Build for xp

kilianmanning

Need a new home PC, our old one gave up.
Mother needs xp to run an 80s accounts program that won't run on anything newer.
I'm wondering if new processors & motherboards have drivers that are compatible with xp?
Or do I need to buy an old xp desktop.
Don't need a graphics card or anything fancy. Would like to dual boot with xp & possibly windows 7/8.
Any advice appreciated

me_irl

Sorry for asking, as you didn't mention, but would this program work in compatibility mode?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ie/help/15078/windows-make-older-programs-compatible

PC Part Picker is a great site for "pre builds" and guides.

https://pcpartpicker.com/

kilianmanning

me_irl wrote: »

Sorry for asking, as you didn't mention, but would this program work in compatibility mode?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ie/help/15078/windows-make-older-programs-compatible

PC Part Picker is a great site for "pre builds" and guides.

https://pcpartpicker.com/

I'll check both out. Thanks

TallGlass

Would you not try run a newer OS and use a VM for the XP? Might even be a lot more secure for the PC.

jhud

TallGlass wrote:

Would you not try run a newer OS and use a VM for the XP? Might even be a lot more secure for the PC.

I second that virtual machine with xp would be best with either windows 7 or 10 as main operating system

the_syco

kilianmanning wrote: »

Mother needs xp to run an 80s accounts program that won't run on anything newer.

What's the name of the program? My father was using an old program from the late 90's/early 00's "that worked", but not on W7. Found an updated version that allowed the importation of the older database, and he's been using it since.

the_syco

Or there's option B.

Option B being, well, XP is ancient. So get something such as http://www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?productcode=ECE3988316 and follow a guide on how to install XP onto it. Disable the internet, because, well, XP being ancient, there's a load of exploits that are not longer fixed, and thus viruses out there that will target XP.

Johnboy1951

kilianmanning wrote: »

Need a new home PC, our old one gave up.
Mother needs xp to run an 80s accounts program that won't run on anything newer.
I'm wondering if new processors & motherboards have drivers that are compatible with xp?
Or do I need to buy an old xp desktop.
Don't need a graphics card or anything fancy. Would like to dual boot with xp & possibly windows 7/8.
Any advice appreciated

Get a reasonably good new PC, disregarding XP driver requirements.
Run a minimal version of Linux on it, with VirtualBox.
Install XP or other OS into VBox and use it Full Screen. Do not give XP internet access.
You could have multiple virtual machines stored awaiting use.
If the hardware is good enough you could have two or more running at the same time.
Also nothing to prevent dual/multi booting as well.

Use host OS (Linux) when internet access is required and for general use.

tadcan

A few points on putting XP into a VM. For a legal key you will need to take a chance and find one on ebay or the like. The XP licence on the current rig is tied to the PC. You will have to call up Microsoft to validate the key because the online checker doesn't seem to work anymore. They will warn you that XP is unsupported, say you understand and they will give you the validation string.

Another thing is when I have upgraded the version of Virtual box to a new version, like from 4 to 5, sometimes the new version won't start the virtual machine, so you may have to stick on a major version number.

Keplar240B

What happened to old computer, is the hard drive Ok?
Whats name of the accounting software?

FYI
You can buy a second hand XP machine very cheaply and use rest of money a second up to date machine.
you can filter by operating system on adverts,
Simplest option.
73 Xp desktops
http://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/computers/desktops/492/sortby_price-asc/os_65/page-1
93 xp laptops
http://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/computers/laptops-and-netbooks/laptops/505/os_65/sortby_price-asc

kilianmanning

Keplar240B wrote: »

What happened to old computer, is the hard drive Ok?
Whats name of the accounting software?

FYI
You can buy a second hand XP machine very cheaply and use rest of money a second up to date machine.
you can filter by operating system on adverts,
Simplest option.
73 Xp desktops
http://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/computers/desktops/492/sortby_price-asc/os_65/page-1
93 xp laptops
http://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/computers/laptops-and-netbooks/laptops/505/os_65/sortby_price-asc

Hard drive is ok. Not sure what happened the old computer exactly, think motherboard possibly. Thanks for the advice everybody

beauf

Lots of people are building retro XP machines for gaming. If the machine never hits the internet, or has anyone stick a USB drive or floppy into it, then there should be no problem.

I think I would use a VM though like others have suggested. Or just fix the old PC.