All Microsoft support ended for Windows XP in April 2014.
All Microsoft support ended for Windows Vista in April 2017.
The Internet Explorer 8 browser in Windows XP and the Internet Explorer 9 browser in Windows Vista are both extremely outdated and no longer support most websites.
The Firefox 52.9.0 ESR browser had all support ended by Mozilla in September 2018.
All other browsers are extremely more out-of-date than Firefox 52.9.0 ESR is, so it's the only remaining browser for these 2 operating systems that still supports most websites.
I recently updated my install and update guides for both operating systems and successfully tested them.
For those of you who are still insistent on sticking with these operating systems, a copy of the updated guides are present in the "Windows XP" and "Windows Vista" sections.
Many programs and security tools that install and work fine Windows 7 & 8.1 & 10 no longer do so in Windows XP & Vista.
Some things have to come to an end, sooner or later.
How true. I'm still on Vista Ultimate only for business reasons, or I would have bought a new PC desktop and Macbook Pro. However, Chrome still works for me as does Firefox. Forget IE. That hasn't functioned in years.
I have been using Maxthon5 browser and it has been fine, so far. It does support older systems. It's similar to Chrome, but definitely not as good in certain ways. It gets me on secure websites that I can no longer use with any other browser. Since my court reporting work necessitates the use of DOS and WPDOS for the creation of ASCIIs, I remain in the Dark Ages!
I've never used the Maxthon browser, so I wasn't aware it still supports Windows XP and Vista.
I checked its website and discovered that version 5.2.7.2000 was released a few days ago.
I couldn't find anything about its system requirements.
The Google Chrome browser hasn't supported Windows XP and Vista for over 2 years.
Its current version is 73.0.3683.75 and was released a few days ago.
You must be using a very old version.
Oh, I am using a very old version of Google Chrome, yes.
Version 49.0.2623.112 Works fine.
In fact, I got some obtuse message the other day, and I had to reinstall Google Chrome which I keep the instructions and installation file on my desktop because every so often, this will happen and I need to go into the program and delete my current Google data backup and create a new one. My fear of course is losing my bookmarks, which over the years, is way too many anyways. But they were saved so I was okay.
Maxthon5 is 5.2.5.4000 It tells me my browser is up-to-date. I'm not updating just in case. . .
I just checked their website: The new version 5.2.7.2000:
Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows 10
My dual boot Windows XP SP3 32-bit/Windows Vista SP2 64-bit test machine won't be set up again for a few more weeks.
Once it is, I'll find out if the Maxthon 5.2.7.2000 browser is supported by both operating systems.
Great! Meanwhile, wouldn't you know it, Chase Bank suddenly won't let me use my Google Chrome anymore AND it will not let me use the latest Maxthon5 browser, as it doesn't recognize that as a standard browser. I'm so aggravated.'
UPDATED: So I chanced it and updated to the latest version. It just updated the Maxthon5 browser and NO, I still can't access Chase Bank. Oh, well. I'll have to think about upgrading now to Windows 7 Ultimate, which I have but never installed.
ok. because my personal system uses windows 10 and im used to running windows defender on mine or free third party programs to scan for malware and stuff (if I ever do, friend did it for me before for past issues). My parents computer is quite old and don't think they have any third party programs to protect it. So I'm trying to make sure their system is cleaned up and running better because my mom has been complaining about some browsing issues she's started to get in the past year. I just cleaned out 10 years worth of dust from their system today actually. lol. I couldn't download the malwarebytes program for their computer today either because the download said it wasn't compatible with their current operating system so I'm starting to feel a little stumped.
The current versions of Avast Free Antivirus and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and Malwarebytes AdwCleaner (which I've been using) no longer work with Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP2.
The current version of SUPERAntiSpyware (which I also use) does still work with those operating systems.
You didn't say which browser your parents are using, but that doesn't really matter because no current browser works with those operating systems.
However, I'll be testing the current version of the Maxthon browser within the next week or so to determine if it works with those operating systems.
If your parents' computer is over 10 years old, they should buy a newer and faster refurbished one that comes with Windows 7 or Windows 10.
There are a lot of them out there that can be bought for $300 - $500.
I've been buying nothing but refurbished computers for the last several years.
wait, so if most browsers don't work too well with vista any more, then wouldn't it be pretty convenient to make the switch at this point to save us the hassle of looking for replacements? i am open to your suggestions still though for my parents sake.
and my parents are super cheap. lol. kind of basically junk hoarders at this point. they wouldn't get rid of this older computer unless it just couldn't turn on any more or if it's lack of performance became too much of an annoyance which i see happening to them more later than sooner. they still got smart phones and they did buy a gaming laptop, but my mom at least still goes to that junk box for whatever she does.
well, ill try to keep my eye on this kind of post for any future info/updates because apparently my mom has been aware of the lack of support her OS gets now, but because she can still do SOMETHING on it like run a free version of word on it, she doesn't want to get rid of it yet and she can't access certain sites as well any more i think like face book and stuff or something. oh well.
Just a suggestion.
If your Mom doesn't want to give up on an older out of date computer whose hardware still functions properly and doesn't want to buy a replacement, replace the OS with a free version of Linux.
If she doesn't like it, it won't have cost her anything but her time.
I like the Live versions of Puppy Linux that boot from CD/DVD and USB flash drives.
If you want to stay with Windows, a refurb is an economical way to go.
And you'd still have that old computer to test Puppy.
I started out testing Puppy on an old computer. Got familiar with it and now use it exclusively for Internet browsing.
Best of all for me, it uses Firefox and looking at and using it, it's the same so you wouldn't realize it was running under Linux. And Firefox has been a long time browser for me. So the transfer was easy.
But it's said, Linux isn't for everyone. It's not Windows so there is a learning curve. That said, Puppy is about the easiest to transfer into from Windows and I had no problems. If I can do it, most everyone else can too
And it's free as are the available software you might want/need
And if a refurbed Windows machine is in her future, Newegg is a good source. I still use Windows for other things and have been satisfied with the refurbs I bought there.
Maxthon Cloud Browser 5.2.7.2000 installs and works fine with Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP2.
Its settings are different than in Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, so I'm spending some time getting used to it and configuring it to my personal taste.
This is the most current version, and it hasn't had any issues so far with loading all my frequently-used websites.
Maxthon Cloud Browser 5.2.7.2000 installs and works fine with Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP2.
Its settings are different than in Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, so I'm spending some time getting used to it and configuring it to my personal taste.
This is the most current version, and it hasn't had any issues so far with loading all my frequently-used websites.
Yes, it has been fine. A little different and does take time getting use to, but it works! And I am able to access sites that I can no longer access with Chrome, including Chase Bank!
Spyware/malware can come from many sources, but Maxthon is developed by the company Maxthon Ltd., based in Beijing, China and I'd feel a bit squeemish using it from a political angle.
All of my full-time computers run Windows 7 and Windows 10.
My dual boot Windows XP/Vista computer is used only for testing purposes and spends very little time on-line.
As far as Maxthon being Chinese-made, many of the programs we use are made in Russia, China, etc..
Perhaps for general anonymous browsing it doesn't matter. but if anyone is going to be using it to enter secure sites , like banks or e-tailers, it seems pretty risky to me.
Windows XP Pro SP3 reached its "official" end-of-life in April 2014.
But by making use of POSReady 2009 security updates, its "unofficial" end-of-life was extended until April 2019 - another 5 years.
That milestone was reached today with the release of 14 POSReady 2009 security updates.
Windows Vista(all versions) SP2 reached its "official" end-of-life in April 2017.
But by making use of the Windows Server 2008 security updates, its "unofficial" end-of-life has been extended until January 2020 - another 2 years 9 months.
I've enjoyed testing Windows XP Pro SP3 for the past 5 years, and I'm going to mourn its death.
But I'm going to enjoy testing and keeping Windows Vista SP2 alive for another 9 months.
It's my guess there will be an "unofficial" extension to the end-of-life of Windows 7 SP1, but I'll cross that bridge when the time comes.
A forum community dedicated to tech experts and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about articles, computer security, Mac, Microsoft, Linux, hardware, networking, gaming, reviews, accessories, and more!