XP runs out next April

[Narendra]

Hello,

I understand Windows XP runs out next April and there will not any security patches from the Microsoft then on. If I install Xp in VIRTUALBOX as a guest to Ubuntu 13.04, will that be safe? Actually I have that kind of configuration at the moment and do not wish to discard XP. Please advise!
Thank you.

[johnhudson]

It will be safe after April 2014 if you do not connect to the Internet or allow it to copy from a USB stick.

[Dutch_Master]

It will be safe after April 2014 if you do not connect to the Internet or allow it to copy from a USB stick.

Let me rephrase that: it'll be safe, as long as you take care in what [programs] you put on your (virtual) machine, as well as keeping your malware scanner up-to-date.

[heiowge]

Ermmm.... when EXACTLY was XP considered in any way safe?

As for it running out in April... again? How long do you think MS will extend its shelf life to this time?

[Dutch_Master]

XP was safe, on the install-disk

[nelz]

Let me rephrase that: it'll be safe, as long as you take care in what [programs] you put on your (virtual) machine, as well as keeping your malware scanner up-to-date.

That's not enough. If an exploit is discovered in an existing program after April, it will not be fixed, but all the script kiddies will now about it.

The easy answer is that come April, you'll have one more reason to not use XP. The fact that it is running in a VM is immaterial.

[MartyBartfast]

It largely depends on what you're using XP for, years ago I kept a Windows install for a single program, it didn't need to go on the net, the input files for it were grabbed on my Linux box and put on a shared partition; for that particular case I could now keep a pristine XP VM, blow it away after every use and restore the pristine container every time.

[roseway]

That's much the same as my situation. The only reason I keep an XP machine at all is to build the Windows versions of programs I develop. I do all the development on a Linux machine, then periodically I transfer the source to the XP machine to build that version. At the moment it has access to the internet, but it doesn't need it.

[Narendra]

Thank you very much for your replies!
Is there any distro = XP?
Please advise.
Thank you.

[ajgreeny]

Thank you very much for your replies!
Is there any distro = XP?
Please advise.
Thank you.

Maybe worth looking at Zorin
http://www.zorin-os.com/
http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... ne-of.html
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=zorin

I have not seen or used it personally, so check it out carefully. It was on the LXF 170 dvd, but I'm not sure which version it was.

I have just looked and it was version 6.0.2 Lite.

If it looks interesting you can get version 7 from their website linked above.

[cmcevoy]

XP was safe, on the install-disk

You sure?
Sort of depends on your definition of Trojan Horse...

[Narendra]

Thank you very much for your reply.

I have downloaded and install the Zorin later on.

Please check the link below, if ReactOS is any good.

http://tinyurl.com/7t43s

Thank you.

[M-Saunders]

Please check the link below, if ReactOS is any good.

http://tinyurl.com/7t43s

That's the first time I've seen a TinyURL that's longer than the address to which it points

Anyway, ReactOS is an impressive project given that (AFAIK) nobody is paid to work on it full-time. It can run various older Windows apps, but it's still very much in Alpha stage and not recommended for full-time use.

If you absolutely need to run one or two Windows apps, it's worth a try, and cheaper than a full Windows license.

Of course, WINE is another option...

M

[Narendra]

Thank you very much for your reply!

I use Ubuntu and its installed with WINE but it does not install Photoshop Elements 11!
And when some programmes installed on WINE can not get uninstalled!

[heiowge]

Sounds like a lot of Windows apps. Those things go on clean, but don't want to let go when you've had enough!

Have you tried GIMP instead of photoshop?