Do Not Install Win Xp Sp4 From This Site

I went through a lot of heartache trying to setup an XP PC to run older software I developed for XP in a stable environment for stable testing, including all the issues with setting a stable environment to have the OS in SSD and creating a new installation, getting wireless to work and having at least a stable environment where Windows updates worked. I was unfortunately eagerly excited when I saw this:
http://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/windows_xp_service_pack_4_unofficial.html

It simply broke my computer. I have to start from ground zero, minus a 100 if you will. I wasted a lot of hours on this and I can't say enough against installing this. Stick to SP3, installing AVG for XP and Firefox. Do NOT install this unofficial SP4. Their uninstall does not work, and when you try to do that, it removes essential files that were there before, so your original state never returns to normal. And it remains as an installed software pack with no way to uninstall it unless you play chicken-catch in the registry.

I hate wasting my time, and I registered in this site simply to place this warning.

I am giving you at least 48 hours of your life back. DO NOT install the unofficial SP4 for XP.

If you want to run XP in a newer PC, use the info below, and DO NOT FOR GOD's sake install this SP4 patch available here:
https://windowspro.eu/installing-windows-xp-on-ssd-disk/
http://forum.driverpacks.net/viewtopic.php?id=1449

UberDemon
www.uberdemon.net

 

Another thing is don't install AVG or Avast it has been known to collect user data and sells it to third parties.

 

Do you have an alternative AV for XP? Should I stick with the last version of MSE for XP? I am looking for a free alternative because this PC is literally used for XP development, so it does not have a whole lot of personal stuff... anything besides Kapersky should do I imagine.

Nice Tron avatar BTW...

 

I think Panda security works still on Windows XP but you have to have Service Pack 3 installed.

 

Roger, will give that a try. Thank you for the tip.

 

Your welcome.

 

If you want more info its here this is for AVG https://www.wired.co.uk/article/avg-privacy-policy-browser-search-data and this is for Avast https://fortune.com/2020/02/12/free-antivirus-software-avast-selling-user-browsing-histories/ but Avast now owns AVG as one security company.

 

so is there a free alternative that is not so blatantly invasive? Not sure I want to pay for a new service.

 

take a look here https://windowsreport.com/antivirus-windows-xp-service-pack-3/

 

Thanks man!

 

OK, found the free version of Panda. I'll install it after I completely redo my XP PC. Again, thank you for the tip.

 

You are very welcome.

 

Sorry about your loss but really you should know to make a back up of your system BEFORE applying experimental software, c'mon you're a developer!!

 

The computer was a clean install, so basically I would back up the entire installation up to that point. I lost no work development work, just time. It was just super annoying.

 

Is it possible to use VMware instead of messing with a machine XP was not actually designed for?

And, it seems you're accessing the 'net with this machine as well. Which there's a long security lecture about...

 

If you must use XP, then I would use Autopatcher safer, and pretty good off-line updater
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/autopatcher.html