Is Windows Vista SP2 still usable ?

mstfvstx64 · Aug 31, 2015

What do you think ? Is it still usable. Getting updates ? Software companies support until which year ?

Vistaar · Aug 31, 2015

I would say it is still usable because I am still using it. As for Microsoft, we still get monthly updates, but extended support will end April 11, 2017. However some software companies have already ended support, notably Apple. If you need to support an iPhone or iPad, then Vista is the wrong OS. Avira Antivirus has also ended support. Adobe Reader XI officially does not support Vista, but nevertheless I am running version 11.0.10 without any issues. I am sure the list of software that does not support Vista will only grow longer.

LMiller7 · Aug 31, 2015

"Is Windows Vista SP2 still usable?"

That is a highly subjective question to which there are many equally valid answers. It all depends on how you define "usable" and that too is subjective.

Microsoft has committed to supporting and providing updates (security only) until April 11, 2017. When Microsoft terminates support for an OS that serves as a sign to software suppliers that they should consider doing the same. Many will have already dropped support by then. Others may support the OS beyond that but due to Vista's limited popularity few will. Suppliers have to balance the effort and cost of supporting an old OS against the loss in potential market for their product. In Vista's case the latter will be small.

Vistaar · Aug 31, 2015

Of course mainstream support for Windows 7 ended January 13, 2015, so it has now joined the ranks of "legacy" versions. If you own a copy of Vista, but would have to pay for a copy of the very similar Win7, then Win7 would be a very strange choice at this point. If you are prepared to pay for longevity, then Windows 10 is the only logical choice.

Jody Thornton · Sep 5, 2015

I run the x64 build of Ultimate and for me its still really good. I'm hopeful that a source of converted updates will be available from Server 2008 Classic (once April 2017 passes). But I know that Moonchild (the developer of Pale Moon) will stop supporting any version of Windows once it expires (Crap!)

townsbg · Sep 5, 2015

As stated there are still security updates however that ends in 2017 and don't expect to be able to install Windows 2008 updates. Microsoft will officially say that they are not for Vista and if you go that route Microsoft won't help you if you have any issues. You won't get any updates through automatic updates either. Software wise as stated some companies are headed to 7 or later. The important thing is that antivirus updates are still being offered. Also consider that many popular websites to refusing to work on older versions of IE. I'm not sure though how many if any have stopped supporting IE 9. You will have to go with an alternative browser for such sites.

Hardware wise if you are looking to put Vista on a new computer you might run into driver problems especially if there aren't any drivers for 7. I have had some 7 drivers work on Vista and Vista has a lot of built in drivers but it can't run everything. If you try to put Vista on a modern computer you will likely run into issues.

Do you have any specific questions on the topic such as will a certain software or computer support Vista or would you rather stick with a generic discussion?

onewayback · Sep 9, 2015

Vistaar said:
. If you need to support an iPhone or iPad, then Vista is the wrong OS. Avira Antivirus has also ended support. Adobe Reader XI officially does not support Vista, but nevertheless I am running version 11.0.10 without any issues. I am sure the list of software that does not support Vista will only grow longer.

I have just installed Avira Antivirus, on my new vista business install and it still works and updates OK.

It appears that many software companies dropped software support for vista more so, than windows XP. More software around and still around for now, for XP over vista but don't let that put you off.

Windows 8 is also less supported that XP but about the same as vista from my observations.

Anyway Yes, vista SP2 is still usable and you can still use it in future, if your software is compatible with it. Just maybe off line by about 2020 for safety.

Vistaar · Sep 9, 2015

onewayback said:
I have just installed Avira Antivirus, on my new vista business install and it still works and updates OK.

It appears that many software companies dropped software support for vista more so, than windows XP. More software around and still around for now, for XP over vista but don't let that put you off.

That's interesting. I was seriously considering Avira several months ago until I clicked Tech Specs at the download page and saw nothing older than Windows 7 listed. In fact they officially ended support for Vista about 2 years ago: Avira Product Lifecycle Archive. It isn't really surprising that Avira can still be installed; in fact someone posted here seeking help with uninstalling it not long ago. The download page promises "unlimited tech support," but of course you won't get any of that if you mention an unsupported OS. That prospect didn't dissuade me from trying Adobe Reader XI, but an antivirus is another matter.

It's quite true that some software companies have been quicker to drop support for Vista than XP. Apple officially ended support for Vista and XP SP3 at the same time (iTunes version 12.2.0), and it can no longer be installed; but iTunes had been causing BEX errors on Vista (but not XP) ever since version 11.2.0.

I think you will find that Vista is much better than its reputation.

virtual6 · Sep 9, 2015

Like another poster, I use the Pale Moon browser (a Firefox fork), when new versions no longer support Vista, I can hopefully still use Firefox which will be okay for my purposes.
I've also been a long time (since 2000) user of Norton Internet Security, which still supports XP as well as Vista, of course other packages are available if I had to switch.
For me, the deal breaker would be if Sandboxie dropped support...I regard it as one of my most important programs and wouldn't go on the interweb without it. Sandboxie - "Trust NO Program"!

townsbg · Sep 9, 2015

Vistaar said:
I think you will find that Vista is much better than its reputation.

Agreed unfortunately it isn't as "useful" as 7 or later.

mdiemer · Sep 10, 2015

I am so disheartened by the update fiasco with Windows Seven, as Microsoft continues to "prepare" W7 computers for WW10, that my Vista drive is more important than ever. Untouched by their sneaky updates, it still is fast, reliable and beautiful. I use W7 Pro on my music creation computer, but as I keep it offline, I don't have to update it if I don't want to. I use my "Vista" computer for everything else. I have it set up as dual boot now, with Vista 32 on one drive, and Zorin 9 on the other. I figure that by the time Vista totally peters out, I will easily transition to Zorin or some other Linux system. Microsoft is not going to turn MY computer into a phone, and have the entire industrial-military complex tracking everything I do. Not this boy.

Jody Thornton · Sep 13, 2015

townsbg said:
Agreed unfortunately it isn't as "useful" as 7 or later.

How so? I still find it quite useful. What shortcomings are you encountering?

Jody Thornton · Sep 13, 2015

townsbg said:
As stated there are still security updates however that ends in 2017 and don't expect to be able to install Windows 2008 updates. Microsoft will officially say that they are not for Vista and if you go that route Microsoft won't help you if you have any issues. You won't get any updates through automatic updates either.

See that's where you and I greatly differ. I never ever look for Microsoft to bail me out. As for converted updates, I wasn't meaning from an official source. I was meaning as how 5eraph's x64 updates from Server 2003 were provided, or how the POS Ready updates were "made available".

And you don't know any better than I if someone will figure out a means of modifying the registry to allow automatic updates to come through. Server 2008 Classic IS Vista, so many updates should be codebase identical.

By the way, was that XP thread deleted?

(Edit: Never Mind, I see that it was. Well, I'll just steer clear of the "updates" subject, since it appears to be disruptive somehow. I don't want to add to that perceived negativity. I do like debate A LOT, but not at the expense of others.)

townsbg · Sep 14, 2015

Last I checked the thread hadn't been deleted but the recent posts had and the user was banned so yes I think it's best not to go down that path again. I have my opinions but I'll keep them to myself.

Vistaar · Sep 16, 2015

townsbg said:
I'm not sure though how many [websites] if any have stopped supporting IE 9. You will have to go with an alternative browser for such sites.

I seem to be one of the last Vista die-hards who is also an Internet Explorer die-hard, but I will soon be changing my ways. Most websites still support IE 9, but growing numbers are threatening to end support and advising me to upgrade, notably Disqus and YouTube. (IE 9 has actually suffered webpage display problems on YouTube for a long time.) My Yahoo! email account tells me, "You're seeing Basic Mail because you're using an unsupported internet browser," however Basic Mail is quite functional.

A recent and fascinating thread has made me better aware of the security implications: http://www.vistax64.com/windows-upd...see-tls-1-1-tls-1-2-ie9-internet-options.html.

Bottom line: If you prefer Internet Explorer, then Vista is the wrong platform; or if you're running Vista, then IE is the wrong browser. I think I will install Firefox very soon.

Jody Thornton · Sep 16, 2015

townsbg said:
Last I checked the thread hadn't been deleted but the recent posts had and the user was banned so yes I think it's best not to go down that path again. I have my opinions but I'll keep them to myself.

Fair enough. I guess one thing that makes me feel OK though about circumventing Microsoft usage policies (wherther that be hacked updates for unsupported OSs or the like) is when I read articles like this on the Windows 10 Forum.

Everyone Wants Windows 10 Update Info, Microsoft Says No - Windows 10 Forums

It makes me want to use Vista for as long as I can.

MerlinMagician · Sep 16, 2015

I have a couple of IBM T43p thinkpads using Win XP. Updates for XP ended in 2014. You can download SP3 on the Microsoft server and auto updates update XP to the updates through 2014. I imagine that is how Vista will be when support ends in 2017.

townsbg · Sep 16, 2015

what started that thread? Where are they getting their information from?

Jody Thornton · Sep 17, 2015

townsbg said:
what started that thread? Where are they getting their information from?

Yes Softpedia may be a questionable blog site, however the updates aren't specifying what they are for the same way we can view KB articles on Vista and Windows 7.

I'm really saying that, it's just more to the point of how Microsoft are slowly changing their policies on who they are servicing. An OS really isn't any longer to allow you to run your PC, it's really a revenue generating conduit between the end user and its services or biz partners.

townsbg · Sep 17, 2015

Where did the privacy issues come from?

Is Windows Vista SP2 still usable ?

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