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If it is dead, no longer sold, no source-code, not supported- then you NEEDED to upgrade. Anyone who hasn't should not be allowed to administer a network. That includes the idiots in the government that also said that upgrading "wasn't required".
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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I do not agree, there are many situations where this is not possible.
for example: companies that have machines dedicated to specific tasks with specific hardware windows xp and in these cases an upgrade involves changing the hardware of the machine, new drivers ... the price is too high to upgrade and certain machines can pass $ 100,000 or more per machine.
A real example set in the company where I work, we still have machines running Windows 98, they only communicate via RS232. They are fast and working smoothly, maintenance is minimal and inexpensive, an upgrade in this case is a waste of money since it costs almost as much as buying a new one. The company has the top technology but in certain situations it is not profitable.
I just agree to domestic users and even then there are still cases that this is a waste of money.
NKS
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I would move to at least Win 7 personally. There are lots of nice little usability features that make Win 7 a bit easier to deal with than XP. For me personally the window snapping features in 7 and 8 are a must have anymore.
If your machines are not capable to run 7 there is a chance they may be able to run 8. The upcoming updates to 8 are *supposedly* going to make it nicer for desktop users.
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If you are using "cost" as a reason not to upgrade, here's a small "fact".
It would not cost "$500" per PC to upgrade.
Just this week I was doing some research for a relative who was looking to "upgrade".
Without too much difficulty I found refurbished PC's: 2GB RAM; 80GB hard drive; 2.4 GHz processor; with Windows 7 installed; for $99. (I would just add the other PC's hard drive as drive "D" to save on "conversion costs" .... a 5 minute job).
(I personally own a "refurb" that I bought in 2004 and is still running .... XP ... that I use for version testing).
Now, if you just wanted a copy of Windows 7, the price is about the same!
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You obviously have a simple system!
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You obviously have not seen my "system".
You're confusing a single "computer" and OS with the peripherals, network, and "other" servers and clients.
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Yes, I am "confusing" the computer with an operating entity. If the computer doesn't work, neither does the entity.
Glad your life is so simple!
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Quote: Without too much difficulty I found refurbished PC's: 2GB RAM; 80GB hard drive; 2.4 GHz processor; with Windows 7 installed; for $99. (I would just add the other PC's hard drive as drive "D" to save on "conversion costs" .... a 5 minute job).
dude! that is not an upgrade today, if that hardware fails in a year your friend can hava a bad day trying to get parts...
also, a pc with that spects (used) will cost like 200 USD due import taxes, plus antivirus, office and your compant software, that will require time and money!!!
but I agree that options exist... some recomend to move to linux or like... (I don't the time that will require just to teach the users will cost more that just buying new windows pcs... Time is money!)
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Quote: Without too much difficulty I found refurbished PC's: 2GB RAM; 80GB hard drive; 2.4 GHz processor; with Windows 7 installed; for $99. (I would just add the other PC's hard drive as drive "D" to save on "conversion costs" .... a 5 minute job).
dude! that is not an upgrade today, if that hardware fails in a year your friend can hava a bad day trying to get parts...
also, a pc with that spects (used) will cost like 200 USD due import taxes, plus antivirus, office and your compant software, that will require time and money!!!
but I agree that options exist... some recomend to move to linux or like... (I don't, the time that will require just to teach the users will cost more that just buying new windows pcs... Time is money!)
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Well said!
In our case it isn't Win 7 or Win 8 that is costly. It IS all the hardware we have to change out because the new versions of Windows don't have drivers for the equipment. $100 for Win 7 or 8 AND $10,000 for equipment. NOT a good business case!! Sorry, not going to happen in the foreseeable future!
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If Win 7 and 8 "don't have the drivers", then you can install them yourself. You can retrieve them from your "other" OS if you don't have the distribution media.
And while Win 7 and 8 will upgrade any drivers it does have (possibly to an incompatible level), if you first install the older drivers and then "roll them back" when they are upgraded, then you are back in business.
I thought this was "obvious".
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If this is so obvious please find us some 64 bit drivers for our Mitsubichi Dye Sub printers... And while you're at it how about some drivers for our photo processing equipment, circa 1995 MSDOS drivers which run nicely under Win XP.
We have the latest version of the Win XP drivers and the install media. They won't even install on Win 7 or 8.1!
Alternatively, you could just send us the $$$'s to buy the latest printers and peripheral equipment.
Glad it is so "obvious" to you...
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If you can't get the drivers to run natively, then run a virtual machine.
I think you've about run out of excuses.
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Why would anyone go to the bother of upgrading all their equipment to Win 7 or Win 8 to simply install a Win XP virtual machine and run it when we already have the hardware up and running Win XP.
What a stupid, computer geek idea! Have you EVER run a profitable company!?
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You said your "XP drivers" won't install under Win 7 / 8.
I said they would with a VM. Period.
Your rant was not relevant since I did not say you should upgrade.
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In hockey they refer to your response as a "deke". Nice try...
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Don't follow hockey much ... too many goons.
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nop, there are a lot of old good hardware that is not supported in new Windows versions... (a lot of industrial specialiced hardware!!!)
you can blame the manufacturer of the hardware for not upgrading the drivers but it's the same case of winXP not being supported anymore, the manufacturer want's you to buy the new hardware without reason, your old hardware still productive!!!
(you can't imgine how productive are those old Matrix Printers, you can also use Carbon paper!!!!)
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I am staying with XP even at home for 3 reasons. First, cost of upgrading the hardware: Laptop requires at least another gig of RAM; desktop 1, 2 gigs or more; desktop 2 new CPU and so forth. Second, I have consulting clients who are running applications written using Visual Studio 2003. Neither Win 7 nor 8 will allow the installation of VS 2003. Upgrading several hundred thousand lines of VS2003, even to VS2010, is not a trivial undertaking. A third reason is common to many users: older peripheral devices for which there are probably no new drivers, for example: scanner, plotter, CNC machines, and various pieces of RS232 laboratory equipment.
Charles Wolfe
C. Wolfe Software Engineering
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A tip:
I use to have your same issue with VS 2005 and 2008 for windows mobile development... if you need to install it on a win7 pc, first intall Win XP mode (it's a legal WinXP SP3 image), then you can run XP in Virtual machine or run the application in XP mode. I know, it's a little stupid to lose resources runing a virtual machine but at least your will be able to run Visual Studio. (that PC must be 8GB ram or more for better performance)
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Thanks for the information. When I manage to upgrade the hardware, I'll give it a try.
Charles Wolfe
C. Wolfe Software Engineering
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Huh? I read that there is a large industry shipping barrels from the U.S. to Jamaica but I am curious if the reverse is also easily possible. There are some things that I would like to, um, import. (Legal, I just wrote it like that for fun) Any one live there and know if that is a service? All the Google-Fu is for U.S. to Jamaica not the reverse and I don't want to actually pick up the phone and call someone!
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Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote: pick up the phone and call someone
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair.
Those who seek perfection will only find imperfection
nils illegitimus carborundum
me, me, me
me, in pictures
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Hey this is the Internet age, asking questions in forums is so much easier!
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Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote: Hey this is the Internet age
If it makes you feel better you could use an IP phone or a softphone.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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