Hi everyone,
Do you enjoy using Windows XP? If yes, then you are not alone. 🙂 I also like it! I don’t know whether it is nostalgia kicking in or what it is, but I find that using an XP-based system is just nice. Worth noting though, that I’m not talking about using it for bank services and work-related Online activities, but mostly for playing old games and using software I’m familiar with. I don’t trust the XP enough these days to use it Online, except for downloading from secure and personally well-known places. For these purposes, I use a modern desktop PC with Windows 11.
Space is always an issue at home, so I’m using an HP Pavilion DV6119 (DV6000) laptop sporting a Turion 64 X2 CPU, 2 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA Geforce Go 7200. Recently upgraded it to 2 GB from 1 GB.
This laptop is in very good condition and can still run on the original battery, although I’m most likely going to get a replacement soon. I did replace the CMOS battery just recently.
I find the computer quite capable. It plays DVDs fine and even comes with a remote control which has its port on the right side. You can insert it there when not in use. It also has illuminated media buttons right beneath the screen, which is handy. I must admit to not watching many DVDs on it, but it is good to have the option. 😉 Most games I’ve tried run great too!
As you can see from the photo of the computer, I’ve installed many games on it such as LOTR Battle for Middle Earth, Red Alert 2, War of the Ring, Caesar III, and next in line is Command & Conquer Generals with the Zero Hour expansion pack, which I haven’t played in a long time. Looking forward to that! ScummVM is also in place of course.
Is anyone else still using Windows XP these days? If yes, what are your favorite games and programs on it?
Thanks for reading and see you in another post here on Old School Game Blog. 🙂
Old School Game Blog 
Still using Win 7 here and trying to save those machines for old games or to install Chrome OS Flex on or for things modern PCs don’t have like DVDs as you mention. Yeah browsing is no good anymore on those machines (modern browsing really needs 8gb RAM), but still perfect for word processing etc.
All my XP machines got beat up hardware wise, lol.
For day to day use I use a Chromebook, just simpler and easier to maintain than Windows. Now Steam etc coming to Chromebooks, might not even need Windows for gaming.
XP / 7 were the last good versions of Windows, basically an OS that doesn’t get in your way of doing what you want. Also their age means they are very stable, compared to Win 11 which is really pre beta realistically. Since my Win 7 machines stopped getting Windows updates they are so stable it’s amazing, lol.
An OS should be invisible to the user, if you want widgets, assistants, apps, weather reports etc etc then you should turn on each as you want.
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Hi James,
Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Windows 7 was nice. Had a computer running it until not long ago. Worked very well! I understand Microsoft has to stop supporting previous versions at some point though. If they would have kept up support, I’d probably continue using it on one of my older computers.
Today I have enjoyed spending time with the XP-laptop. Installed some old classics, copied files for WinUAE, customized the desktop, and tried out some old emulators I had backed up in the past. All good fun. 🙂
Do you have Xbox Game Pass for Chromebooks by the way? I have tried it on MacOS through Chrome and it runs great!
Thanks again for commenting and sorry for the very late reply here. 🙂
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ahh no probs late reply, this internet where things go on forever…. my ghost shoved into an AI CPU will comment any minute now or maybe earlier with its built in time travel tech….
Chrome & most Anti Virus still getting updates on Win7 until Jan 23, so that’s when I plan to stop using for anything important.
So yeah next year I’ll have to buy a Win 11 machine or two because I still need some Microsoft in my life sadly 😛 Also just nice to have different OS & hardware around for a robust tech life. Non one seems to be able to make something 100% reliable though better than in past or am I wrong?
Yeah I always like have an old OS on newer hardware because it just runs so smooth and fast, same as why all those emulators work so well, advanced hardware, old code with bugs hunted out. Sometimes hardware / driver issue but the speed advantage just outweighs that mostly.
I have Google Stadia trial so have tried a bit of Cloud gaming and yes its amazingly impressive. Also have ton of games from GOG and Amiga Mini but no time to play 😦 oh well the nephews will know retro stuff if I have to force into on them ….. Wish I had more time to just play with old or random tech stuff, that winning at life 🙂
Have a good day, James 🙂
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