The End of XP... the end of pre-T43 Thinkpads?

[A31]

Come on guys - XP will be 13 years old come this October. It's amazing that MS have actually supported it for this long. The IT world around XP has changed a lot, but the OS itself hasn't (really). You can't keep using the old stuff forever. Upgrade, and move on.

Sorry, but it's true.

Though, there is nothing to stop you running XP on these older machines if you wish - just like some people run 2000 and 98 and even older on their old machines today. So long as you think you can live without Windows Update and newer software you'll be fine.

[fefrie]

SVChost 100% is windows update trying to work.

I HAVE FINALLY FOUND A WORK AROUND!

Took six months of random searching, but I finally found a work around. And it works. For my t60 at least.

Hey if it works. I'd love a couple of paypal donate bucks. Just saying...PM me!

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... a58dd6a014

I had a t60 fresh install, and two t60s that wouldn't update. They all update fine now. For some reason even on a fresh install it didn't work, but this work around has it working fine.

I'm updating all my computers now after 6 months of trying.

[redbat]

For what it's worth, Linux Mint Debian Edition (non PAE version) runs great on my T4x. Looks great, stable, runs smoothly. It's one of the "friendlier" Linux distros.

You'll want the 32 bit Cinnamon version. It includes 486/non PAE support by default, which is good, because our processors are one of the last to NOT include PAE (physical address extensions), and most modern operating systems require PAE these days.

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=101

It looks like regular Mint (which is great), but is based on Debian instead of Ubuntu, which is also good, because I found that Ubuntu runs really slowly on my Thinkpad (with Unity, anyway). Too graphic/resource heavy, I think.

[pianowizard]

So long as you think you can live without Windows Update and newer software you'll be fine.

But you see, many people don't feel comfortable using a computer without the latest security patches -- I am one of these people. At the same time, they love their T40 and X32 and A31p so much that they want to keep using them, but they run newer versions of Windows poorly if at all.

[dr_st]

But you see, many people don't feel comfortable using a computer without the latest security patches -- I am one of these people.

Once XP is EOLd and no additional patches are released for it, it is actually far easier to make sure you are always running with the latest security patches.

[A31]

But you see, many people don't feel comfortable using a computer without the latest security patches -- I am one of these people.

Then it's clearly time to move on and get an OS which is still supported.

At the same time, they love their T40 and X32 and A31p so much that they want to keep using them, but they run newer versions of Windows poorly if at all.

True, but you could try Linux or another OS. Windows isn't the only OS out there. Or, you could continue to run XP and use it online without new security updates (which I am sure most people who have these old machines will do anyway until no modern browser works with XP) or just accept that these machines are old and are now just for nostalgia's sake, so stop using them online at least.

[Cigarguy]

I agree A31. Time and technology marches on. Time to move beyond the OS and hardware or accept the risks. People are too paranoid about these thing. I doubt most people who have hardware of an age of a T4x or older use it as their daily driver. T42 is just to slow for me with any OS.

[Medessec]

Well, I don't understand why people have to be so afraid... as long as you have a redundant backup of all your stuff kept somewhere, then what is there to lose? You should always have an XP recovery/install disk handy too. If you get a virus or whatever the heck you're afraid of, it's not the end of the world.

Granted, browsers, software and the web will eventually move on from XP. THAT'S the day you should be afraid of. But until then, XP works just fine! It installs from a CD and can pick up SATA drives, it picks up USB devices, it has a Wireless connectivity application built in, it can fetch drivers from the web, etc, etc. It's not like Windows Me.

[Cigarguy]

No no no no.....don't you get it? Just like Y2K and the end of the Mayan calendar, the world WILL end, my toasters won't work and I will get Ebola virus the very minute support ends. In preparation, my one and only machine with Win XP (for nostalgia sake), a lovely T42, will be quarantine in a biohazard electrically protected enclosure with a machine gun pointed at it. It will only be used with latex gloves and biohazard masks. Of course there will be times I will simply use it and enjoy it while sitting on the deck blissfully having beers and cigars. All the while forgetting the dangers that Microsoft no longer support XP.

[pianowizard]

Then it's clearly time to move on and get an OS which is still supported.

Indeed, I moved on long ago, as soon as I learned that Vista and 7 were much more secure than XP. (And of course, 8 is even more secure than 7, but when I "moved on" from XP, 8 didn't exist yet.) Even if I disregard the issue of security, user experience is far more pleasant on Vista, 7 and 8 than on XP. I simply don't understand the popularity of XP.

True, but you could try Linux or another OS. Windows isn't the only OS out there. Or, you could continue to run XP and use it online without new security updates (which I am sure most people who have these old machines will do anyway until no modern browser works with XP) or just accept that these machines are old and are now just for nostalgia's sake, so stop using them online at least.

Hey, don't keep saying "you"! I wasn't referring to myself, but was instead referring to these folks who cherish their old computer so much. In my view, if they like their T42 or A31p because they are 4:3 or because they look "classic", their best solution is to upgrade to a 4:3 T61 that runs Vista or newer. This way, they still get to use 4:3, and the T61 still looks fairly similar to classic Thinkpads.

[dr_st]

In my view, if they like their T42 or A31p because they are 4:3 or because they look "classic", their best solution is to upgrade to a 4:3 T61 that runs Vista or newer. This way, they still get to use 4:3, and the T61 still looks fairly similar to classic Thinkpads.

Only if it's a 15" T60/T61 Frankenpad or at minimum a 14" T61 with a 14" T60 LCD assembly. Otherwise it's uuuggllly!!!

[lophiomys]

Full ACK. I have two near mint T60s 4:3, to which I just cant get accustomed .
I still prefer the T43p/T42p 15inch 4:3 machines in terms of design.

[dr_st]

Full ACK. I have two near mint T60s 4:3, to which I just cant get accustomed .
I still prefer the T43p/T42p 15inch 4:3 machines in terms of design.

Comparing the 15" T60 and T4x - they are not very different... Windows key on the keyboard, slightly smaller touchpad, and no color accents on the buttons is almost all I can come up with. What is it you can't get accustomed to, out of curiosity?

[lophiomys]

the strange blackness around the keyboard, the odd touchpad, the cheap silvery plastic buttons,
the Windows key (I need a normal size Ctrl and Alt key), the visual bulkiness.

The T60s are good machines, in 4:3 after all, but I prefer to work with T42p and T43p in this order.

Besides: yesterday I had to discuss some code with a customer, him having a 16:9 top notch EliteBook,
me bringing an old T43p 15inch UXGA: we end up working on the T43p.