Monday, June 23, 2014

Microsoft Warns XP Users Against Installing Update Hacks

We all know that Microsoft has stopped supporting Windows XP, and they are no longer releasing any security patches for this completely outdated operating system. However, some XP users have found ingenious ways of installing the latest Microsoft security updates in their unsupported OS.

Installing Windows Embedded OS and Windows Server 2003 updates in XP

Some clever XP users have figured out a way to install a hack in the XP OS, and make some changes in the Windows XP OS registry database. And, this, it seems, will be enough to convince the Windows Updater application that you are using Windows Embedded OS, or Windows Server 2003. You can then easily install the latest security updates available for these operating systems, without any compatibility issues.

This hack involves using the security updates for the Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 version. This is an embedded OS designed for point-of-sale equipments and other peripheral devices used in the industry. Now clearly, your Windows XP OS is not the same as Windows Embedded OS. So, installing the security updates intended for the Embedded OS in Windows XP might not be a good idea.

The Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 version will receive tech support for five more years, until 2019. But, Microsoft has already realised what is going on, and issued warnings to the XP users not to meddle with the OS registry, and install the security updates not intended for the XP OS.

According to Microsoft, installing such security updates clearly not designed for the XP OS might result in OS problems. XP users are instead urged to upgrade to any of the latest Windows operating systems that still receives tech support.

Upgrade to Windows 7 or Windows 8?

There is no need to make any Windows 7 vs Windows 8 comparisons before you upgrade from Windows XP. Windows 8 is clearly superior to the Windows 7 operating system. Microsoft has fixed most of the Windows 8 problems in their latest Windows 8.1 OS update.

If you make a Windows 7 vs Windows 8 comparison, you will realise that Windows 8 has better security features, more cloud support functions, more cool apps, and so on. Plus, the hardware requirements for both these operating systems are pretty much the same.

So, instead of installing these hack updates in your old XP OS, upgrade to the latest Windows 8 OS.

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