Garmin discontinuing support for Windows XP

Are you sure that is Garmin that is giving that message (i.e. only shows when running a Garmin program and shows only in Garmins window)? The taskbar is part of Windows, and if you are running XP and getting the latest updates, one of them is to tell you of XP support ending.

on Garmin's own forum: Garmin Express 3.1.7.0 - Annoying Windows XP End Of Life Notification - please remove.

Don't know why there is such a rush to make people start using the newer Windows operating system, XP still works better than any of the new ones and is more reliable. I still see many places using the XP system and most don't want to leave it.

but reality is Microsoft is no longer sending updates for flaws whether related to security or anything else. If a flaw was now discovered it will not be fixed or patched.
Do you have to go out tomorrow and buy a new computer or upgrade? No. But the longer you wait the more chances you're taking with the information on your computer.
Many companies are inept, cheap or both. Target ring a bell? There are many more that you don't read about, at least not yet.

If Microsoft can't sell new operating systems, what else have they ever succeeded in selling to the public.

They sell the operating system the NSA uses to spy on us.

They sell similar products to the military .

I guess they feel their stock price will drop even further than it has in the past decade if they can't force the public to upgrade their operating systems. Eventually XP won't work right. Even now plenty of recent Adobe software programs( Photoshop, Lightroom,etc) won't install in XP So that's how it's going to end.

If you have an XP system, then do not update your software past the XP era software. I use several XP machines and they run fine with the existing software.

I just downloaded the latest version for XP and got the warning message. Updated my Nuvi 50 LM with no problems. I hope by leaving the software alone it will continue to work on future map updates as I have no intentions of replacing the XP machines right away.
I do have a windows 8.1 laptop if need be but really not to happy with 8.1

A rush?

Hardly. You do realize, of course, that XP was released 13 years ago and Vista (the new one) was released 7 years ago and Windows 7 (another "new" one) was released almost 5 years ago. Those are ancient timeframes in the IT world.

Hardly seems like a "rush" to me.

Many "places" (including my workplace) are still using XP not because it is "better" but due to sheer economics.

There is nothing wrong with Windows XP. This is all about Microsoft forcing you to upgrade and making more money. What they should have done was offer a "pay" premium service for those who want to keep using XP that they can still receive updates and support.

Instead Microsoft would rather impose on our valuable time, effort, energy and money to upgrade to a new operating system that we didn't want.

Microsoft's decision to stop support of Windows XP just comes across as another means of grabbing your hard earned money. Windows XP was/is one of the most stable operating systems to come out of Microsoft. Just check how many businesses are still running XP...can't be all that bad if you ask me. If it was a simple matter of an inexpensive upgrade to move on to a new operating system we'd all be there. Have you checked what they are asking for Windows 7 or 8 ? Then there's the issue if your existing hardware can run the new system.

Correct. I've just updated my laptop running XP Pro. One of the updates was the EOL notifier for XP. I'll bet that's what people are seeing.

I've opted out of that update. No nags yet.

Anyone who has automatic updates turned on for Windows XP are getting the nagging XP no longer supported messages. If you pick and choose what updates to download, you can skip the EOL notifier.

We just finished migrating over 8,000 computers that had XP. Do not underestimate the potential for hackers. You may not even see anything and your PC can be taken over and passwords stolen. Most hacks today are not about messing with you and your PC. they are about information and money. Waiting may lead you down the path to identity theft online. I still have an XP machine at home but it is never connected to the Internet. As soon as I have some time to sort through the data it will be recycled.

News reports on the issue of large fleets of bank ATMs still running XP have mentioned that at least one bank has contracted with Microsoft for a support extension. Just today I saw a news report that the IRS has done something similar.

I have not seen any reports of an offering for individual users.

I have the same OS but have never received that message. Are you sure it is from Garmin?

Yes, Garmin points out that microsoft has ended support for XP and they won't be far behind. Message was received on the GE screen and also on one of the drop down GE menus. I think they were suggesting an upgrade to Vista. I suspect Microsoft would be pushing win 8.
I got this while updating my map yesterday

I do not have microsoft automatic updates on. Only notification they are available for download

You shouldn't have any problems loading your maps for now but as Garmin updates its software like the poi loader it may (probably) won't run on XP in the future. Kinda like trying to run the latest version of Photoshop on Windows 95. It just won't work.

Hope this helps.

Without support or virus protection updates XP is an easier target.

Continued support is available but it is very expensive and does not make much sense for the individual user.

According to some, Microsoft (for whom I have no particular love) is
1. in a "rush" to get rid of XP
and additionally
2. is attempting a "money grab"

Earlier is the thread

I liked MM's reply because it put things into perspective

Then

Given that XP has been supported for longer now than any other operating system that Microsoft has ever had, calling their decision to drop FREE support a "another means of grabbing your hard earned money" seems to me to be piling on.

I like XP - still have it on one machine - but blaming Microsoft for a reasonable business decision means that those bashing Microsoft are unaware of the facts.

If you want to stay with XP, then do so.

Operating Systems (OS) are upgraded for 2 reasons:

1. You can't keep paying people to fix and out give out fixes for free forever.

2. Technology changes and so must the core of the OS. Things like multicore processors, USB speeds, touch screens and the list goes on.

Each OS is built from the previous. Why start out fresh and create more security holes?

Those of us that work in places with multiple OSs on their computers can tell you that when MS releases security fixes, they tend to release them for all current systems in one day. That means that someone found a security hole for one system and MS discovered that it actually exists in other OSs.

So, if a hacker discovers a hole in Win7, then that hole probably exists in XP (or Win 2000 and earlier). Since you will no longer be getting fixes for XP - then you can be vulnerable to a hacker if they discover that that hole exists in Win 7.

Please quit whining. This has been going on since Windows 3.1. "Bite the bullet" and shop around for Win 7 (or later). Win 7 Home Pro 32 bit and 64 bit is $99.99 at Newegg right now. You can probably find it cheaper if you shop around.

I complained about the differences when I first up-graded, but not now, because I'm used to it.

I'm not bashing Microsoft. With that said, I'm not even complaining about their decision to drop support of XP...I can't remember the last time I had to contact Microsoft for Windows XP...it's just that good !

Point I was trying to make is that Microsoft could have made things more affordable to move onto Windows 7 or 8.

First MS and now Garmin.

I've still got thousands of 80-column blank punch cards, but no equipment to punch, read or process them. Must be an IBM conspiracy to get me to buy modern electronics.

Then go with a Linux variant. Support is planned for 10 years from a version release, which was recently extended from 7 years.
http://wiki.centos.org/Download

While I generally use CentOS for servers, I would probably recommend Ubuntu as a Windows desktop/laptop replacement for non-Linux users, as your grandmother could use it and the overall user experience is very good with plenty of cool graphics, gee-whiz features and effects to make even a hardcore Windows user happy.

Folks who do a lot of surfing and are continually plagued with Windows malware would be well-served to try Linux for that purpose. For email and surfing, online banking and many other activities where you could be at risk it's hard to beat the Linux security model. However, when it comes to things like running TurboTax, updating your Garmin, etc. we may still be stuck with Windows for a while.

As long as that's the case, we'll be stuck with paying ~$99 to go through the hassle of loading an OS on our machines that isn't quite as good as the one you can get for free.

It's an interesting world, isn't it?

- Phil

I alos kept a bunch when we got rid of keypunch machines.

For years I used them as note cards. When they were in my shirt pocket, they stuck out enough that they reminded you to do whatever your note to yourself said.

I just threw out my 10 1/2 Diablo disks along with the drive. Had a head crash and no replacements. Now I'll have to go to some of those modern drives that hold more than 2 1/2 MB. Anybody know where I can get some spares for my Datapoint cassette drives?

Anybody know where I can get the latest updates for Microsoft Bob?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-XP-Users-Recommended-... sure puts the light on it.

Found this
http://thepiratebay.ee/torrent/3521579/Microsoft_Bob

and http://www.4shared.com/get/TUJ4j6cG/Microsoft_Bob.html

... had any credibility left. It wasn't the flip of the calendar that put an end to that situation. The lack of credible leadership became ... bad for business & diplomacy in general. I would like to think that we are approaching that end point but in my heart I know it's unlikely that it will be in this decade.

None of which precludes that there are still many a glorious road to travel in the interm.

Windows XP users just need to make sure to look in the mirror when they wonder why their computer is now a spambot, or they've lost their entire life savings.

IMHO, the demise of XP is overrated.
After 13 years of patching holes, I'm sure there r still a few to be exploited. BUT, viruses and trojans do not occupy this space. These r holes that AV s/w probably can't fill. I see many "programs" that the best AV program doesn't see. And I don't believe they r exploiting OS holes.

So whether u upgrade or not, if u connect to anything external to ur system, u r at risk.

u could upgrade to Linux Mint (currently most popular). Since it isn't a big market share YET there isn't much effort in developing maleware for it. Therefore, probably safer than ANY other OS.

Take common sense precautions, and XP will last a long time with the same risk as a new OS.

1. use a good AV program with firewall - read the reviews and don't ask for opinions. (stay away from PCMAG reviews).

2. Stay away from the usenet and porn sites.

3. only download files from trusted sites. mfg sites r the safest. Adobe, nVidia, Dell, HP, etc.

4. use a sandbox

What is your opinion of keeping XP and using sandboxie
http://www.sandboxie.com/

Some people might now have the funds to make the move right now to a new computer. Plus, many would not even be comfortable installing a new OS on their old computer.

Yeah, it is time to let it go.
RIP - Windows XP
We had our ups and downs, torch must be passed on to next generation...

but there are still a few Windows 2000 boxes in my organization. Not For profit health care has to do whatever it can...

Running apps in a sandbox adds a level of protection, but an OS vulnerability can bypass the sandbox.

I wouldn't take the risk. Which is why Internet access is disabled on my old netbook running XP. I do intend on dual booting Linux and XP, but that's just me tinkering. My secondary device these days is an Android tablet.

No one that I know of provides support of an operating system forever. Not Microsoft, not Apple, not the various providers of linux or UNIX, no one. Things get old and obsolete. Take it to the extreme, would you really expect Microsoft to still provide support for Windows 95 or Apple to still send out updates for something like an Apple II?

I'll use virtual machine to work around that.

Every software I have ever owned has stopped support of older versions after some time. It's just the nature of things.

At work, all new computers started coming with Windows 7 for a few years now. But the existing XP systems were not upgraded. No real reason to do so. We have finally reached a point where some of our business applications are also 'sunsetting' support for older versions and triggering a need to upgrade those business applications, which are no longer compatible with XP. So all remaining XP systems have to be upgraded soon, as well.

That's just the way it is in the software industry.

The statement "discontinued support for XP" may be poor wording, although one can't be certain. Until I retired I worked for a company that sold software based products. We would often make a similar statement, say we have discontinued support for "Windows NT 4.0". However, what it meant is if you had our product and called with an issue we believed to be the result of Windows NT 4.0, we would help you with that issue as opposed to sending you to Microsoft to get a remedy. That very often was the best avenue for a remedy since we best knew how a given O/S would work with our product. However, once that O/S was declared "not supported" we would send you to Microsoft if we believed your problem was due to an O/S defect. Our products often had end-of-life cycles that enabled them to operate for many years beyond the end of an O/S.

We never declared an O/S unsupported until the official date that Microsoft did as well.

For what its worth, I'll hold xp for as long as I can practically do so. On one computer radio program recently heard that Linux may work well on an older computer (xp systems eg.)

May be something to think about.

What next!?

What next!?

I would expect that by now, there are no vulnerabilities remaining to be fixed in XP. Or do years of all those safety fixes make vulnerabilities worse?

What I want to know is, if Microsoft quit support for XP on the eighth, why am I still getting notifications every morning that there are updates waiting to download. I don't think it's hackers.

Computers sold with XP are generally at least 7 years old. It's likely many (most) of those computes don't have the hardware necessary to run newer versions of windows. The cost to upgrade the hardware, and pay for windows, is likely to be more then the cost of a new machine.

There is no easy (automatic) upgrade. Most users will have to find their original media and reinstall software. People who downloaded software will have to find their keys. Other people will spend time and money using programs which help you move your programs.

I don't think the people using XP are the kind of people who are interested in playing with linux.

If you click the notification, what does it tell you about the update details? Did you skip installing updates on April 8?

When I check the Windows Update history on my PC, it appears that most of the monthly updates are to fix vulnerabilities with Internet Explorer. It never ends. I switched to Firefox and Chrome years ago and never looked back. I know they're not perfect either, but they don't seems to have the all the hacker issues that IE does.

Look again.

The list for Windows XP updates is a lot longer than IE updates. I have less than 50 IE8 updates and 250+ XP updates (installation date goes as far back as 2008). There are definitely more than 250 XP updates but I stopped counting at 250.

If I format my HD now and start over from scratch (install XP with SP2 then install SP3), there may be as many as 150+ XP updates (updates released after SP3) needed. That's still a lot more than IE updates.