I used Windows XP as a daily driver for a month in 2024, AMA

[theuae]

What specs did the PC you were using have?
I use XP for games on my Pentium III tower sometimes dualbooted with OpenBSD (for online stuff)

 

[duwen]

Have you caught a virus yet?

Yeah... no way on earth I'd connect XP to the net these days. I use several XP machines daily at work (due to specific hardware requirements), and I'd get sacked if I ever let any of them connect to the net!

 

[ciro64]

I have an old laptop with Windows XP alongside Linux. I use it mostly for XP era gaming and nostalgia. I also used it to accurately compile an old game from source using an ancient version of Visual Studio.

Browsing the internet (almost) properly works now, but a few months ago you had to choose between using browser with outdated HTML5 specs (sites would break very easily) and weird obscure closed source chromium forks with malware. We have an open source up-to-date working fork now, but still expect certain slow downs since it's still windows XP running the modern web.

Remember when a few UI elements or program randomly freezes, and in the meantime you can drag the window across the screen to stamp it all over? Yep, that still happens.

Be ready to search for the last XP-compatible version of everything. At least you will still have some version of GIMP, Notepad++, some torrent program I don't remember the name and Blender 2.7.

Watching videos just work. At least it did with my Cardcaptor Sakura 720p rips. I don't remember if I used VLC or mpc-hc.

Installing drivers after installing the Windows XP itself may be a headache, as the official providers may no longer provide them. I think I was able to use a site where you could search for compatible drivers without having to download these cursed automatic driver installers. Pray to god that you never have to resort to them.

Oh yeah, that fear of running closed source software on a 20+ old vulnerable system? It's gonna haunt you all the way lol. By the way don't use ImgBurn kids, it has malware.

Fraps works like a charm. It's way simpler and more efficient to use when just recording games as opposed to OBS studio. Also, unlike OBS (the last time I checked), it even allows recording stuff with a custom high fps value such as 90, and if the game you're playing draws the screen at that interval, it will keep up, regardless if your monitor refresh rate can't.

Modern gamepads or controller adapters won't work.

Nothing even remotely up to date from the open source world will work. Be ready to search for that outdated version of MinGW, especially if you want 32-bit compatibility. Did I mention lots of things won't connect to the internet due to a certificate problem I never managed to fix?

At least SDL2 still works. That's because it's the only truly sacred thing in this world.

 

[StrayGuitarist]

Was this particular thinkpad capable of running a 64-bit version of XP, and if so, did you use one?

 

[mrgone]

if my xp pc wouldn't have died in 2018, i would still use it today.

 

[Lostbhoy]

Lmao... Most ATMs at least here in the UK still run on XP

 

[Delerious]

Honestly, lack of security and modern DirectX features aside, Windows XP is still a pretty great OS. I use it pretty regularly on one of my retro machines. Granted, I don't have it connected to the internet, and it's certainly not being used as a daily driver. I have mine linked to a shared NAS. VLC is still compatible, so I can watch most video formats. And since I have a GTX 260 with S-Video, I can watch old movies and shows, and emulate old games on my CRT TV, which, to me, is extremely valuable to have. It's a sad reminder that current video cards lack any sort of analog out. Being able to play older PC games without the need for compatibility modes, registry edits and 3rd party tools is a nice thing to have, as well.

Obviously, I don't think I ever would use Windows XP as my daily driver nowadays, more so because of the lack of security, modern features, and support for newer software. But it's definitely a nice OS to revisit, especially if you still have plenty of things you can do on it. Heck, I still do most of my spreadsheets and documents on it, since Office 2010 pretty much has all the features I require. And I sure as hell don't want to be giving Microsoft more money and telemetry than I need to.

 

[theuae]

Heck, I still do most of my spreadsheets and documents on it, since Office 2010 pretty much has all the features I require.

I used to use Office 97 on my Windows 7 PC before I switched to using Linux and LibreOffice

 

[Delerious]

I used to use Office 97 on my Windows 7 PC before I switched to using Linux and LibreOffice

Realistically, I should be using my main computer to make documents and spreadsheets. But The way my screens are setup in the vicinity of my desk area just makes it more ideal for me to do it on my XP system, since my main computer's 2nd display is to my right, and my CRT TV is to my left. So I can always have what I'm researching to my right, and something good to watch on my left.