Windows XP support ends on April 8 2014 - time to move to Linux

As we know, Microsoft has announced the Windows XP support terminates on the 8th of April this year, so after that date there will be no more support for bugs, security patches, device drivers, etc. and presumably this also means that Panasonic will cease supporting Xp on it's older toughbooks like the CF18, CF28 and CF29 I have.

Now this begs the question of whether to migrate to a newer Windows, or dump Windows and migrate to Linux.

I've got lots of *nix experience from years of building/using/selling older Sun servers/workstations. But have not as yet had a go at installing Linux (Gentoo being my current preferred flavour) on a Toughbook, though I did some years ago try it out on one of my Opentec RPC-III systems, and it did mostly work.

So who has dumped Windows and gone with *nix on their toughbook(s) and which flavour(s) seem to be the best suited?

Did you put in a fresh HDD (or SSD) and set up *nix as a virgin installation, then merge your stuff from your old Windows install into the *nix filesystem? That's what I was thinking of doing.

Only issue is that some key applications that I use with Windows probably do not have any *nix versions so all that investment in time and usage of 3rd-party windows applications will be lost. Not that it's a bad thing.

There's no reason to stop using Xp from the 8th of April as it's still going to work fine for years to come until newer hardware no longer supports the older OS. But if MS won't support it, over time the security of the systems will degrade.

What are your thoughts on this with reference to our toughbook systems?

Craig.

 

I have run Unbuntu on several different Toughbooks,mainly from a usb to make sure they would boot.I was thinking of trying it on a CF-H1 as I have several of them just for the heck of it. I just personally have not seen an advantage to running it,doesn't mean there isn't one,just I haven't found it.

But the 1.86 atom cpu may be the dog to run with it,I know Windows 7 is slow as death on one,XP is a lot better so maybe one of the lightweight versions of Linux is in order. Only if it will run the digitizer.

 

Well I know what I would like to say BUT my post might get reported :laugh: . Let's just say it's bull crap. It's a Win Win for Microsock, everyone will need to buy a new laptop which means MS sells another OS $$$$$$$$$. I don't like Linux at all. To much messing around to get it to work right. I am going to stay with XP and keep my anti virus and malware protection all updated...that should be good enough. I am not going to give MS no more of my $$$$$$$$$

 

But honestly, when is the last time that you tried Linux? I mean the only real problems I had getting Ubuntu to work on my CF30 Mk1 was the GPS and the Fingerprint reader. Both seem to cause problems, even on Windows. I got my Fingerprint reader working fine, but the OEM GPS was honestly still a bit problematic. I credit this to the fact that the OEM GPS is serial and the GPS Daemon for Linux seems more oriented to USB.

YMMV, but my advice it to TRY IT to anyone that is sick of M$ nonsense! OR, a second OS on your Toughbook. Really,your old XP will be just fine, as long as it never touches the Internet! Use Linux for that!

 

I still use linux as my second OS. I just updated my pendrive to boot Mint as my new backup plan if something happens to my main hard drive. But I still focus on windows tweaks. Some people are still rocking 2000 so the death nail isn't in the coffin just yet.

 

Linux seems very usable to me, although I use Windows on my stuff except for testing laptops and hard drive installations.
I think everyone is making more out of the "Microsoft ending support" story than is really there. Since when does Microsoft support mean your PC is more secure? Run ANY Microsoft OS without an aftermarket firewall or antivirus and see what happens. Microsoft support does not give me any more peace of mind. Microsoft is the company that brought us Windows 8....That tells me all I need to know about their business strategies. Attempting to force an OS that is suited to smartphones and tablets on everyone. The people with old slow hardware are not a major money maker for Microsoft....Us poor folks aren't as important as rich guys with a new hardware budget.....

 

I already have some older units, CF-18's & 29's, converted to linux. I use the lightweight Mint 13 Xfce. Works great. Units are more responsive under Xfce than XP or W7.
As soon as I get some more ssd's I am going to try Mint 16 on some of the newer units, CF-19MK3 & 4, CF-31MK1 w/ATI graphics and the CF-S10. I don't do dual boot, that is what a spare drive and caddy are for. Want a different OS, swap caddies.
For regular use, email, web browsing, docs and speadsheets, photo editing, etc Linux Mint is all I need.

 

I have to agree that Microsoft is dropping XP as there is no money to be made, just like they did on the Combat flight sim zone. A bunch of us got dinked on that one years ago.

I will look into mint, never tried it but if it will work the screen and what not on an H1 that would be groovy. Not like I don't have enough stuff to load it on.

And… ..Windows 8 I can deal with, Windows Vista…nuf said

 

Just look at it this way. When they do officially stop supporting it just get Nlite and cut a custom ISO and take all the factory crapware/bloatware. Ditch internet explorer (major security issues anyway) from the new ISO, take time to read what you want in there and what you don't. It will speed the system up greatly. Then add your "aftermarket" add on's like web browsers, etc. That will be supporting XP for a few more years at least, maybe longer.

I still have XP on several machines, I don't see me taking it off any time soon on some of my vintage voodoo gaming laptops.

 

I just loaded Mint 16 on my last CF-51…… .that is awesome! Much better then Unbuntu and it has a windows style interface, booted right now!

I can't believe how fast it booted, ok then, time to think about this.:thumbsup:

 

Don't think about it, just use it.

 

Good show.
Mint 16 Cinnamon is on my CF-53. Dual boot w/W7...but I never use that. Boots to 16 in <12 seconds (like 9.5 from Grub menu).

Remember 16 is a work in progress.....for instance I had to monkey around a bit to get photo images doing what I want. Meanwhile, I like the menu...menu launches from super key...it works.
A little back-ground...as you know, I'm no genius. I run a system until it breaks, fix the broken part with as little research as possible and trundle on. If I read the books ahead of time maybe it would be a smoother road.
What the hey....if the road stops I have 4WD....to turn around and go home I use the winch always remembering in this case that "it's just a computer".

What does not work in Linux with-out fooling with it is GPS. If someone would write a GPS program similar to S&T, M$ would be history to me.

safn1949 were you using a SSD?

A better choice for first timers might be Mint 15. Bugs are nearly gone and it's an upgrade of Mint 13 LTS. (long term support)

If you have (for instance) a CF-29 Mark 2 and are lucky enough to own a Mk 4 or 5......be advised that you can install Mint 16 in the MK5 and it will work pretty darn good in the MK1. I didn't make this up or read it.............I am doing it.

All right....
OP,
Prefer Mint to Ubuntu but that's me.
Prefer 15 to 13 but that's me.
Use Mint every day.......either 15 or on the CF-53 Mint 16.

What was the question?????

Jeff

 

Nope,using an old 60gb ide. I just booted it on a 52 and I like it,I will download Mint 15 and give it a try.

I run a 7200rpm 1TB in my personal 52 because I store tons of stuff on it to the tune of 870 GB. I might just install it on my desktop as a dual boot to see how it goes. I have a 29mk5 but I think it is sold.

 

Now here is a funny one, I booted a Dell XT to Mint and it was crazy…… no wifi but the dual touch worked and the drop down menus were all scrambled up. But an H1 will work with it, did a live boot from usb on the dock and all was good.:thumbsup:

 

I'm still looking to give Gentoo a go, but perhaps it'd be good to have some summaries of which Linux's support various toughbook models the best?

Craig.

 

I started with Mint 8 I think....then stepped up to Ubuntu 10.04, 10.10 and liked it for CF-29...requiring a couple tweaks, since documented here. My switch at the time from Mint to Ubuntu was prompted by people asking how to tweak the touchscreens and as it turns out the touchpads.
Mint 13 and Ubuntu 12.04LTS will load on CF-29 and above. Then PAE came into being and the older machines (29MK 1-3)stopped downloading. Turns out once it is loaded it will run on anything....here I am talking about installing a PAE disk in a 29 caddy using a MK4 or 5. Once it is in there it will run all Marks of 29.
Intel and Panasonic support are built into most distros I have dealt with. Touchscreen shows up on most I have dealt with after 10.04. Calibration necessary.
Here is where the xorg shines with the xinput-calibrate utility. Takes a tiny bit of typing in the terminal and some cut and paste.
Mint 15 would be my favorite to this point with the menu favorites. Dislike not being able to open menu with the Super key.
Mint 16 installs fast, Super key opens menu, has favorites ...little to dislike.
Mint 13 has a menu from right mouse click. No favorite column.
Looks like I may need to check out Gentoo.
I still like U10.10 but upgrades are gone. EOL... I preferred the menu to the later pseudo cell phone look of U12.04 and later. That's when I went back to Mint BTW.

FWIW I tweak and calibrate Mint 13,15,16 in +-10 minutes. CF-29 needs mouse tweak. CF-30 does not.
What is needed:
Front buttons on CF-18/19 don't work.
Linux is poor in the GPS racket. Too much terminal work. No maps.

YES you can use .wine with some MS programs but I would prefer native applications.

Let's hear from other distros.

Jeff

 

I will put Mint 15 on a 16gb USB live boot tonight and kick up one of the H1B's I have in the dock,then I can fool around and try to see what works.

I'm still not up to speed on the H1 as I haven't had time nor HD caddies to fool with the pile I have. Say a prayer for me.....

 

CF-H1 caddies are like platinum or something. No source except new that I know of.

Prayer said.

Jeff

 

New ones are no bad really,$111 from heartland but I am still looking,anyway......Mint 15 boots up and the dual touch works,WiFi and Bluetooth work also.

Now here is where I lack knowledge,the camera and RFID don't work,but it is in the dock and I don't know if that disables it. Also 16gb is not enough in live mode as updates and running the program use the entire stick.

I have 2 with caddies,one has only 40 hours on it so I don't want to fool with it. The other will be here end of the week,I will check hours and maybe dual boot it or pull the drive and boot my beater H1C field tablet.

 

I agree with Shawn. Having Official Support from Microsoft has not kept XP from being an absolute virus/malware magnet. It will be interesting to see if MS dropping support will make any difference whatsoever.

 

I still have a win95 machine.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

 

I started with Win98 but I have used a 95 machine...slooooooow.

 

safn1949,

I did a build of Ubuntu 10.10, with a keyboard that opened with the password for use with-out a dock. It's where I learned to use short passwords.

Problem was the eol.

Check out "cheese" for the camera. Load it from the synaptic package manager. "digikam" has a scanner reader interface. Also in synaptic. The trick is to get it to recognize the key press on the buttons. I never got that far.

The H1 was labor intensive so I finally sent them out of here. Too interesting but wasted time.

 

I started with MS DOS 3.1...........
8088 CPU at 8 mhz
20MB MFM hard drive half height 5 1/4 inch
256kb ram
720kb 3 1/2 floppy
14.4kb dial up modem with BBS's

 

I still use WinXP for my business. Some of the older software won't run under Win7up. VMware to the rescue.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

 

I guess I will have to upgrade my CF-18mkII to Win 7, Anybody know a good reliable source for a legal Win 7 copy with coa?

 

I get mine mostly from newegg. Currently $99.99 plus $1.99 shipping for Win 7 Home Premium, and $139.99 plus $1.99 shipping for Win 7 Pro. Every now and again, they will have a sale for $80.00 for Home Premium.

 

I'm sticking w/ XP for as long as I can. I've got Windows 7 on my office machine, and in my experience it's a big step down. The MS Word is absurdly complicated, and impossible to simplify. What was great about the the old MS Word was its flexibility. Like the old Word Perfect, you could customize the buttons menu, and get rid of all the garbage you never use. But not so with the new (now old) and "improved" MS Word. Similar problems with the Explorer tool--the file/folder manager, not the browser. The XP version is simple, clear, intutitive, and it was so from the beginning. I'd switch out of MS altogether if I didn't have so many programs that can only run on XP.

And now Bill Gates is reforming education? Physician, heal thyself.

 

Well I got a lot of answers reading all the post. My CF-28 will not upgrade to 7 so I will either live with XP or look more into the MINT one. But don't think it would operate above 13?? My other laptop that my son had is newer and faster and it would upgrade to 7 and we do have 7 on our home computer and after I make it look more like XP I can now find what I want a little better. I also started out with 3.1 and have gone through the others over the years and I like my XP.

I need to find some one that has the Mint installed here local and just take a look at it up close and personal. I think I also understand that I can use it and duel boot but I need to do some C drive clean up I think? Or can it be run from say a CD or Memory stick???

Thanks

 

The best resource I know is three posts /\ that-away/\....Klonsdale. He has always been MY go-to guy with Linux on CF-28.

Yes you can run about any non-PAE version as a Live CD.

Hey Klon, what are you using these days?

Shall I send you a toasted CF-30 lid to Powder Coat? Someone sandblasted it...painted it and the paint kinda fell off. It's UGLY.

Thanks,

Jeff...

 

What is the top made of? I have never gave it much thought. If it is metal then it will coat. I guess you want a pink one or bright yellow

 

I currently don't have anything installed at the moment, but I think that Mint 13 is going to be your best bet for a 28, The newer kernels will not work with a processor that does not have PAE support. If you follow some of the older threads the touchscreen can be made to work easily. You will also have to set the boot option in linux to get the screen to display correctly, I just cant remember off the top of my head but if you search for CF-28 linux you will find it.

I need to correct myself; Linux Mint Debian (16) will run on non-pae processors by default. http://linuxmint.com/rel_debian.php I had this installed on my CF-18mk II until I got a factory restore disk.

 

I guess this one is what you are talking about?
https://www.osdisc.com/products/debian/debian-live-74-no-desktop-install-live-cd-pc.html

I see the use of the word LIVE and then the use of the word INSTALL. Is the meaning of the word LIVE a CD that you run from your disk drive only? I know what INSTALL means. And if I understand correct if I install then I would want a dual boot so I could pick what I wanted my computer to startup in.

 

That is correct, you can boot linux off a usb / cd drive to try it or install as a dual boot.

 

So that one can be installed if I like it and then install it as a dual boot. That was what I didn't understand when it said Live.
My CF-28 does not have a touch screen so I am good there. I guess I need to do some more research on Linux because I know nothing about it. I had heard about it years ago and also seen where guys that liked it could buy out of date computer cheep and be happy as a lark because it was not a resource hog and that is all I know. But I thought you needed to know code to use it? But we talking many years back if my memory is correct?

Thanks

 

I use it to boot a computer minus hard drive to make sure it works, just download mint 15, burn it to a disc and boot.

it will ask if you want to run it live, then you can fool with it to see if you like it. Very user friendly and any questions are answered in online forums.

 

Not code exactly but some keyboard work in the terminal is required.

The only thing that may not work out of the box is the draggy touch-pad....possibly the video. This has gotten better through the last cupla upgrades.

As far as dual boot....

1. Get your M$ program installed to suit you.
2. Stick a Live CD in and try it.
3. If you like it a gui on the desktop states "install"
4. Let Linux do your partitioning...you chose the size.
5. Install all updates.
6. You may have video problems on first install but we can fix that..
7. Yes there is a learning curve but remember I did it so anyone should be able to.

 

Thanks. I just ordered the CD so will give it a try out when I receive it,

 

Don't get aggravated if Mint 15 does not install. 13.04LTS will work.
The problem is PAE. (whatever that means)...(it's like the OS being able to use larger block of code) my paraphrase.
In my case Mint 15 would refuse to load on CF-29 mk1. The work-around was to download/install the OS on MK5 (or four)
The point.....once you have it downloaded... it will run....as I have done on 29MK1-5 units .....with the same drive and caddy.
As Linux /Ubuntu says ...it just works.
Go slow...we are here...you may need to contact me PM to wake me up.

Luck,

Jeff

 

Linux Mint Debian comes with PAE turned off by default in the 32 bit version....While Debian is another fork of Linux it has its own quirks, most notably the installer leaves a lot to be desired as you have to manually partition your hard drive because they have not yet developed an intelligent installer. The boot loader can also cause problems upon installation so this is not for the inexperienced user...I am living proof that a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. But if you are interested in keeping the older toughbooks going you don't have much choice with the end of the line coming for Windows XP.

 

my wife has a laptop that she has not used in years. It did come with ME if that tells you anything. I don't remember if I put XP on it or not? She did fine with ME. It is the one with the little eraser for a mouse. It also had swapable drive cadies like these do. Drove me nuts to use it! With her not using it at all now because it is so slow then Linux might be the only choice for it. My CF-28 was bought to keep in my powder coating bay in my garage and it did until my other laptop lost 1/2 of it memory (A Sony Vaio thing) Hell I have two of them with the same problem. No one wants to fix them or said they could and guess the resolder didn't work all that well and they stopped? This one along with them are or was mirror images of each other right down to the desktop. Of course when the memory went their speed went with it. If my memory is correct I don't think you could put in just one larger stick of memory to help offset the problem? Or I didn't have the extra bucks? I need to check on that or just get ready to scrap them I need to take some time and look around on here and where ever else I can look on using Linux so I will know what to expect a little more.

 

I thought it was an old age thing, Now when I forget something, I can blame Sony.

 

Yep if you were real lucky it would happen when under warranty if you bought it new. But it would happen after. there were a lot of them sold and at one time there was talk about going after Sony with a class action suit it was so bad. You could put a piece of cut up credit card on top of the one and then put the cove on and it would push on it and that did work longer than it did to start with but over time it would just give up. just a bad soldering job when made.

I did ask my son last night about Linux because I knew at one time he had tried it but many years ago. He gave me a lot of info about why it is used and why it is safe and what he told me made me laugh. He said that hackers use it and one that write the dag virus use it and none of them want to hack and mess with it and just go after MS + the fact that it is also not a widely used program. Of course he told me more about it also. He did understand why I was interested in it as some of you are. How well I will like using it will be another story but will be interesting if I can operate it and get it into my 68 year old brain????

 

I'll ask Mom and Dad, but I think my warranty expired 54 years ago..

 

My Friend is 72 and he does just fine with Ubuntu. He got tired of Microsoft's spying on him.

I dual boot. I like both OS's, but I have decided that the less that the Microsoft side touches the Internet, the more trouble free my Toughbook will run!

 

Regarding:

Interested in what AV program you're using for XP? My MK1 XP CF-19 started acting up with MS Essentials, getting a nag screen/link alerting to the drop of support...now it says mine is "unprotected"...

 

I found this a very informative read about MS and support and what is best to do for protection. And to make a SP3 new CD so if you want to stay with XP you will have what you need to load all the updates needed.
When Windows XP support ends, this is how you secure your PC and save all updates | Expert Reviews

 

Microsoft Security Essentials has repeatedly failed to meet certification standards since October 2012.
Latest test results:

AV-TEST - The Independent IT-Security Institute: Jan/Feb 2014

It does well in performance and usability ratings (it does not bog your computer down), but was dead last in the protection column with a score of 0 out of 6. It simply does not detect enough threats.

For more opinions on this, just google "microsoft security essentials certification".

 

On a more positive note, Bitdefender Free, AVAST! Free, AVG Free, and AVIRA AntiVir Free work well.

Bitdefender requires 512 MB RAM Free Antivirus Software - Download Bitdefender Antivirus Free

AVAST! requires 128 MB RAM avast! Support | FAQs

AVG needs 512 MB Support for AVG Free Software - AVG Free Edition

AVIRA requires 512 MB Avira Antivirus Suite - Malware protection - free trial download

 

I load MSE on all the computers I load here lately. Avast and AVG are the worse too I deal with at work when they get infected. At least 3 when I am at work. We have had a duplicator virus going on at work. It hides folders and put's up a exe shortcut on a flash drive that looks like your folder. Then it opens the folder you want, and starts up the virus incase it it's already running. Took me a week to figure out where it was all hiding at, and then put up a few measures to stop it from starting again. It also copies files in a hidden location until all your hard drive space is gone. MSE installed computers are the only one that catch it, the others have been infected. This includes the company computers that are running malware bytes and enterprise McAfee antivirus. For back up I keep three back up portable antiviruses. Clamwin, Stinger and Spybot. I will have to do some reading to see what it's been missing.

I also load Flashblock and Adblock plus on the computers I load/re-load so that may help to block some also.