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