Still using Windows XP? Here's to update it and gain all the features it's missing

[Batu69]

Microsoft might have dropped support for Windows XP over two years ago, but the operating system remains hugely popular. According to the latest usage figures from NetMarketShare, XP still has over 10 percent of the market.

 

There are numerous reasons why people might still opt to use the ancient OS, including the simplest of all -- because they like it, and it works for them -- but time has moved on considerably since XP first arrived in 2001, and the OS is missing a lot of features. Don’t worry though, you can bring XP up to date quickly and easily.

 

A few months ago we wrote about the Missed Features Installer (MFI) for Windows 10, a 1.3GB ISO file which adds a ton of third-party programs to Windows 10, such as Classic Shell, Gadgets 2.0, This PC Tweaker, and the Windows Experience Index Tool.

 

Now, the same developer has put together the Missed Features Installer5 -- MFI5 for Windows XP and 2003.

This is a 1.2GB ISO file that offers XP users a wealth of "missing" features sorted into categories such as Support, Applications, Games, Multimedia, PowerToys, Downloads, Hidden Options, TabletPC and Media Center.

 

View the screenshots below to see some of the features it can add to XP.

 

 

 

 

Download the Missed Features Installer5 -- MFI5 for Windows XP and 2003

 

Article source

[SPECTRUM]

I recommend this: https://www.sebijk.com/community/index.php?thread/2985-getting-xp-updates/

[luisam]

Though I'm sure there are some intersting Missing Features in this Installer, my very first approach was a near disaster.

I only installed the so called Windows Installer 4.5 . After it restarted Windows, neither Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware nor WD Smartware wanted to star up.  While I could live without Bitdefender Anti Ransomware, because it's rather limited efficiency, WD Smartware manages the backup process to my external drive. And, of course, can't even imagine what else is being or will be affected. Why? No idea. Restored system and now all works as before.

So, lets start by stating that this 1.2 Gb pack nowhere describes what the hell it makes. You may guess by the title what some items mean, others give just a clue. And of course, worst even, no warning of any kind about any problem you might have installing a particuar item

System Restore us NOT an option if you note the issue after youve done n nuber of installations. You'll never know what caused the problem so all you can do is go back to the origiinal conditon.

[Wiwi-maX]

On 4.6.2016 at 4:54 PM, luisam said:

Though I'm sure there are some intersting Missing Features in this Installer, my very first approach was a near disaster.

I only installed the so called Windows Installer 4.5 . After it restarted Windows, neither Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware nor WD Smartware wanted to star up.  While I could live without Bitdefender Anti Ransomware, because it's rather limited efficiency, WD Smartware manages the backup process to my external drive. And, of course, can't even imagine what else is being or will be affected. Why? No idea. Restored system and now all works as before.

So, lets start by stating that this 1.2 Gb pack nowhere describes what the hell it makes. You may guess by the title what some items mean, others give just a clue. And of course, worst even, no warning of any kind about any problem you might have installing a particuar item

System Restore us NOT an option if you note the issue after youve done n nuber of installations. You'll never know what caused the problem so all you can do is go back to the origiinal conditon.

 

What are you talking about?!?!?! No body calling it like that - "Windows Installer 4.5" that is its original name of https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8483 - also known as "KB942288"

For your knowledge on your Windows XP in System32 you have something called msiexec.exe. This file is responsible for handling installation of MSI files (filename.msi - not filename.exe).

In fresh installed Windows from genuine media you have msiexec.exe version 3.1.4001.5512, and this installer "Windows Installer 4.5" updates that msiexec.exe file to version 4.5 - how your Windows to better handling the msi installations. What gonna happen if do not install it? - In automated installation of msi files you won't see text description for current operation in the progress bar of msi installation of some other application.

But if you have already updated Windows XP installation disk (with some updatepack, or nLited updated media) then probably you don't need this update because it is very likely to be already integrated/slipstreamed into it.

 

1st. Before making accuses for malware, check digital signature of the file.
2nd. You can downloaded from Microsoft for yourself if you want and compare hash checksums - and you will see there is no differences.

3rd. Installer uses batch scripts for installing, you can always open the script in notepad to see is it something else installed beside what suppose to be.

4rd. Whole ISO was uploaded, and downloaded for double checking, after that was extracted to one folder which was scanned with Kaspersky Total Security (fully updated) - which one reports: No threats. You can check it in any time.

5th. There is a PDF documentation In the ISO file that describes the origin of every 3rd-party file, and its author(s).

On 4.6.2016 at 4:54 PM, luisam said:

Though I'm sure there are some intersting Missing Features in this Installer, my very first approach was a near disaster.

I only installed the so called Windows Installer 4.5 . After it restarted Windows, neither Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware nor WD Smartware wanted to star up.  While I could live without Bitdefender Anti Ransomware, because it's rather limited efficiency, WD Smartware manages the backup process to my external drive. And, of course, can't even imagine what else is being or will be affected. Why? No idea. Restored system and now all works as before.

So, lets start by stating that this 1.2 Gb pack nowhere describes what the hell it makes. You may guess by the title what some items mean, others give just a clue. And of course, worst even, no warning of any kind about any problem you might have installing a particuar item

System Restore us NOT an option if you note the issue after youve done n nuber of installations. You'll never know what caused the problem so all you can do is go back to the origiinal conditon.

 

What are you talking about?!?!?! No body calling it like that - "Windows Installer 4.5" that is its original name of https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8483 - also known as "KB942288"

For your knowledge on your Windows XP in System32 you have something called msiexec.exe. This file is responsible for handling installation of MSI files (filename.msi - not filename.exe).

In fresh installed Windows from genuine media you have msiexec.exe version 3.1.4001.5512, and this installer "Windows Installer 4.5" updates that msiexec.exe file to version 4.5 - how your Windows to better handling the msi installations. What gonna happen if do not install it? - In automated installation of msi files you won't see text description for current operation in the progress bar of msi installation of some other application.

But if you have already updated Windows XP installation disk (with some updatepack, or nLited updated media) then probably you don't need this update because it is very likely to be already integrated/slipstreamed into it.

 

1st. Before making accuses for malware, check digital signature of the file.
2nd. You can downloaded from Microsoft for yourself if you want and compare hash checksums - and you will see there is no differences.

3rd. Installer uses batch scripts for installing, you can always open the script in notepad to see is it something else installed beside what suppose to be.

4rd. Whole ISO was uploaded, and downloaded for double checking, after that was extracted to one folder which was scanned with Kaspersky Total Security (fully updated) - which one reports: No threats. You can check it in any time.

5th. There is a PDF documentation In the ISO file that describes the origin of every 3rd-party file, and its author(s).

[luisam]

On 8/6/2016 at 1:33 AM, Wiwi-maX said:

 

What are you talking about?!?!?! No body calling it like that - "Windows Installer 4.5" that is its original name of https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8483 - also known as "KB942288"

For your knowledge on your Windows XP in System32 you have something called msiexec.exe. This file is responsible for handling installation of MSI files (filename.msi - not filename.exe).

 

 

MFI5 is calling it like that in the user menu and in the PDF Documentation, but if you prefer calling it "KB942288", no problem.

So, yes, I know what is msiexec.exe, though your explanation might be really usesul for users who are not sure about that.

Presume I made a mistake by trying to install "Windows Installer 4.5" before verifying if I actually had the latest version available for Windows XP, because, as I could verify later, actually I already had msiexec.exe v.4.5.6001.22159 (03MAY2013) installed. Somehow the version installed by MFI5, (must confess, no idea what is its release version) or the PROCEDURE to install it, created some kind of conflict, interfering with AT LEAST Bitdefender; I had no curiousity to continue searching what other damage was made in my system before restoring it to previous condition.

This detail made me extemely cautious and critique about MFI5 because it's obviously NOT what it presumes to be, at thy say "an update to missing features". so, after browsing its features, duely deleted it.

As for the rest of your interesting comments:

1. I'm not saying anywhere that problem is for some malware

2.; 3  Interesting tips

4. I usually check my downloads with Avast and Malwarebyte's Antimalware with latest sig, and then try to disasseble with Universal Extractor to chack if it has some waird stuff bundled but must confess that only used AVAST to check this particular piece of software.

5. I was really enthusiastic when I saw this "Documentation" but it has only 6 pages: two, dedicated to the EULA and license considerations, two final pages of "thanks to" and two pages of a listing, no more explicit than the screenshots of the post. There is no explanation whatever about what each item might do except what the user might understand (or not) from the title

 

 

[software182]

Nice, but let it die.

[steven36]

That's what they been saying since

 

And its June 2016 and it's still not dead Microsoft missed when they tried to shoot it in the head .