tech

Microsoft to end support for Windows XP on April 9

51 Comments
By Haruka Masumizu

Microsoft Corp Japan will end support for its popular Windows XP software on April 9. The company will no longer provide anti-virus software support for XP such as monthly security patches and system updates.

XP was launched in Japan to great fanfare in 2001 and has been a big success in Japan.

Although Microsoft made the announcement a year ago, many companies have still not upgraded their Windows operating systems. According to a local research institute, when Microsoft made the announcement last April, about 33% (or approximately 77 million computers) of all computers in Japan were using Windows XP. Of those, 40% were in business use. Currently, Microsoft estimates that roughly 20% of all PCs in Japan still use XP. Company officials say that businesses have been hesitant to upgrade to avoid the cost of replacing computers.

According to a survey conducted by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry last October, about 37% of local governments’ PCs won’t be updated by the April 9 deadline. Local governments say it will take at least a few months to shift to newer PCs as much of their administrative work depends on XP software including residential and taxation data.

In the meantime, Microsoft is holding seminars to help companies shift to newer PCs while it offers an option to postpone payment for the cost of upgrading until after April.

As for individuals, although it is much easier for them to update their PCs cost-wise, they do not seem to see any advantage in it other than stronger security, said Microsoft. However, the company warns that an upgrade is crucial as most of them use mainly web browsers and emails which are vulnerable to recent cyberattacks.

Microsoft strongly recommends anyone with a computer using XP to first download Windows Upgrade Assistant to check whether your PC is applicable for Windows 8.1. If applicable, you just need to follow the procedures on Windows Tutorial on their homepage. If not, you are required to purchase a new Windows 8.1 PC.

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51 Comments
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go with Linux, and LibreOffice. Free

I use the flavour Lubuntu, a light version of Ubuntu which is the same in every way except with less bling. Also the popular Linux Mint would be good, anothter off shoot of Ubuntu.

Stop supporting bad software.

Cheers

1 ( +9 / -8 )

@sf2k Except it can't run many games, programs for Windows. Oh and if you want to install a simple program it takes cmd console and a lot of work. I'll stick to my Windows 8. Yeah I pay for it, but I pay for reliablility, compatability, and efficiency. These Japanese companies need to update! I don't want my personal information all over the internet!

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Goodbye best windows version ever.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

That's funny. Graphical installs have been around for decades and are perfectly available under Ubuntu and the Lubuntu and Linux Mint versions I mentioned.

Also yeah, you're not going to use Windows on Linux. That's rather the point.

I should note that I have another computer from 2005 that formerly ran XP currently running Lubuntu which is designed with old hardware in mind. Still running the latest software (13.10 = 2013 October) with an update expected this spring . Linux has much less to do with your hardware than Windows "requirements" allowing your hardware to last years longer.

If you're stuck with Windows programs and If you really want Windows XP to live on then use VMWare. I have Lubuntu in this case as the base system then Windowse XP in a virtual machine. But as time goes on I notice I don't need it. I can run what's called Unity mode, allowing both Windows and Linux programs to work on the same screen at the same time. Fun.

Free also means safe, as Linux isn't a target for malware and viruses. Windows users must update their security weekly? daily?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Why upgrade to 8? 7 is still wayyy superior for desktops. In my opinion anyway.

20 ( +20 / -0 )

I agree about Windows 7. There's no point to use 8 on desktops. I also doubt the use of 8 in office environments

9 ( +9 / -0 )

I wonder if this will give the shuffling grunters who "work" in my office's IT department the kick up the backside to update our office system? We've been asking them to for about five years.

"It is impossible"

"Settings cannot be changed"

My arse.

For a place which pays so much lipservice to innovation and security, they're a bit slow to get their hands in their pockets.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Get a Mac and never have this problem again.

-22 ( +6 / -26 )

Except it can't run many games, programs for Windows. Oh and if you want to install a simple program it takes cmd console and a lot of work.

When was the last time you tried Linux, 1999? Software installs and patching is easier in a distribution like Mint or Ubuntu than under Windows these days.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Windows 8 is a bigger mess than what Vista was. Why do you think so many business used Windows XP for so long. The same thing is happening now with Windows 7.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Silly enough.. The picture with the graphic says "Widnows"..

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Serious some fun time for hackers ahead then

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Yeah, XP is still the most stable version of Windoze to date, which tells you a lot about the company, considering it was released nearly 15 years ago. So many companies and all the government offices are still relying on this antiquated OS. It is going to create nightmares for many companies. The Japanese government has already stated their solution to this problem is to just remove network connections from 70% of the computers in public offices. Good luck getting anything done in a hurry! Vista is a huge pile of rubbish that binds itself up with too many background processes. Windoze 8 is just some sort of integration of an iOS with a PC OS that turns itself into a CPU hog. Windoze 7 is somewhere in between with CPU power hogging background processes and funky animations that do bugger all to improve the interface. Think about it people! The first version of Windoze came out in 98 and they haven't produced anything better since 2001? Bwahaha! Do you remember the Zune? Of course not!

Once you have a Mac you'll never go back!

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

These days I only use Windows to write grant applications that require Word. An old version of XP suffices for that.

I've got Suse Linux on this work machine and it's fine. It almost never needs to be rebooted, it's not forever downloading unwanted updates in the background and I'm in control of it. There is a graphical interface for downloading most programs and I believe you can now use Steam on Linux if you want to play games.

I was forced to use a Windows 7 computer last week to install some software for the students. It was a horrible experience. After installation I had to edit a license file, but it was in a hidden directory, then it had some user access issues, then there was no simple text editor, then the machine has to be rebooted etc etc. Eventually it worked, but it took an inordinate amount of time to do something that should be very simple.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

However, the company warns that an upgrade is crucial as most of them use mainly web browsers and emails which are vulnerable to recent cyberattacks.

I have a Vista at home and my daughter uses my old XP. If we're only going to use it to browse the net or send emails, maybe we will just go and get an ipad or whatever. Any suggestions?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

My Son "Do only old people still use Windows"?

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Why the heck are people thumbing down my Linux comment? Installs ARE easier under Linux. Go to software manager, select what you want, install. Updates are done automatically. And it's built into the distro.

Super easy. I even have my 70-something mother using Linux on her home computer.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

The 'system support' for Win Seven is worse than XP. Constant error messages of unable to install updates, with an error code that does nothing to help you solve the problem. A look around a number of offices and homes would suggest that a lot more than 20% of users are still using XP. It works, it is simple, it does the job. If only other Windows systems were the same.

As Windows goes in cycles, many people now are waiting for Windows 9, or whatever they decide to call it... 95 - starter, 98 good, ME bad, XP good, Vista bad, Seven good, Eight bad...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

if you want to install a simple program it takes cmd console and a lot of work.

No.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I liked the old MS-DOS. Then I saw what was coming down the road and immediately veered into the Mac lane. Over the past 20 years, the only major change was the ending of Mac OS Classic due to the switchover to Intel CPUs. All other upgrades were nearly seamless. Sure, I pay more to use a Mac, but I'm so satisfied I would ever consider changing, and don't know any other Mac users who say they would either.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Widnows? whoever wrote that graphic either needs spelling lessons or needs a better editor.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The company will no longer provide anti-virus software support for XP such as monthly security patches and system updates.

Xp hasn't got system updates for years. Security patches will stop on April 9. Anti-virus software support will stop on July 14, 2015.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@sf2k Agree, I love my Lubuntu install. Even if your PC or laptop is old and slow, no problem. I actually have a dual-boot with Windows 7 so I can also run Windows-only apps. It's the best of both worlds.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

How many of the critics here have actually updated from XP to 8.1? I did recently, a clean install that took about an hour, and 8.1 is running great on my 5-year old system.

Boots in less than a minute. Runs much faster and smoother than XP ever did. A few adjustments are needed, but no big deal.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Boots in less than a minute.

Boots? You do that once, after installing a new system, or maybe if you've been away for a while and shut things down. I couldn't tell you how long it takes my mac to boot, cos I can't remember the last time I had to boot it up.

...or are you talking about how long it takes before you want to kick the screen? :-)

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Big businesses stick with Windows, not only because programs and peripheral devices they'd use are almost guaranteed coded for it, but also if there's an issue, they know there's someone they could go after (Microsoft support). With thousands of computers, they know it'd be bad business for MS not to support them.

WinXP got so good because it lasted so long (as the next Windows kept getting delayed). So it got up to 3 service packs and years and years of polishing. But there's still some stuff it's not as good as it should be, particularly on multi-user accounts which businesses use.

Windows users must update their security weekly? daily?

Monthly. They usually release the main security updates on the 2nd week of the month.

(I use Linux too, as well as the other OSes.)

Get a Mac and never have this problem again.

Big business tend to not use Macs since Apple tend to stop support of older versions early and they can't afford to keep updating thousands of computers and programs just every few years. They can be quite tight-fisted with computer money. Heck, look how long they're sticking with WinXP - more than a decade! Can ya imagine Apple supporting an OSX version for that many years.

The first version of Windoze came out in 98

The first Windows 1.0 came out in the mid-80s, but Windows didn't start becoming popular till Win 3.11 in the early 90s.

As Windows goes in cycles, many people now are waiting for Windows 9, or whatever they decide to call it... 95 - starter, 98 good, ME bad, XP good, Vista bad, Seven good, Eight bad...

It's like Microsoft alternates between business-targeted (good idea) and consumer-targeted (bad idea) with every other Windows.

the only major change was the ending of Mac OS Classic due to the switchover to Intel CPUs

Mac OS Classic ended way before Intel CPUs (before it were the Motorola CPUs). And Mac OS Classic eventually became horrible; that's why Steve Jobs had to come and save it by rewriting from scratch (which Windows should be doing since it's now a 3-decade-old OS, but again that's not gonna happen due to big businesses moving like molasses not wanting too many changes too fast, like when Apple jumped from OS Classic to OSX).

Boots? You do that once, after installing a new system, or maybe if you've been away for a while and shut things down. I couldn't tell you how long it takes my mac to boot, cos I can't remember the last time I had to boot it up.

Win8 is actually kinda designed for that now as well - like phones and tablets, "always on." Heck, Win8 devices tend to hide the "real" off switch - instead Win8 just goes to sleep or hibernates. So Win8 devices typically don't really "boot" anymore - they just wake up, turns on in just seconds. (And good luck looking for the BIOS.)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

lostrune2 Big business tend to not use Macs since Apple tend to stop support of older versions early and they can't afford to keep updating thousands of computers and programs just every few years. They can be quite tight-fisted with computer money. Heck, look how long they're sticking with WinXP - more than a decade! Can ya imagine Apple supporting an OSX version for that many years.

Totally incorrect.

Does not matter anyway, wherever they can BIG BUSINESS is actually moving away from old windows desktop machines to tablets like the iPad.

The move to tablets (iPads) in particular is happening everywhere, defence, airlines, education sector, government departments.

Stuck trying to fix crappy, buggy software like Vista etc, they completely missed the mobile boat. Crappy, buggy Android has replaced them in nearly all but very old static businesses and even they have to upgrade eventually and it won't be to Windows.

This is the reason MS recently halved its OS licensing fee to OEM vendors. Too little too late, MS is going the way of the once dominate. AOL and IBM.

Sure they will still be in business and make a bucket of money, but they will just have to do it elsewhere. We can gladly thank Mr. Balmer for that i.e.: digging the company into a hole. Bad attitude and no vision.

This is the guy that said, why would anyone pay $600 for an iPhone "it doesn't even have a keyboard".

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Honestly people should be off of windows xp and should at least be on windows 7 by now. Windows xp although good is now very old at nearly 12 and half years, windows 7 will turn 5 years old this year in October-November. If you have a very old computer your best bet in terms of performance is going to be upgrading to windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 runs a lot faster than windows 7 on older hardware.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Stop XP support, so what? I have bought too many SW/HW related to my hobbies (uC programing, etc.) and I am not going to pay again for something that is still working. That XP machine is only for those purposes and will not be used to go on the Web. The network connected machine is under Linux and if I really need to run some XP SW, I can run it in VirtualBox. If it gets infected, I just wipe that out.

I will never go back to Windows personally. I really hate that when upgrading some non-essential software, it needs to reboot for God knows how many times and never mind it just gets slower and slower for each and every update. Unfortunately, my office still uses Windows and I pretty much swear whenever the cooperate IT department pushes down an update and when the Infection Virus Macfee runs its scan.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

At home my old desk top is XP. Going to keep it around and when it finally dies, i'm going Mac. Not because so and so about software but because I wanna try something else than microsoft. I'm forced on Vista on my laptop and that has probably destroyed any interest in trying any more MS products for the mean time :)<>

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

So, さすが (as expected) this thread has become a Mac verses Windoze debate. The simple facts are, Windows has not released a reliable OS since 2001, whereas, Apple has updated its OS every years for the last decade. Windows has virtually no back up support and truck loads of holes to fill with viruses. It still amazes me that people persist with antiquated and inadequate operating systems on their computers. I've used Macs for getting on 15 years and using Windoze computers is like going back to the Stone Age. Just give up on that crap and get with the future! Windoze is, and always has been, utter rubbish! Have you scanned for viruses today? Ha ha!

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Big businesses stick with Windows, not only because programs and peripheral devices they'd use are almost guaranteed coded for it, but also if there's an issue, they know there's someone they could go after (Microsoft support). With thousands of computers, they know it'd be bad business for MS not to support them.

Only for staff and personal computers for documents and email. You will not want to run any mission critical systems under Windows. To be honest, we just do not have faith in having Windows as a main system server. Maybe it is bias, but there must be a history of why people get to where they are now. Anyway, all the main servers of my company and many I worked before (spans across the globe) uses UNIX (AIX/Solaris/Tru64/TruCluster/HPUX) and even VMS. And, also zOS. Even I use Windows in the office, but I use that to connect back to the UNIX servers. Now, I see some Vendors send over their documents in format that are created by LibreOffice as well.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In USA, XP became obsolete when Window System came out. that was many years ago .

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

download Windows Upgrade Assistant to check whether your PC is applicable for Windows 8.1.

i did when W8 came out and was low price.

The UA said my PC could run W8

And of course, the M$ UA was wrong.

It installed W8 to the point just before first start of finished install and as it started, it then said the PC could NOT run W8 and then uninstalled and reverted the PC back to XP. I was just going to install W8 over the installed XP.

So i say "do not trust the UA program from M$." it is NOT right every time. Like M$. :)

W7 runs fine on that old PC of mine.

So i be upgrading to W7 on my other XP machine.

Now i wait for W9 to come out.

What will that be like ?

.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Window 7 based system could use XP created software or your program. However, the screen uses for just 1/4 of XP created programs. XP based program was Screen 9 and Window 7 used Screen 13. Better picture and more colors. QB 45 is upgraded for QB64, etc and we received free QB 64 language system. Then lap top boom came. Windopw 7 based lap tops all over in USA. Problem is that Microsoft create new versions too often,

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@genjuro

Thanks! Yeah I went VMWare install on XP and windows 7 for testing but the base system is Lubuntu. With Unity mode you can run windows programs while in linux without the need to reboot. You still have to install Windows like before but it's an image on the computer and grows like a file rather than taking up a partition.

I call this sandboxing, but there may be another term for it.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I am an Apple user, thus I think there's some misinformation in the above posts. Apple just last week announced it had stopped sending security patches to Snow Leopard and down - which is very frustating, as SL is not that old. My MacBook is a 2008 model, I can't upgrade to Mountain Lion or Mavericks because of the microchip configuration. So, it's only 5 years old, it runs smoothly as if it is brand new. But I am aware I can't trust sensitive info thru my Mac anymore. Of course I will buy another MacBook, but I wish it was a decision based on my love for Apple gadgets, not because of security issues.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I'm astonished by some of the responses. I'm an independent media professional and my career is run on my 5 year old bto PC desktop, which I use for anything and everything, including video production and photo editing.

It's a tower configuration and ran on 14-year-old XP until last month! No serious problems at all, no security issues, either. Upgrading the RAM, OS, HDD etc. was cheap and a breeze, as I did them all myself with nothing more than a screwdriver and a few thousand yen in costs.

Now my Mac using collaborators and colleagues....that's another story all together! Their software-hardware budgets are easily double mine and they have had quite a few hardware failures, especially the iMac, which seems to overheat and melt in the Japanese summers. Its sealed up and requires professional "Mac Care," apparently.

If those Mac users have any advantage over me, I have yet to determine what that might be.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Now my Mac using collaborators and colleagues....that's another story all together! Their software-hardware budgets are easily double mine and they have had quite a few hardware failures, especially the iMac, which seems to overheat and melt in the Japanese summers. Its sealed up and requires professional "Mac Care," apparently.

If those Mac users have any advantage over me, I have yet to determine what that might be.

With all due respect, I never heard anything like this you wrote. Or are you fantasizing?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@lostinnagoya

You can install linux on a mac. If you're adventurous look for rEFInd Boot Manager.

Given that my 2005 and 2008 computers both use the latest linux software, and were bought second hand as well, (<$350 each) the cost of ownership is remarkable low compared to both windows and apple, but especially apple.

For the price of one macbook I could probably have more than half a dozen computers. It's unnecessary to play the hardware catchup game and still have highly capable systems.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

quite a few hardware failures, especially the iMac, which seems to overheat and melt in the Japanese summers

Never heard of this happening, certainly never experienced it. Quite the opposite; the frustration of wanting a new, top-of-the-line model and being unable to justify it on account of the current ancient mac refusing to die, or even go slow!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@sf2k: thanks for your suggestion. I, however, am not ready to change boats. Snow Leopard may not be receiving patches anymore, but it still great, reliable. And my whole personal and business life (and my partner's too) is based on sharing agendas/calendars/contacts etc, thru iCloud. I certainly wouldn't have the time to learn how to use Linux, I had a brief contact with it some years ago, loved it. But, I admit, I am highly dependent on OSX/iOS.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If you can upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows XP, do so. I consider Windows 7 to be the best version of Windows since Windows 2000 Professional--and Windows 7 is very well-supported by current hardware and software.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Yes, well sounds like you haven't used an iMac or owned one."

No, not owned but the people I work with and rely on do. 2 had their iMacs overheat during summer in recent years. One guy had to rush out to Yodobashi to buy an PowerBook to tide him over for an ongoing project. Ouch!

Anyway, this article is about upgrading from XP. Have you done that? I did it last month. In fact I'm using 8.1 right now and it's great. That's why I'm astounded by the negative comments from people, whom I assume have not done that, and thus arent strictly qualified to offer opinions about the subject. And no, preconceived notions don't count.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

lostrune2 Big business tend to not use Macs since Apple tend to stop support of older versions early and they can't afford to keep updating thousands of computers and programs just every few years. They can be quite tight-fisted with computer money. Heck, look how long they're sticking with WinXP - more than a decade! Can ya imagine Apple supporting an OSX version for that many years.

Totally incorrect.

Does not matter anyway, wherever they can BIG BUSINESS is actually moving away from old windows desktop machines to tablets like the iPad.

The move to tablets (iPads) in particular is happening everywhere, defence, airlines, education sector, government departments.

Not until tablets could run enterprise level software, most of which do not have apps equivalent. Our computers still handle the workload, while tablets are companion devices.

Big businesses stick with Windows, not only because programs and peripheral devices they'd use are almost guaranteed coded for it, but also if there's an issue, they know there's someone they could go after (Microsoft support). With thousands of computers, they know it'd be bad business for MS not to support them.

Only for staff and personal computers for documents and email. You will not want to run any mission critical systems under Windows. To be honest, we just do not have faith in having Windows as a main system server. Maybe it is bias, but there must be a history of why people get to where they are now. Anyway, all the main servers of my company and many I worked before (spans across the globe) uses UNIX (AIX/Solaris/Tru64/TruCluster/HPUX) and even VMS. And, also zOS. Even I use Windows in the office, but I use that to connect back to the UNIX servers.

Yeah, we also use UNIX and server OSes in the back end. But for the software applications run mainly on Windows on the client end.

I am an Apple user, thus I think there's some misinformation in the above posts. Apple just last week announced it had stopped sending security patches to Snow Leopard and down - which is very frustating, as SL is not that old. My MacBook is a 2008 model, I can't upgrade to Mountain Lion or Mavericks because of the microchip configuration. So, it's only 5 years old, it runs smoothly as if it is brand new.

Same we can't upgrade an old ~5-yr-old Mac too. Too bad because when we got it, it had high enough specs to last for years. But so much for good enough hardware when we can't upgrade the software. Apple is good in that they're early adopters of new technology, but the flipside of that makes them early droppers of old technology.

they have had quite a few hardware failures, especially the iMac, which seems to overheat and melt in the Japanese summers. Its sealed up and requires professional "Mac Care," apparently.

Apple wants users to go thru them for anything, including changing the battery on laptop.

really, straight off, the OS X is free compared with the price of an international copy of Windows?

It's not really "free" when the computer already costs hundreds of dollars extra. That software has already been paid off by those profits.

I certainly wouldn't have the time to learn how to use Linux, I had a brief contact with it some years ago, loved it.

It's no longer that difficult. Equivalent to learning from Windows to OSX. If one can do that, one can learn Linux.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I have to take windows side here. I've seen my techie friends throw away pay check after pay check upgrading their Mac stuff while I have been running the same windows computer for 4 years never spending a fine on it. We all do pretty much the same things online, I'm just a couple of thousand dollars less invested into Apple than they are . They love to throw their Mac talk in my face but it just looks silly when they are broke and I'm not.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@LostInNagoya

that's cool. The Mac hardware is excellent and as long as it lasts it should remain a great tool for you. If you ever end up with a limit on updates ( ex: A friend couldn't update his Illustrator because it wouldn't work on 10.6 ) it is possible to stretch it's usefulness with Linux. I admit Linux isn't for everyone but nor are expensive macs, so I figure it's a wash ;)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Who still uses windows!?

Most of the world.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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