Unfortunately, the official Windows support XP ended in April 2014: the operating system no longer receives regular updates and patches. However, if you still do not have Service Pack 3 installed, which combines older updates, now is the time to install it.
To update Windows XP to SP3, download the package from the official Microsoft website. Before installation, it is recommended to create backup copies of important files and disable the antivirus, just in case. After that, double click on the downloaded SP3 file to run it. Follow the installation wizard's instructions, and once completed, click Finish to restart your computer. Don't forget to turn on your antivirus later if you disabled it.
Unofficial Windows XP update
Advanced users have come up with a way to prolong receiving updates for Windows XP by editing the registry. This allows you to automatically install updates for the version of Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, which is based on Windows XP, but is intended for cash registers and ATMs. However, it is worth considering that such updates have not been tested directly on Windows XP, so it is impossible to guarantee their reliability 100%.
To use this update method, open Notepad and copy the following code into it:
- Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
- "Installed"=dword:00000001
Then select “Save” from the File menu. In the save window, select the “All files” option from the “File type” menu and assign any name to the new file suitable name with a .reg extension, for example “update.reg” (without quotes). Click the “Save” button, then find the saved file and double-click on it to automatically make the necessary changes to the registry. If you are prompted to confirm the operation, click Yes.
Unofficial Service Pack 4
In addition, an unofficial service pack 4 was recently released for Windows XP. It contains all the updates released by Microsoft since Service Pack 3, and also automatically makes the changes described above to the registry. You can download the package from Softpedia.com. It is installed in exactly the same way as SP3. But, of course, you need to remember that this is an unofficial update, so it cannot be guaranteed to work properly. However, after the end of official support, this is one of the few remaining ways to update your Windows XP system.
On April 8, 2014, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows XP. This means that computers running this OS no longer receive automatic updates, leaving the system vulnerable to attack if critical vulnerabilities are discovered. As the only recommendation, Microsoft suggests updating to modern Windows versions, but in practice this is not always possible. Somewhere, old hardware is still used, some do not want or cannot spend money on new licenses, some do not recognize new systems on principle. In the end, I myself was recently convinced that it is too early to write off Windows XP. Be that as it may, there is tricky way, which Windows XP users can still receive updates despite the end of official support.There is a special version of Windows XP - Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, which is based on the most common Windows XP Service Pack 3. Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 runs numerous terminals, ATMs, information stands, self-service systems, payment kiosks and other similar devices. But the main beauty is that support for Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 will last until April 9, 2019, that is, updates will also be released until this date. I myself have encountered Windows Embedded POSReady many times at work, moreover as a software developer, and during all this time I have not found any fundamental differences from Windows XP. Therefore, if you install updates designed for POSReady on Windows XP, there will be no problems. Of course, updates will not be installed on your computer just like that; to do this, you will have to disguise your Windows XP as operating system for terminals.
Cunning Germans on one of the forums found a very simple way through which the system will be identified not as Windows XP, but as Windows Embedded POSReady 2009. It all comes down to the fact that you only need to add one key to the registry:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
"Installed"=dword:00000001
Save the above code in a file with any name and extension.reg, then double-click on it and add changes to the registry. You can download the finished reg file from the link below:
WinXP.to.POSReady.zip (245 bytes)
After making changes, you need to restart your computer. Now you can start the service Windows Update, and if everything is done correctly, then with the first check several dozen updates will become available. They are marked as updates for WEPOS and POSReady 2009, so they should be.
This way, XP users will be able to receive updates over the coming years, unless, of course, Microsoft somehow blocks this feature. The official reaction of Microsoft representatives to the possibility of updating Windows XP after the end of support is interesting:
We recently became aware of a hack that will supposedly allow Windows XP users to receive security updates. These security updates that may be installed are for Windows Embedded and Windows Server 2003 and do not fully protect Windows XP. Windows users XP is still putting their machines at serious risk by installing these updates that have not been tested for Windows XP. The best way protect your systems by updating to more new version eg before Windows 7 or Windows 8.1
I repeat, I am familiar with Windows Embedded POSReady first-hand and have no idea what other “testing” is required for updates on Windows XP. This statement is nothing more than a veiled disclaimer of responsibility.
What could be the consequences of such a change in the system? From the technical side - nothing. As a last resort, you can delete the key from the registry, restart the computer, and the system will again turn into the most common Windows XP. But from the legal side, you are flagrantly violating the license. If on home computers such nonsense can be ignored, then on work machines, if checked, unnecessary questions may arise.
Support for Windows XP ended in April 2014, however, many users still actively use this version of the operating system. It may be needed for test runs of applications and games, or simply due to human habit. In order for such a relatively old system to run all modern games and applications, you need to update it promptly. In this article, you will learn what you need to do to update Windows XP, support for which has long been discontinued.
How to set up automatic updates for Windows XP
As it turned out, Windows XP continues to live to this day in a special version of the OS called “Windows OS Embedded POS Ready 2009”. This is software for terminals and some devices. Its support continues to this day, so you can use a little trick and trick the system by installing updates for a different OS version.
To start setting up, you need to create an empty text file in a specific format.
Go to the Start panel and find Notepad in your preferred way. It is located in the “Service” section, or can be found through the search bar.
Save the current document immediately, do not write or change anything in it.
On the second line, change the file type to “All files”. Click “Save” to finish creating the document.
Now find the created file in the folder where you saved it. Click on it right click mouse and select “Change”.
Now you need to paste the code into this file. Please note that you must first save an empty document, only then enter lines of code into it, otherwise the operation may not start.
Make the following changes to the document:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
"Installed"=dword:00000001
All you have to do is copy and paste them.
Save all changes. Double click on this executable file with your mouse. The computer may restart on its own. If it didn't, then reboot.
Now your system will be updated like a working modification of Windows XP.
To configure updates, go to Start again and select the “Control Panel” line.
This is where you need Windows Update. Click on the title to enter.
If on this moment If you have updates waiting to be installed, this will be displayed as an “Install updates” button. Clicking on it will begin the update process followed by a reboot. Windows XP will now perform these updates on a schedule.
If you want to change this, go to the “Settings” panel, which is located on the left side of the window. In this section, you can configure the frequency of updates, or select a completely manual mode. Customize all settings to suit your personal comfort.
There is nothing else you need to do, this support for Windows XP will last until 2019, after which it will also cease to be supported.
How to download Windows XP updates manually
If you don't want to install the whole package yourself automatic updates for modifications, you can download updates directly from the Microsoft website, however, you need to know the name of the update in advance in order to download it.
Go to the website https://www.microsoft.com and enter the name in the special field in the middle of the site. Click “Download” and the full package will be downloaded immediately.
This method takes longer, but does not require any tricks from the user: just download the file and run it.
More than 2 years have already passed since Microsoft company stopped releasing updates for the legendary version of the operating system Windows systems XP. However, to this day it is used by many office workers and owners of weaker PCs. And everything would be fine, but these users are deprived of the opportunity to receive bug fixes, improvements in system performance and security.
However, as it turned out, Microsoft will be releasing updates for Windows XP even before 2019. However, only government agencies, banks and other services can receive these updates. They have Windows XP Service Pack 3 installed and the necessary changes have been made in the Registry Editor. How can you update Windows XP for free and improve the performance of your own PC?
Updating Windows XP Service Pack 3
You can update Windows XP only if you have Service Pack 3 installed and a 32-bit operating system. You can check this data by right-clicking on the “My Computer” icon and selecting “Properties”.
A window will open with information about the Windows XP system.
If your system meets the above requirements, you should follow these steps. Open Notepad and copy the following text into it:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
“Installed”=dword:00000001
We save the file with any name, the main thing is that its extension is reg. Set the file type to “All files”.
After that, run the file and agree to make changes to the registry. Reboot the PC. The Windows XP operating system will begin receiving updates. However, it is worth warning that operations with the Registry Editor are quite complex, so before performing these steps, you should do backup copy systems.
Any product produced on the modern market software, one way or another, contains unprotected areas called holes. Over time, these “holes” are improved and to eliminate them, the manufacturer releases “patches” that are combined into updates called service packs. Then the developers recommend that users install the latest service packs so that the user receives the most secure and modified version of the purchased product. This article will tell you how to XP and become the owner of the most advanced version of this operating system.
Every advanced user is inclined to believe that it is much easier to update already installed program rather than completely removing it and reinstalling it again. Developers most often agree with this, trying to make life as easy as possible for the owners of existing software. Nowadays, almost every PC owner knows how to update Windows XP while maintaining all the programs and files installed on the computer. But this information is worth repeating for novice users and those who have previously interacted with a computer firsthand.
How to update Windows XP while maintaining the usual OS settings, programs, games and other files installed on the computer? To do this, it will be enough to enable the system function. For this purpose, Microsoft, which is the creator of the Windows family of operating systems, has created a whole series of programs called Update Center. This service is available to owners of all computers running the OS Windows various versions. The only one prerequisite To receive updates through this service, you need to connect your computer to the Internet. If the PC has constant access to the Internet, then the user just needs to enable it in the update settings. This is done using the “Start” menu, from which the “System” section is launched from the “Properties” item, in which you need to select the option to download the latest packages from the “Center” Windows updates».
If the computer does not have permanent access to the Internet or download latest updates is impossible for a number of other reasons (slow or unstable Internet channel, high cost of traffic, etc.), then you can install the latest updates, or, more simply put, install all Windows XP updates in manual mode. There are two ways to do this.
For the first, you need to look at its version in the properties of the installed operating system and download all the missing ones from the official website (microsoft.com) software products. For example, if your PC has Windows XP with a second service pack, then you need to download the third update package and start installing it by running the setup.exe file. Next, the operating system will be updated without the user’s help, but we should not forget that all data saved on the desktop and drive C may be lost. Therefore, before upgrading Windows XP, you need to save all the necessary user data from the desktop to removable media or any other HDD.
The second installation method is that you need to purchase a boot CD with the latest version of the operating system and place it in Computer CD-rom. After this, you should restart the PC or run the installation manually from the disk. How to update Windows XP from a specific one is usually described in detail in the instructions that come with it. If you don’t have such instructions in printed form at hand, most likely it can be found in electronic form on the media itself - most often the file describing the installation is called “readme”.
It should not be forgotten that at the moment latest versions Windows XP updates are contained in a package called Service Pack 3. If specifications computers allow you to do this, you can upgrade this operating system to a more new Windows Vista, but PC performance may noticeably decrease.
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