Many users still have this legendary system installed. However, its support ended in 2014, which means that no one can receive any updates for Windows XP anymore, and many of them are related to system security. It's clear why Microsoft did this; it prompted many users to switch to more modern versions systems

Nevertheless, this OS is still popular because it does not require many resources and is ideal for devices with not the most powerful hardware. But, if used, I would like to receive updates. This can be done, because in 1414 support was stopped only regular versionsXP, and many equipment continues to run on Windows POS and Embedded systems, which are based on this OS, and their support will continue until 2019.

Windows XP x32 update

As is clear from the previous section, in order to continue receiving updates for Windows XP, it is enough to correct something in the OS so that it is perceived as one of these versions. To do this, you will need to make several changes to the registry. First, you should open the registry editor; to do this, you can press win+r and write in the window that opens regedit. Next you will need to follow the route HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\WPA, after that you need to right-click on the last directory in the address, select create and specify a partition, its name should be PosReady.

Now you should go to the newly created directory and right-click on the empty space on the right side of the screen, here you also need to create a new variabledword named Installed.

Double click on it and set as value unit. Now the system believes that you have the same version that is installed on the terminals, so it remains possible to receive important updates.

You can also not edit the registry, but simply createreg file and run it. To do this you will need to open notepad and paste text into it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

How to update Windows XP x64

For a 64-bit system, there are slight differences during the system update procedure. The user will have to download updates For Windows Server 2003 (because the 64 bit version is based on it) from the Microsoft website. After downloading, unpack all data into folder C:\xpupdate(if you unpack to another directory, you should change all the paths in the following files). After this you will need to go to the directory c:\xpupdate\update and find there a file named update_SP2QFE.inf and make a copy of it and give it a name new_update_SP2QFE.inf.

Condition=AndOp,Prereq.XPAMDInstallBlock.Section

PresentOp=CheckReg,HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ProductOptions",ProductType,0x00000000

NotEqualOp=CheckReg,HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ProductOptions",ProductType,0x00000000,!=,"WinNT"

Display_String="%WrongProductMessage%"

Now you should open notepad and paste into it following lines:

cd "C:\xpupdate\update"

echo Replace update.inf with update.inf.new

copy update_SP2QFE.inf org_update_SP2QFE.inf /y

copy new_update_SP2QFE.inf update_SP2QFE.inf /y

echo Apply Update

start update.exe /passive /norestart /log:c:\xpupdate\install.log

ping -n 1 -w 5 1.1.1.1>nul

copy org_update_SP2QFE.inf update_SP2QFE.inf /y

It's been almost 2 years since support for one of the legendary versions of Windows - . To this day, it does not receive support, but still many users remain on it for various reasons.

The biggest problem with this support is that users cannot receive system updates that include performance improvements, bug fixes, security, and more.

But you can still receive updates. The fact is that there are computers that use this operating system and they receive updates and will continue to receive them until April 2019. These computers are used in government. institutions, terminals, ATMs and others. Computers are based on the Windows XP kernel and have their own version - Windows POSReady and therefore updates are available for them.

In order to receive updates on your Windows XP, you need to have Service Pack 3 installed and have a 32-bit operating system. You can find out this data by right-clicking on My Computer and selecting Properties.

If everything is as it is, then you will need to make changes to the . You can do this either yourself, find the registry branch and key, changing it to the desired value, or create a file, write changes to it, and run it. Or download a ready-made one.

I suggest you use the second method. If you need a file, write a comment and I will add the file. All you need to do is download and run.

So, open a standard Notepad and paste it into new document the following lines:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

“Installed”=dword:00000001

After that, save the document anywhere and with any name.

The main thing is that it has reg :

After that, run this file and agree to make changes to the registry.
If everything was done correctly, then after a while your operating system will begin to receive Windows XP updates, which are essentially provided by Windows POSReady.

Finally, I would like to warn you that all manipulations with the registry may not be safe and can harm the system. Therefore, before doing this, it is very advisable to create a backup copy (File -> Export) and only then make changes and run the file.

Unfortunately, the official Windows support XP ended in April 2014: for operating system Regular updates and fixes are no longer released. However, if you still do not have Service Pack 3 installed, which combines older updates, now is the time to install it.

To update Windows XP to SP3, download the package from the official Microsoft website. Before installation, it is recommended to create a backups important files and disable the antivirus. After that, double click on the downloaded SP3 file to run it. Follow the installation wizard's instructions, and once completed, click Finish to restart your computer. Don't forget to turn on your antivirus later if you disabled it.

Unofficial Windows XP update

Advanced users have come up with a way to prolong receiving updates for Windows XP by editing the registry. This allows you to automatically install updates to the Windows Embedded version of POSReady 2009, which is based on Windows XP, but is intended for cash registers and ATMs. However, it is worth considering that such updates have not been tested directly on Windows XP, so it is impossible to guarantee their reliability 100%.

To use this update method, open Notepad and copy the following code into it:

• Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
• "Installed"=dword:00000001

Then select “Save” from the File menu. In the save window, select the “All Files” option from the “File Type” menu and give the new file any suitable name with the .reg extension, for example “update.reg” (without quotes). Click the “Save” button, then find the saved file and double-click on it to automatically make the necessary changes to the registry. If you are prompted to confirm the operation, click Yes.

Unofficial Service Pack 4

In addition, an unofficial service pack 4 was recently released for Windows XP. It contains all the updates released by Microsoft since Service Pack 3, and also automatically makes the changes described above to the registry. You can download the package from Softpedia.com. It is installed in exactly the same way as SP3. But, of course, you need to remember that this is an unofficial update, so it cannot be guaranteed to work properly. However, after the end of official support, this is one of the few remaining ways to update your Windows XP system.

On April 8, 2014, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows XP. This means that computers running this OS no longer receive automatic updates, leaving the system vulnerable to attack if critical vulnerabilities are discovered. Microsoft's only recommendation is to update to modern versions Windows, but in practice this is not always possible. Somewhere, old hardware is still used, some do not want or cannot spend money on new licenses, some do not recognize new systems on principle. In the end, I myself was recently convinced that it is too early to write off Windows XP. Be that as it may, there is tricky way, which Windows XP users can still receive updates despite the end of official support.

There is a special version of Windows XP - Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, which is based on the most common Windows XP Service Pack 3. Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 runs numerous terminals, ATMs, information stands, self-service systems, payment kiosks and other similar devices. But the main beauty is that support for Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 will last until April 9, 2019, that is, updates will also be released until this date. I myself have encountered Windows Embedded POSReady many times at work, moreover as a software developer, and during all this time I have not found any fundamental differences from Windows XP. Therefore, if you install updates designed for POSReady on Windows XP, there will be no problems. Of course, updates will not be installed on your computer just like that; to do this, you will have to disguise your Windows XP as a terminal operating system.

Cunning Germans on one of the forums found a very simple way through which the system will be identified not as Windows XP, but as Windows Embedded POSReady 2009. It all comes down to the fact that you only need to add one key to the registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

"Installed"=dword:00000001

Save the above code in a file with any name and extension.reg, then double-click on it and add changes to the registry. You can download the finished reg file from the link below:

WinXP.to.POSReady.zip (245 bytes)

After making changes, you need to restart your computer. Now you can start the service Windows Update, and if everything is done correctly, then with the first check several dozen updates will become available. They are marked as updates for WEPOS and POSReady 2009, so they should be.

This way, XP users will be able to receive updates over the coming years, unless, of course, Microsoft somehow blocks this feature. The official reaction of Microsoft representatives to the possibility of updating Windows XP after the end of support is interesting:

We recently became aware of a hack that will supposedly allow Windows XP users to receive security updates. These security updates that may be installed are for Windows Embedded and Windows Server 2003 and do not fully protect Windows XP. Windows users XP is still putting their machines at serious risk by installing these updates that have not been tested for Windows XP. The best way protect your systems by updating to more new version eg before Windows 7 or Windows 8.1

I repeat, I am familiar with Windows Embedded POSReady first-hand and have no idea what other “testing” is required for updates on Windows XP. This statement is nothing more than a veiled disclaimer of responsibility.

What could be the consequences of such a change in the system? From the technical side - nothing. As a last resort, you can delete the key from the registry, restart the computer and the system will again turn into the most regular Windows XP. But from the legal side, you are flagrantly violating the license. If on home computers such nonsense can be ignored, then on work machines, if checked, unnecessary questions may arise.

Operating system updates keep security features up to date, software, correct mistakes made by developers in previous versions files. As you know, Microsoft has stopped official support, hence the release Windows updates XP since 04/08/2014. Since then, all users of this OS have been left to their own devices. Lack of support means that your computer, without receiving security packages, becomes vulnerable to malware.

Not many people know that some government agencies, banks, etc. still use special Windows version XP - Windows Embedded. The developers announced support for this OS until 2019 and updates are available for it. You probably already guessed that you can use packages designed for this system in Windows XP. To do this, you need to make a small registry adjustment.

Warning: by performing the actions described in the “Registry Modification” section, you violate license agreement Microsoft. If Windows is modified in this way on a computer that officially belongs to the organization, problems may arise during the next scan. There is no such threat for home machines.

Registry modification

1. Before setting up the registry, the first step is to create a system restore point so that in case of an error you can rollback. Read the article on our website to learn how to use recovery points.
2. Next, create a new file by clicking on the desktop RMB, go to point "Create" and choose "Text Document".

   

3. Open the document and add the following code to it:

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

   
   "Installed"=dword:00000001

   

4. Let's go to the menu "File" and choose "Save as".

   

   We select a location to save, in our case it is the desktop, change the parameter at the bottom of the window to "All files" and give the document a name. The name can be anything, but the extension must be ".reg", For example, "mod.reg", and press "Save".

   

   A new file with the appropriate name and registry icon will appear on the desktop.

   

5. We launch this file by double-clicking and confirm that we really want to change the parameters.

   

6. Reboot the computer.

The result of our actions will be that our operating system will be identified by the Update Center as Windows Embedded, and the appropriate updates will be sent to our computer. Technically, this does not pose any threat - the systems are identical, with minor differences that are not key.

Manual check

1. For manual update Windows XP needs to be opened "Control Panel" and select a category "Security Center".

   

2. Next follow the link "Check for the latest updates from Windows Update" in the block "Resources".

   

3. The browser will launch and display the Windows Update page. Here you can choose a quick scan, that is, get only the most necessary updates, or download full package by pressing the button "Selective". Let's choose the quick option.

   

4. We are waiting for the package search process to complete.

   

5. The search is completed, and we see a list of important updates in front of us. As expected, they are intended for the operating room Windows systems Embedded Standard 2009 (WES09). As mentioned above, these packages are also suitable for XP. Install them by clicking on the button "Install updates".

   

6. Next, the download and installation of packages will begin. We wait…

   

7. Once the process is complete, we will see a window with a message stating that not all packages were installed. This is normal - some updates may only be installed during system boot. Press the button "Reboot Now".

   

The manual update has been completed and your computer is now as protected as possible.

Automatic update

In order not to go to the Windows Update website every time, you need to enable automatic update operating system.

Conclusion

Regularly updating the operating system allows us to avoid many security-related problems. Check the Windows Update website often, or better yet, let the OS install updates on its own.