AfterDawn: News

405 million users still running aged Windows XP operating system

Microsoft may have finally turned a corner in its ongoing efforts to move users away from the aged Windows XP operating system.

While most market research firms show Windows XP as still controlling 33 percent (or higher) of the OS market, Microsoft's own figures have that number lower, at about 27 percent.



According to Paul Thurrott, this means there are still 405 million XP users around the globe, good for the second most of any operating system, behind Windows 7.

The operating system will be retired on April 8th, 2014, and Microsoft says it hopes only 13 percent of users will stick with the OS past the support date.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Sep 2013 13:35

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• 28 comments

• rulisky

  XP is like an old, trusted Friend. Still does some things that Win 7 does not do. I have separate machines for those instances. You could dual boot. Even after XP support is dropped, I will not abandon my Friend.

  29.9.2013 16:03 #1

• A5J4DX

  wow
  

  29.9.2013 17:38 #2

• ZippyDSM

  If I can't run it on win7 then I will run it on win98.
  

  Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
  
  ---
  Check out my crappy creations
  http://zippydsmlee.deviantart.com/

  29.9.2013 20:09 #3

• Kannz

  XP and windoze 7 and a thumbdrive with puppylinux for when one of them screws itself up. what is the point is using win98 overxp other than size? like the blue/black color backgrounds? :/
  

  29.9.2013 20:56 #4

• ddp

  i had to setup a single core cpu computer for a customer with win98 last year because his flight games wouldn't work on a quad core amd cpu with vista nor xp.
  

  29.9.2013 23:11 #5

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by ddp: i had to setup a single core cpu computer for a customer with win98 last year because his flight games wouldn't work on a quad core amd cpu with vista nor xp. Have you tried the 3D/D3D hacks to get Win98 3D support in a virtual machine?
  

  Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
  
  ---
  Check out my crappy creations
  http://zippydsmlee.deviantart.com/

  29.9.2013 23:31 #6

• ddp

  no as i think the problem would be the amd quad core motherboard drivers for win98, they don't exist. the win98 computer does what he wants & still has the quad core computer using xp for newer games.
  

  29.9.2013 23:38 #7

• joebloe12

  Well people can do what they want, but I LOVE Win 7, it plays even some DOS games way better than xp ever did.
  
  Win 7 for me.

  30.9.2013 00:42 #8

• xnonsuchx

  It's just too bad you have to find third party tools/tweaks to get later versions of Windows to do some things as well as XP does...and remove some of the annoyances.

  30.9.2013 02:12 #9

• locobrown

  I have had Vista bundled PCs and have downgraded in the past. Partitioned with various operating systems. I have XP as the primary, Linux - Ubuntu, Windows 98, and Windows 2000. I never gave Vista a go and I haven't upgraded to 7 yet. As of now for my needs these are the only operating systems that I need. If i want power and performance i have Linux. Linux is the OS of choice for me of future because its open source, for it does not have the security flaws and back-doors that 8 has.

  30.9.2013 02:24 #10

• jjmehm

  I work in computer repair, and I'm always shocked when people bring in xp machines with 128megs of ram and whatnot.

  30.9.2013 12:48 #11

• hearme0

  Originally posted by rulisky: XP is like an old, trusted Friend. Still does some things that Win 7 does not do. I have separate machines for those instances. You could dual boot. Even after XP support is dropped, I will not abandon my Friend. NONSENSE!!!
  
  Name two (2) things that can be done on XP but not on Win 7.
  
  And don't spit out proprietary programs that ONLY YOU use that your friends coded for you.
  
  XP is slow, dead, less responsive, less stable and antiquated regarding EVERY process that fires up.
  
  For all those holding on with the stupid reasoning of "like an old trusted friend", the same mentality could be argued for a Commodore or an Apple 2e

  30.9.2013 15:24 #12

• Mrguss

  I never need any XP, Vista or W7 "Support" from $M.
  My PC's will stay with their own OS. Running those unique programs & doing what it do best.
  

  +5000

  30.9.2013 15:47 #13

• rulisky

  Originally posted by hearme0: Originally posted by rulisky: XP is like an old, trusted Friend. Still does some things that Win 7 does not do. I have separate machines for those instances. You could dual boot. Even after XP support is dropped, I will not abandon my Friend. NONSENSE!!!
  
  Name two (2) things that can be done on XP but not on Win 7.
  
  And don't spit out proprietary programs that ONLY YOU use that your friends coded for you.
  
  XP is slow, dead, less responsive, less stable and antiquated regarding EVERY process that fires up.
  
  For all those holding on with the stupid reasoning of "like an old trusted friend", the same mentality could be argued for a Commodore or an Apple 2e OK:
  
  Number 1 -- My wife uses an old, publishing program called Print Master Gold. Yes it IS old. Does NOT run on Win 7. You may say try a Newer version, but it (newer version) is way too confusing to use and it does nothing better than the old version anyway.
  
  Number 2 -- Various PC games that are NOT supported by Win 7.
  
  The reasoning is not stupid. You might note that I mentioned that I do use BOTH Win 7 and XP (as appropriate). Maybe you were too blinded by your indignation to see that.

  30.9.2013 15:48 #14

• hearme0

  Originally posted by rulisky: Originally posted by hearme0: Originally posted by rulisky: XP is like an old, trusted Friend. Still does some things that Win 7 does not do. I have separate machines for those instances. You could dual boot. Even after XP support is dropped, I will not abandon my Friend. NONSENSE!!!
  
  Name two (2) things that can be done on XP but not on Win 7.
  
  And don't spit out proprietary programs that ONLY YOU use that your friends coded for you.
  
  XP is slow, dead, less responsive, less stable and antiquated regarding EVERY process that fires up.
  
  For all those holding on with the stupid reasoning of "like an old trusted friend", the same mentality could be argued for a Commodore or an Apple 2e OK:
  
  Number 1 -- My wife uses an old, publishing program called Print Master Gold. Yes it IS old. Does NOT run on Win 7. You may say try a Newer version, but it (newer version) is way too confusing to use and it does nothing better than the old version anyway.
  
  Number 2 -- Various PC games that are NOT supported by Win 7.
  
  The reasoning is not stupid. You might note that I mentioned that I do use BOTH Win 7 and XP (as appropriate). Maybe you were too blinded by your indignation to see that. Indignation?? No.......intolerance of ridiculous incompetence usually.
  
  Print Master Gold I could make work on 7. Just gotta know what you're doing. I will do for you for hourly fee and trip charge.......HA!! It's also available for a measley 10.99 on Amazon.........NEW VERSION it seems to so there goes your reasoning for keeping XP and using Print Master Gold as an excuse not to stay technologically current. Even the OLD version claims interoperability with Vista and therefore likely with 7.
  
  And various games????????????? Like what?? Run them on Sandbox or virtual PC or -- better yet -- try newer, more current games or run in XP mode or virtual PC.
  
  The lame excuses for staying with XP other than "not caring about the PC enough to upgrade or being broke at the time" are moot and illegit.

  30.9.2013 16:32 #15

• SProdigy

  XP is a dog that should be put out of it's misery. It was once a good friend, but the time has come... so tired of supporting IE6/7/8 for websites!

  30.9.2013 16:37 #16

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by hearme0: Originally posted by rulisky: Originally posted by hearme0: Originally posted by rulisky: XP is like an old, trusted Friend. Still does some things that Win 7 does not do. I have separate machines for those instances. You could dual boot. Even after XP support is dropped, I will not abandon my Friend. NONSENSE!!!
  
  Name two (2) things that can be done on XP but not on Win 7.
  
  And don't spit out proprietary programs that ONLY YOU use that your friends coded for you.
  
  XP is slow, dead, less responsive, less stable and antiquated regarding EVERY process that fires up.
  
  For all those holding on with the stupid reasoning of "like an old trusted friend", the same mentality could be argued for a Commodore or an Apple 2e OK:
  
  Number 1 -- My wife uses an old, publishing program called Print Master Gold. Yes it IS old. Does NOT run on Win 7. You may say try a Newer version, but it (newer version) is way too confusing to use and it does nothing better than the old version anyway.
  
  Number 2 -- Various PC games that are NOT supported by Win 7.
  
  The reasoning is not stupid. You might note that I mentioned that I do use BOTH Win 7 and XP (as appropriate). Maybe you were too blinded by your indignation to see that. Indignation?? No.......intolerance of ridiculous incompetence usually.
  
  Print Master Gold I could make work on 7. Just gotta know what you're doing. I will do for you for hourly fee and trip charge.......HA!! It's also available for a measley 10.99 on Amazon.........NEW VERSION it seems to so there goes your reasoning for keeping XP and using Print Master Gold as an excuse not to stay technologically current. Even the OLD version claims interoperability with Vista and therefore likely with 7.
  
  And various games????????????? Like what?? Run them on Sandbox or virtual PC or -- better yet -- try newer, more current games or run in XP mode or virtual PC.
  
  The lame excuses for staying with XP other than "not caring about the PC enough to upgrade or being broke at the time" are moot and illegit. Mech Warroir 2 in D3D mode unless you have platinum edition and I think dose not work either.
  

  Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
  
  ---
  Check out my crappy creations
  http://zippydsmlee.deviantart.com/

  30.9.2013 17:19 #17

• rulisky

  Guess you all STILL did not hear me.
  
  I do have Windows 7 system. Quad core and ram to boot.
  
  Still use XP when I feel necessary and comfortable. You will not change my opinion.

  30.9.2013 18:14 #18

• ddp

  hearme0, watch the attitude or will be a longer temp ban than last time!!
  

  30.9.2013 18:52 #19

• djlayne

  I am running xp pro on my older pc I built, did the Microsoft compatibility with windows 7, failed. I am stuck with xp unless I get a new pc. Something to do with the 3.4, and older motherboard.
  Its still fast enough for me, and will keep using it until it dies!

  30.9.2013 20:45 #20

• ddp

  djlayne, what is the specs on your pc as might be xp can't be upgraded to win7 but pc can with fresh install of win7.
  

  30.9.2013 20:57 #21

• nintenut

  I can no longer bring myself to believe Hearme0 an actual person.
  Trolling's hard work, my friend; the game's over when you overplay your hand.
  
  As for the discussion at hand: Some games just run better in XP than in 7, and why bother with VirtualBox when I can dualboot and run the old stuff natively?
  

  
  

  1.10.2013 19:35 #22

• GrandpaBW

  Originally posted by hearme0:
  
  Indignation?? No.......intolerance of ridiculous incompetence usually.
  
  Print Master Gold I could make work on 7. Just gotta know what you're doing. I will do for you for hourly fee and trip charge.......HA!! It's also available for a measley 10.99 on Amazon.........NEW VERSION it seems to so there goes your reasoning for keeping XP and using Print Master Gold as an excuse not to stay technologically current. Even the OLD version claims interoperability with Vista and therefore likely with 7.
  
  And various games????????????? Like what?? Run them on Sandbox or virtual PC or -- better yet -- try newer, more current games or run in XP mode or virtual PC.
  
  The lame excuses for staying with XP other than "not caring about the PC enough to upgrade or being broke at the time" are moot and illegit. I have a Win7 machine, but I still use my XP machine for most money making work, because my AutoCad works just fine on it, and I can share my files with my clients.
  
  The new version of AutoCad that I need, for use with Windows 7, is over $7,000 US. Moot and illegitimate? There are 400 million of us out here. LOL!
  
  Really, hermea0, this isn't your first idiotic post. It is just one of many.
  

  Life is good!
  GrandpaBruce - Vietnam Vet - 1970 - 1971
  Computer: Intel Core i7-920 Nehalim;Asus P6T Deluxe V2

  1.10.2013 23:39 #23

• aldan

  looks like your "bedside manner"has struck again hearme0.i got a hunch you will be spouting the same dreck about windows 7 in the not too distant future.
  

  2.10.2013 01:47 #24

• xboxdvl2

  i know a few people that still use windows xp they havnt upgraded the pc in 5 or so years and only use it for basic stuff.pentium 4 running xp instead of windows 7 would probably run better.
  
  windows 7 runs fine on quad cores i know i have 1.everything works fine most the time,havnt had any issues with games did have a few issues with program requiring admin permissions.took me couple of weeks to get use to windows 7 but its easy and simple to use.
  

  i have the big screen tv,a ps3 and 5.1 channel surround sound.car still runs smooth and computer still works but its a bit outdated.

  2.10.2013 05:23 #25

• ddp

  as the saying goes "if it ain't broke than why fix it".
  

  2.10.2013 12:54 #26

• SProdigy

  Originally posted by ddp: as the saying goes "if it ain't broke than why fix it". Should've told MS that about Win8!

  2.10.2013 13:22 #27

• Satviewer2000

  I run a small business and my 15 computers are still using XP. For those of us who actually have to consider the cost of things, upgrading all of the computer hardware, purchasing new OS licenses, buying new software just so they will work with the new OS, retraining all of the staff, etc, is very costly. So if we can still do what we need to do to run the business efficiently, why spend the money to upgrade?
  
  We don't need the "latest and greatest" OS or hardware to keep the business running. Upgrading everything and retraining the staff will not create a higher profit margin, actually the opposite. So for people who actually have to make a living, I will wait until XP can no longer be used before upgrading.

  2.10.2013 17:30 #28