Windows XP Archives

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Microsoft starts rolling out AI to these decades old popular tools on Windows

Microsoft is integrating advanced AI capabilities into its Paint and Notepad applications. Paint will feature Generative Fill, allowing users to add or alter image elements through text prompts, and Generative Erase, enabling the removal of unwanted objects while filling in the background. These features are being rolled out to Windows Insiders, with Generative Fill initially available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs and Generative Erase accessible to all Windows 11 users. Notepad will introduce a Rewrite feature for rephrasing text, currently in preview for select regions, and has improved launch performance, reducing app launch time by over 35% for most users and up to 55% for some.

Winsage

November 5, 2024

Microsoft Windows User Warning—50 Million Of You Are Now At Risk

Microsoft has extended the end-of-life deadline for Windows 10 from October 2025 to October 2026, but this extension comes with a fee that is not universally applicable. Approximately 50 million Windows users are at risk and need to take action to protect their systems. Recent data shows that around 50 million users have migrated from Windows 10 to Windows 11, causing Windows 10's market share to drop just above 60% and Windows 11's to rise to nearly 36%. There are still around 850 million Windows 10 PCs that have not transitioned, with about 400 million unable to upgrade. Microsoft warns that unsupported versions of Windows do not receive software updates, including security updates. The company is preparing for a potential increase in new PC purchases in 2025, driven by an anticipated upgrade boom to Windows 11. Microsoft is also enhancing Windows 11 with security features to protect against cyber threats.

Winsage

November 3, 2024

Remember Bricopacks? They could transform Windows XP into something special

Windows XP was known for its user-friendly interface and performance, leading to a community-driven desire for customization. Notable contributions included BricoPacks, which were comprehensive suites of software and tweaks that enhanced the operating system. These packs provided features such as a sleek dock for applications, revamped window styling and cursors, new wallpapers and taskbar designs, and customizable start menus. Customizing Windows XP required technical skills and experimentation, supported by active forums. Today, customization options remain available for Windows, and Bricopacks can still be downloaded for use with Windows XP virtual machines.

Winsage

November 1, 2024

Want Windows 10 Security? That Will Be $30, Microsoft Says

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Users can opt for an Extended Security Update (ESU) program to maintain security updates for one year, which will require a one-time fee. The ESU program will provide critical and important security updates but will not include new feature updates, bug fixes, or technical support. Enrollment for the ESU program will open closer to the end of support in 2025.

Winsage

October 31, 2024

Microsoft is making you pay to use Windows 10 securely after 2025. Here’s how much it’ll cost you

Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 users can purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU) for an additional year of coverage beyond the end of support date of October 14, 2025. This is the first time Microsoft is offering this option to consumers. Users unable to transition to Windows 11 can receive monthly security patches for an extra 12 months through the ESU program, but it is available for only one year. After the end of support, Microsoft will stop providing free monthly security updates and bug fixes for Windows 10, which may lead to compatibility issues over time as support from app developers and hardware manufacturers diminishes. Approximately 60% of Windows users are still on Windows 10, equating to around 900 million active devices, while Windows 11 accounts for about 30%, or roughly 500 million devices.

Winsage

October 27, 2024

Download Windows XP 4K wallpaper (Bliss updated) to celebrate 23rd birthday

Microsoft has released an updated version of the Windows XP Bliss wallpaper in 4K quality to celebrate its 23rd anniversary. The new wallpaper features a vibrant green hill under a blue sky with clouds, available in two versions: an official 4K edition with enhanced colors and an unofficial modified version with adjusted saturation. The original Bliss wallpaper was available in 800 x 600 pixels and 1024 x 768 pixels. Windows XP was officially launched on October 25, 2001, and was well-received by users for its performance and user-friendly interface, despite initial hardware concerns. Microsoft ended support for Windows XP in 2014, but some users still use the operating system.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

The most iconic, some would say best version of Windows was released 23 years ago today

The Windows XP operating system and its iconic background image, the Bucolic Green Hills wallpaper, were introduced on October 25, 2001. Windows XP gained popularity for its performance and stability, and the Bliss wallpaper is often considered one of the best Windows visuals. Despite its age, Windows XP is still used in some businesses, with active machines nearly matching those running Windows 8.1. However, it is vulnerable to modern hacking tools, as demonstrated by a recent test where a virtual machine running XP was compromised within ten minutes due to a lack of security features. Microsoft is set to end support for Windows 10 in less than a year, highlighting the risks of using outdated software.

Winsage

October 23, 2024

3 ways you can take your Windows 11 Taskbar back in time with this fantastic retro app

RetroBar is a free application that allows Windows 11 users to revert their Taskbar to classic styles from previous Windows versions, including Windows 98 and XP. Users can select from 17 different styles by right-clicking on the Taskbar and navigating to Properties. To maintain the retro appearance after each reboot, users must ensure RetroBar is enabled by checking the "Automatically start at logon" option in the Advanced settings. Additionally, users can install custom themes by creating a Themes folder in the RetroBar directory and placing downloaded themes there. Other applications like WindowBlinds 11 and Winaero Tweaker can further enhance the retro experience by transforming the overall interface and restoring classic features.

Winsage

October 16, 2024

Last edition of Windows 7 standing reaches end of life

Windows Embedded POSReady 7 has officially reached its end of life, nearly five years after Windows 7's mainstream support ended on January 14, 2020. Windows Embedded Standard 7 received updates until October 14, 2023, while POSReady will continue to receive updates until October 8, 2024, due to an additional year of Extended Security Updates. Windows 10 is approaching its end of life with one year remaining, but certain editions, like Windows 10 LTSC, will continue to receive updates. Many older PCs cannot upgrade to Windows 11 due to TPM chip requirements. Various unofficial custom versions of Windows, such as NTDEV Tiny10, Atlas OS, and ReviOS, have emerged, and there is potential for modders to create unofficial builds of Windows 10 LTSC.

Winsage

October 16, 2024

PSA: Windows 10 has entered its final year of free support — here’s what you need to know

Windows 10 will reach the end of free support and security updates on October 14, 2025. Microsoft considers Windows 10 a legacy operating system, with its last significant update in May 2020, as the focus shifts to Windows 11. Users can check their hardware compatibility with Windows 11 using the Windows PC Health Check app. Options for users include upgrading to Windows 11 if their hardware is compatible, purchasing a new Windows 11 PC, paying for continued Windows 10 support for three additional years, or transitioning to Linux or Mac. Remaining on Windows 10 poses risks due to the lack of security updates, leading to vulnerabilities and compatibility issues over time. The Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version of Windows 10 will be supported until 2029 but is only available for specialized commercial devices.