Windows Vista still good after 6 months of it's dead support?

[Gaurav S Rao]

Hey guys,I would like to install vista on some of my devices,just wanted to ask is it still usable,i don't have any working systems with vista now and want to install it as it was my childhood.Exactly 6 months ago i made this thread: 

and now i have the question turned up on me itself.I wiped my ssd with vista,so yeah,is it usable in 2017? 

[,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,]

well if you want your pc to become my second pc i wont stop you.

 

its cool to play around with, but as a every day thing please avoid 100% at all costs. windows pcs are really susceptible to any form of attack from jdbs to rooted rdps

[GDRRiley]

you can, I would just avoid use in on the internet and have the most recent anti malware you can. 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

7 minutes ago, Gaurav S Rao said:

Hey guys,I would like to install vista on some of my devices,just wanted to ask is it still usable,i don't have any working systems with vista now and want to install it as it was my childhood.Exactly 6 months ago i made this thread: 

and now i have the question turned up on me itself.I wiped my ssd with vista,so yeah,is it usable in 2017? 

Yes it's usable. Is it safe? Eh... not really. Just use it for non-sensitive stuff. But even then, be careful.

[Groundedbeef]

Vista was never usable!

[Gaurav S Rao]

Just now, Groundedbeef said:

Vista was never usable!

It always was.... With SP2....

[Delicieuxz]

I've used Windows systems without updating them for years, with prolific internet use, and not encountered a problem. So, 6 months without updates is nothing, in my view. I say that there's no problem if you have smart browsing habits, don't open files or click links in emails from unknown senders, don't visit obscure porn or warez sites, and don't download and run files from untrusted sources.

 

The monthly security updates Microsoft puts out aren't a magic barrier that makes a PC protected while a PC without them is unprotected. They're failsafes for specific discovered exploits, and they aren't likely to keep a PC clean if a person has careless online habits. And if a person has safe online habits, then Microsoft's security updates aren't likely to make any difference.

[ItsTheDuckAgain]

No it's not because it's end of life. Still using it is stupid no matter what excuse people come up with, it remains stupid, at least when it is connected to LAN and/or Internet. Period. The end.

[Delicieuxz]

2 minutes ago, ItsTheDuckAgain said:

No it's not because it's end of life. Still using it is stupid no matter what excuse people come up with, it remains stupid, at least when it is connected to LAN and/or Internet. Period. The end.

EOL has never meant 'not safe'. That's a false personal association of yours.

 

And what experience do you have running Windows OSes without updates? I haven't seen any problems from running non-updated Windows. I've seen more problems from updating Windows.

[ItsTheDuckAgain]

Just now, Delicieuxz said:

EOL has never meant 'not safe'. That's a false personal association of yours.

I don't think so after 20+ years working in corporate IT.

[Delicieuxz]

Just now, ItsTheDuckAgain said:

I don't think so after 20+ years working in corporate IT.

I edited into my previous post: And what experience do you have running Windows OSes without updates? I haven't seen any problems from running non-updated Windows. I've seen more problems from updating Windows.

 

So, what are your personally-experienced examples of issues arising from running non-updated Windows?

[Evanair]

I know this isn't helpful, but totally reminds me of this clip...
 

 

[ItsTheDuckAgain]

Just now, Delicieuxz said:

I edited into my previous post: And what experience do you have running Windows OSes without updates? I haven't seen any problems from running non-updated Windows. I've seen more problems from updating Windows.

 

So, what are your personally-experienced examples of issues arising from running non-updated Windows?

 

Just don't run outdated OSes, or at least do it only at home where nobody cares :-). The biggest problem running such things as an IT provider is simply standing Service Level Agreements with customers. Can you imagine the field day lawyers will have when (for example) there is data loss because you (the IT provider) is running unpatched outdated software? 

I'm not going to go into this any further but you can imagine what it's about. It's the same thing "at home", just not that impactfull of course.

 

And yes I got personal experience with old OSes still running too long with a customer we recently took over, multiple Windows XP clients that barely got the feet of the ground because they have been infected like hell. And that's only the most recent one

 

 

[Delicieuxz]

16 minutes ago, ItsTheDuckAgain said:

 

Just don't run outdated OSes, or at least do it only at home where nobody cares :-). The biggest problem running such things as an IT provider is simply standing Service Level Agreements with customers. Can you imagine the field day lawyers will have when (for example) there is data loss because you (the IT provider) is running unpatched outdated software? 

I'm not going to go into this any further but you can imagine what it's about. It's the same thing "at home", just not that impactfull of course.

 

And yes I got personal experience with old OSes still running too long with a customer we recently took over, multiple Windows XP clients that barely got the feet of the ground because they have been infected like hell. And that's only the most recent one

 

 

I would agree that for a corporate, networked environment, it would be careless to take the risk of running outdated software, with the consequences being potentially devastating to the company's operation and its important data. But for home usage, I don't see much risk. And if a person has backups of their important stuff, then go wild, I say. The worst thing that can happen is the PC becomes unusable from some severe type of infection, and needs to undergo a fresh installation. For optimal performance on a regularly used PC, that has to be done every few years or so, regardless of whether it's updated. Though, like I said, I've run Windows OSes without updates for years (also without AV, without Windows Defender, etc), and not encountered issues from it. So, I feel confident doing it, myself. Though, I have solid browsing habits. And should something happen, my files are backed up.

[Zodiark1593]

Ehh, could be worse, could be better. Avoid shady sites as they are the plague, use ad blockers, etc. You'll probably be fine.

[ItsTheDuckAgain]

11 minutes ago, Delicieuxz said:

I would agree that for a corporate, networked environment, it would be careless to take the risk of running outdated software, with the consequences being potentially devastating to the company's operation and its important data. But for home usage, I don't see much risk. And if a person has backups of their important stuff, then go wild, I say. The worst thing that can happen is the PC becomes unusable from some severe type of infection, and needs to undergo a fresh installation. For optimal performance on a regularly used PC, that has to be done every few years or so, regardless of whether it's updated. Though, like I said, I've run Windows OSes without updates for years (also without AV, without Windows Defender, etc), and not encountered issues from it. So, I feel confident doing it, myself. Though, I have solid browsing habits. And should something happen, my files are backed up.

and when your backups are also infected and you don't even notice? recent cryptlockers for example, some encrypt everything they get write access to and in case your backup solution is permanently attached to your "home" PC you are also fu**ed... But do as you please, just saying...

[Gaurav S Rao]

57 minutes ago, Evanair said:

I know this isn't helpful, but totally reminds me of this clip...