Why do people still run WinXP systems

I finally got rid of my WinXP machine [kept parts that could be reused] but am retaining the Win7 Desktop. Just for reminiscing I've kept an old white Toshiba Satellite with MS-DOS 6 and Win3.1 that works good but the battery is dead and the side-mounted trackball fell apart.

As for why to keep the old ones and as mentioned, it's mostly in business in having machines that are not easily replaced like an X-Ray machine for our local veterinary clinic and programs that have no replacement available.

Here are the specs for the computers I mentioned in Post #6. The biggest limitation is their CPUs and chipsets. Both CPUs are AMD Athlon XP (Thoroughbred) ones. Both CPUs support SSE but not SSE2.

For a few years I had Windows 7 on Computer #1. Unfortunately, updates for Windows 7 starting in 2019 assumed the CPU supported SSE2. Since the CPU didn't the updates crashed.

Computer #1
Current Configuration:
MBD: ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe (Socket A)
CHP: NVIDIA NForce2 Ultra 400/MCP-T
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2800+ (2.25GHz)
RAM: Corsair XMS DDR 400 (2x1GB)
GPU: PNY Verto GeForce FX5900 (AGP)
FDD: 3-1/2 Floppy
DRV1: Seagate Barracuda (300GB) 3.5" HDD (SATA)
DRV2: Seagate Barracuda (300GB) 3.5" HDD (SATA)
OPT: Memorex DVD/RW 16X (PATA)
PWR: Antec TruePower TRUE550 (550 watts)
O/S: Windows XP Pro

Computer #2
MBD: ASUS A7V400-MX (Socket A)
CHP: VIA KM400A/VT8235 CE
CPU: Athlon XP2400+ (2.0GHz)
RAM: Super Talent DDR 333 500GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce4 ti4600 (AGP)
FDD: 3-1/2 Floppy
DRV1: Seagate Barracuda (300GB) 3.5" HDD (SATA)
DRV2: Western Digital Caviar (40GB) 3.5" HDD (PATA)
OPT: LITE ON CD/RW 52X (PATA)
PWR: Antec TruePower TP-II 430 (430 watts)
O/S: Windows XP Pro

I am using a Centrino platform atm an XP era Laptop, HP Compaq 8710w which is a dual core Centrino processor and has 4gb ddr2 800mhz.

I am using it on 10 atm, yeah its slow but it not that bad the worst part about it is the one hard drive and it ends up saturating to 100% disk for brief spurts every so often usually if i try to multi task to much but then it will die down. This is normal behavior pre HT and QPI because its stuck on the old FSB method.

If i can get a media card into it i can probably juggle this way and then it means i move some of the stress around. It can take a 32gb one i am pretty sure.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Review...ok.8625.0.html

I am only using this because its cold here now and i want to sit out by the heater. Its pretty good for just browsing and i can play some old games on it, playing Dungeon Siege 1 on it atm.

I like the style of these old core 2 era Laptops they are not to thin or to thick but they are rugged and they have a lot of connectors something which has been mimized over the years, we are hard pressed to see media readers and other multimedia functions on laptops now. The key beds also feel nice.

MisterEd said:

Here are the specs for the computers I mentioned in Post #6. The biggest limitation is their CPUs and chipsets. Both CPUs are AMD Athlon XP (Thoroughbred) ones. Both CPUs support SSE but not SSE2.

For a few years I had Windows 7 on Computer #1. Unfortunately, updates for Windows 7 starting in 2019 assumed the CPU supported SSE2. Since the CPU didn't the updates crashed.

haha nice, Athlon was a good era they were so good at the time.

Malneb said:

haha nice, Athlon was a good era they were so good at the time.

Yes, they were. My latest some years ago is an AMD Phenom II X4 965 with Win10 Pro. It's not in use now as I was given a Dell Precision with XEON CPU and 16GB RAM running Win10 Pro.

Malneb said:

haha nice, Athlon was a good era they were so good at the time.

When I first built Computer #1 I kind of went overboard on spending money on it. I spent almost $1000 US on just the motherboard, CPU, and RAM. The high cost was because I bought the CPU and motherboard when they were first released. Note I bought them from Newegg because it was the only seller that had this AMD CPU.

The ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard was either the first or one of the first to support dual-channel RAM. The people that previewed the motherboard said it was very picky about RAM. At the motherboard release there was no official recommended RAM so picked RAM that reviewers said worked with it.

Since dual-channel RAM support was so new nobody sold matched kits of RAM yet. Some sellers hand picked and tested pairs of RAM that worked with this motherboard. Eventually sellers started selling official kits of matched sets of RAM.

MBD: ASUS A7N8X Deluxe ($155)
CPU: Athlon XP 2800+ ($410)
RAM1: Corsair XMS CMX512-2700C2 DDR 333 512MB $189
RAM2: Corsair XMS CMX512-2700C2 DDR 333 512MB $189
Total: $943

TechnoMage said:

...
Y'all have a great Memorial Day,TM

Next Monday; May 27

x509 said:

In various threads, people mention that they are still running WinXP? I'm curious as to why?
Along those lines, I don't see other MS Windows versions mentioned. Never Win 3.1 or 95/98/ME.
Also not Win 8/8,1, although a lot of people are still running Win 7.

Pro 64, v 19045 (but not relevant for this thread )

TechnoMage said:

Old computers can be fun to fuss around with, for at least a few of us Auld Fahrts.
...NO, there's no practical purpose involved, just nostalgia and being able to see what I can still do, at 80.

I have seen and answered questions in Ten Forums about networking Windows 10 with Windows 95/98, and with Windows XP.

I do actually have a Win'95 laptop that's still in working condition and I have used to investigate/answer such questions, but its screen is failing now. Just in case there are any more 'Win'95 networking' questions I now have a VirtualBox Windows '95 VM I can put on my network - and (just for laughs/nostalgia) a Windows for Workgroups 3.11 one too. I also have XP/Win7/Win8.1/Linux Mint available as a Hyper-V VMs.

Mine:

garlin said:

As a medical-grade device -- replacing the PC or OS would require re-certification of the entire system, which is time consuming and expensive even if everything was off the shelf. So everyone leaves the old system in place.

But what happens when that old PC quits working?