Linux and the virtual Windows XP machine

Post-Installation Tasks

After your Windows XP installation finishes, you might receive a prompt that your system requires updates or that it's vulnerable. You can set up system updates, if prompted, with Express Install, and click the Install button to continue.

Your system will likely reboot after this process completes. If the system prompts you to reboot, do so. If you're not prompted to set up updates, follow the procedure below to install updates for your system.

Upon entering the system again, click Start | Windows Updates and navigate through the process of updating your system. More than 100 updates for Windows XP will be shown, and you'll have to reboot after each set of updates. Repeat this process until there are no more updates for your system.

As you probably know, Microsoft has stopped supporting Windows XP as of April 8, 2014. That means that once you've updated your system with the available updates, you'll no longer have regular patches, service packs, or security updates for your system.

When you start your XP VM, you'll likely see a message asking you to acknowledge Windows XP end of support. Click Don't show this message again and then click OK to dismiss the message.

There is a registry hack to receive future security updates, but Microsoft won't test them against Windows XP, so use this hack at your own risk. I advise against it. Instead, install a good antivirus program on your XP system. I recommend AVG's free antivirus [2]. It will help keep your system secure.

Your Windows XP system is now fully functional and ready to use. Virtual machines are exactly like physical machines in that you can install software, reboot, back up, and crash them. Your Windows XP VM should provide you with sufficient life until you can safely and reasonably migrate your legacy apps to a newer operating system.