 percent to 9.07 percent, in a time when Microsoft is pushing for everyone to adopt Windows 10.

It goes without saying that everyone on Windows XP should consider updating to newer Windows as soon as possible because the security risks are obvious. And yet, we’re pretty sure that Windows XP will continue to be around for a while.

Believe it or not!!!

 

[Paul123]

Most of the banks in China I worked in were still running Windows XP on their systems (and Windows 2003 server, which was the equivalent server version). I must say I liked Windows XP, and if it wasn't for the security aspects would have stayed with it. I was using it until a year ago on my work laptop, because the company were too mean to buy me a new laptop and I was using the same one for 8 years (It was a Lenovo T61...one they still use in ISS).

But there again after a while I liked Windows 7 too, and I'm getting into Windows 10 now. The one I adamantly didn't like was Windows 8, I would choose anything over that operating system... it was horrible, I tried, but I just couldnt get to like it, totally went against usability guidelines.

I think a lot of people go to XP because its quite lightweight, but pretty stable. The later systems have a lot of stuff in them that the ordinary user just doesn't use, or need and because of that it runs fast even on low end machines.

I did notice when everyone posted their desktops last week, most were mainly Windows 7, and very few Windows 10. it would be interesting to know if people haven't upgraded because of privacy, security or aesthetics. I like Windows 10 in its abilities and layout, but I dont like the flat plain design. Its funny because when I upgraded my ITouch to IoS 6, I felt the same, but now I much prefer the newer flat icons to the older version.

 

[NikolayfromRussia]

I use Windows XP Pro installed in Vmware. I tried to run other Windows editions in Vmware but higher resource consumption required. I don't know if I can install Windows Xp on my new lap. I purchased a free dos laptop and I encountered some problems even installing Windows 7.

 

[AtlBo]

Even without UAC, XP can be very well secured. It just takes alot of software...ALOT!! I am guessing customizing XP with highest possible security would probably mean adding like 30 programs, unless someone or a company took the time to have a single app written to do all the jobs.

That might be an interesting thread challenge. How would you secure Windows XP?

 

[NikolayfromRussia]

Even without UAC, XP can be very well secured. It just takes alot of software...ALOT!! I am guessing customizing XP with highest possible security would probably mean adding like 30 programs, unless someone or a company took the time to have a single app written to do all the jobs.

That might be an interesting thread challenge. How would you secure Windows XP?

I really miss days when I ran Windows Xp. My first laptop I purchased had a preinstalled Windows Xp with a recovery system tool. I had no experience how to work with a recovery tools at all in 2004. Unfortunately, I made something wrong with recovery tools and couldn't launch Windows after several hours I purchased my lap. I was really depressed that time as I had no Windows disks and skills how to install it. Only in 2006 I learned how to install Windows from CD/Dvdrom

 

[Claw]

I was running XP up until October 2016, now I'm on Windows 10, and I'm really starting to get the hang of it. Once I found where everything was on it, I was able to customize it to my needs. I still have the desktop with XP on it sitting around for old time sake

 

[DJ Panda]

My early years involved XP. I remember when I was little I got some virus on the computer which made hundreds of shortcut icons and filled up the screen. Better knowledge with Vista. ( Have my Vista computer right next to me 10 Yrs old and still running)

 

[AtlBo]

Only in 2006 I learned how to install Windows from CD/Dvdrom

Yes, I know what you mean RLOL! Well, I had AVG (it was actually OK until AVG broke...then forget it ) on Windows 98 SE (I think 98 SE saved MS compared to 95 and regular 98) until 2001 I think. Then a Dell with XP, followed by a slightly better Dell with XP when the first one died. I spent so much time attempting to get those to run properly that I didn't learn anything much about Windows until around the time you mentioned. I did things like drop a folder in a folder 105 times and then place some files at the bottom, just to see what would happen. It actually did have an effect for the good which was unusual. Learning-wise I guess I had learned some earlier on 3.1 and 95 though, so that helped.

I switched to avast around 2004 when it came out. With that on the system, I actually did get the second Dell to function well by putting some games on it. Playing the games once in awhile made the PC run better. Quake 3...oh yes. I also used some game boosters like GBoost and JetBoost. Then I started paying attention at sites like BleepingComputer and TechSupportGuy.

I used to follow the malware removal threads and laugh so hard at the comments of hopeless users. The malware techs were astonishingly good under the circumstances. Users too stepped up and found ways to comply that I'm sure they never dreamed they'd be able to achieve. The situations with the pictures and games and files and the bosses that might be watching. It was the finest drama. The best ones were the girls who trashed their mother's PC LOL. They would never admit they were wrong, but they had until mom gets home to fix it LOL.

In those days, the PSUs couldn't really handle a spare drive, so there really was alot on the line. No rescue disks, MS quit including Windows disks. It was hard, but those guys on those sites I would say saved the day 95% of the time or better. From that came much more knowledge about backup for everyone I think. After about 2007, I really dug into core knowledge of Windows and began to study extensively the relationships between the systems and sub-systems in Windows. Been a difficult ride, but interesting and rewarding in a sense too now that things are much better.

I don't know about anyone else, but I do feel that change sort of outpaced knowledge until the end of XP. The end of XP came at about the right time, although I think MS could have done some things to pay back users who bought so many billions of copies of that OS that basically made MS a modern software company. I guess they just couldn't and move forward too.

 

[Claw]

XP is like going back home for a visit and running into an old friend, lots of memories and a nice comfortable , easy feeling.

 

[Exterminator]

It took me a long time to move from XP to 7. In fact I had both dual booted for quite some time but after a while I saw the advantages of 7 and never looked back.
I was on 7 up until the free upgrade offer so I jumped on it and once again had a dual boot with 7 & 10.
Personally I think 10 is by far the best Microsoft OS.
I now have it installed on all machines and would not even consider going back to XP.
However I have an old drive that still has XP installed and I have to admit there are times when I think about revisiting it

 

[Svoll]

Personally I think 10 is by far the best Microsoft OS.

Grasping for Air, I can't believe you said that after posting the results of win7 usage.

Jokes aside, I like WIn10, I just dislike the fact that you have no control over your updates, Microsoft installs whatever it wants, I like the win7 option where it allows what you want to install. I really dislike their driver updates and no matter what I do, GPedit, Patches, regedit. it still force updates my drivers and more often than not, it causes more problems than it fixes.

 

[DJ Panda]

Grasping for Air, I can't believe you said that after posting the results of Windows 7 usage.

Jokes aside, I like Windows 10, I just dislike the fact that you have no control over your updates, Microsoft installs whatever it wants, I like the Windows 7 option where it allows what you want to install. I really dislike their driver updates and no matter what I do, GPedit, Patches, regedit. it still force updates my drivers and more often than not, it causes more problems than it fixes.

Even on home version you can disable your upgrades some what. Simply disable where you get the updates from as well as the MS Products. A friend of mine had managed to keep his Win 10 from upgrading but was happy to get the later updates because he didn't even get security ones.

 

[Svoll]

Even on home version you can disable your upgrades some what. Simply disable where you get the updates from as well as the MS Products. A friend of mine had managed to keep his Win 10 from upgrading but was happy to get the later updates because he didn't even get security ones.

Yup, that's one of the ways around it. I have tried just downloading .cab or standalone cumulative updates, standalone updaters, like Portabelupdates and WSUS, its just too much workaround, once again the option is not available therefore that is the only thing I dislike.
I did however find a fix for not updating my drivers anymore, so for that I am happy.

 

[Paul123]

XP is like going back home for a visit and running into an old friend, lots of memories and a nice comfortable , easy feeling.

Windows 8 is like the ex

 

[frogboy]

Never used XP only started using computers on Windows 7.

 

[Exterminator]

Grasping for Air, I can't believe you said that after posting the results of Windows 7 usage.

Jokes aside, I like Windows 10, I just dislike the fact that you have no control over your updates, Microsoft installs whatever it wants, I like the Windows 7 option where it allows what you want to install. I really dislike their driver updates and no matter what I do, GPedit, Patches, regedit. it still force updates my drivers and more often than not, it causes more problems than it fixes.

I really do like Windows 10 the best
However I can sympathize with the driver updates as my ASUS ROG would BSOD after every Windows update with a Nvidia update.
I got around it but unfortunately there is an ASUS problem with Windows 10 at least on my ROG and a friends.
@Soulweave is lucky he had no problems with his ROG
I still have Windows 7 on that ROG but I don't use it anymore since I got my MSI Laptop.
Windows 7 is hard to use since using Windows 10 for so long now.
Maybe I will throw an XP on a VM for old times sake

 

[AtlBo]

However I have an old drive that still has XP installed and I have to admit there are times when I think about revisiting it

Ehhhhh LOL. Maybe not THAT interesting . I have a couple of XP PCs I run sometimes. IF XP 64 bit were more developed/better/ better supported, if .NET at least say 4.5.1 were supported, if DirectX 12 were supported, and if the browsers would continue to support the OS, If there were drivers for new equipment, THEN it would be more interesting. Lots of ifs, but it still works for now I guess.

 

[Vipersd]

It is practical issue, lot of companies have older hardware that works good enough. If they were to switch to newer OS it would cost them a lot of money so until it starts impeding their business XP will live a long life.

 

[shmu26]

I run XP in a virtual machine on a regular basis, for legacy software that I need to do my work. But I don't access the internet, or run any new files on it, so I don't even use AV or anything.

XP is as fast as a demon, and uses almost no system resources, so it's great in that way.

 

[Exterminator]

No Kidding: Windows XP Has Just as Many Users as Windows 10 in China