Windows XP security updates until 2019!

[Qing Dao]

A lot of people run older Thinkpads that don't do so well with Windows 7 or 8 because they are too slow or are lacking drivers. Many who have run Windows XP are scared about the end of Microsoft support for XP. Some governments and large companies have pestered Microsoft about it and are paying millions of dollars for Microsoft to continue giving out security updates. Well, you can have those security updates for free.

This is all because there is a version of Windows XP that has continued security support until 2019. From Wikipedia:

Windows Embedded POSReady 2009
Based on Windows XP Service Pack 3, this version offers more features over Windows Embedded for Point of Service V1 such as Full Localization and XPF Support if .NET Framework 3.5 or higher installed. It is the first version of Windows Embedded that can use the Windows Update Agent to update an installed and deployed image. Mainstream support ended in April 2014 and extended support ends in April 2019.

You need to modify a registry value in order to make your operating system take these updates. It sounds scary, but it is very simple and only requires copying and pasting into notepad.

I can't take any credit for this. I just found it on another forum I frequent:
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/show ... until-2019

[RealBlackStuff]

Great find, thanks!
I'll give that a try on one of my old desktops with XP.
Had to laugh at this comment in your link: Sweet now i can turn my pc into a POS
[stress the POS]

[Neil]

Thanks for posting this, Qing Dao. I've been following the discussion since last year about a simple registry entry that would allow POSReady updates, but this is the first time I've actually seen what the registry entry needs to be.

I tried it on an old T43 that dual boots Xubuntu and XP (looks like I had not booted XP in almost two years), and just manually added the registry entry, and was soon presented with several POSReady security updates. Cool!

[pianowizard]

Some governments and large companies have pestered Microsoft about it and are paying millions of dollars for Microsoft to continue giving out security updates. Well, you can have those security updates for free

...illegally.

[Qing Dao]

Some governments and large companies have pestered Microsoft about it and are paying millions of dollars for Microsoft to continue giving out security updates. Well, you can have those security updates for free

...illegally.

There is absolutely nothing illegal about this. There is nothing illegal about editing Windows' registry. Microsoft's published Windows security updates are publicly available for download by anyone. There is nothing illegal about installing them on an OS other than the one they are intended for.

Obviously Microsoft doesn't officially support this and says that there may be issues with it, but people are free to do this as they please. Saying that it is against the law is like saying that using a Windows 7 driver on Windows 8 is illegal.

[Saucey]

I have these POS machines at work (Starbucks) that run the POS version and boy are they dinosaurs...

But great to hear that there is a loophole around this for users who want to keep their old machine updated.

Reminds me of the Dauer 962 winning LeMans, twas a roadlegal version of a Porsche 962 racecar that dominated races until rule changes, but there was a loophole in the rules where it was able to enter as a road car which it help Porsche win one more year.

[pianowizard]

There is absolutely nothing illegal about this.

These updates are intended for the companies that have paid Microsoft millions of dollars to generate these updates. By installing them, you are an illegal free rider.

[dr_st]

These updates are intended for the companies that have paid Microsoft millions of dollars to generate these updates. By installing them, you are an illegal free rider.

I don't think so. I think there is confusion, because Qing Dao's first post is misleading. There is no connection between the "point-of-service" XP version (which is a sort of embedded variant) receiving updates and whoever may be paying Microsoft separately for special support of their own XP fleet.

Microsoft agreed to support the POSReady variant of XP for 5 more years, for the general public of users of this variant. It does so through the public channel, without any special deals with individual companies.

When Microsoft signs a contract for special support, these updates do not get released to the public. If the updates are released to the public - Microsoft cannot claim it is illegal to download them. Nor does it attempt to. Read their response here, for example:
http://www.zdnet.com/registry-hack-enab ... 000029851/

[pianowizard]

I think there is confusion, because Qing Dao's first post is misleading. There is no connection between the "point-of-service" XP version (which is a sort of embedded variant) receiving updates and whoever may be paying Microsoft separately for special support of their own XP fleet.

Thanks for clarifying. I thought the OP was referring to the updates specially created for the companies and governments.

[RealBlackStuff]

Maybe it's not such a good idea after all...
http://www.zdnet.com/hacked-windows-xp- ... TRE17cfd61