Latest news with #WindowsXP
Tom's Guide
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Android phones can now play the legendary Windows XP Space Cadet pinball game for free
For those of a certain age, Windows XP and the legendary free game "3D Pinball Space Cadet" defined your time on PCs. Now, the pinball classic has been ported to Android devices, and it's totally free. Spotted by 9to5Google, the game was ported to Android by developer Kyle Sylvertre. He explained in a Reddit post that he used a GitHub decompilation of the game by k4zmu2a to make the port. Space Cadet is optimized for touchscreens where touching the left and right sides of the screen work the triggers. Tapping and holding the right side of the screen acts as your launcher for the ball (though this is a bit finicky). I just wanted to see it on Android with a Google Play leaderboard. On your phone, it runs in portrait mode, supports 18 languages and has integration with Google Play leaderboards and is less than 5MB. Most importantly, it's completely free and doesn't have any ads. Sylvertre said on Reddit that he's not taking any money or donations for the game either, mostly because he says k4zmu2a did the hard work. "I just wanted to see it on Android with a Google Play leaderboard," he said. The game is missing some features, including tilt, music and cheats, but it feels much like the original if you weren't worried about that. The developer did say that he's working to bring some of those features to the game in future updates. You can find Space Cadet Pinball in the Google Play Store. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. I do want to note that if you just go to the Play Store app and search for Space Cadet Pinball, the free game is not the first one that comes up. Instead, you'll see one by Casual Azur Games that does feature ads and in-app purchases. I had to scroll down quite a way in the more results section to find it. To avoid that, I recommend using this link.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- BBC News
Still booting after all these years: The people stuck using ancient Windows computers
CTRL+ALT+DEL, but make it forever. As technology marches on, some people get trapped using decades-old software and devices. Here's a look inside the strange, stubborn world of obsolete Windows machines. Earlier this year I was on my way to a checkup at a doctor's office in New York City. As I rode up to the 14th floor, my eyes were drawn to a screen built into the side of the lift. Staring back was a glimpse into the history of computing. There, in a gleaming hospital full of state-of-the-art machines, was an error message from an operating system released almost a quarter of a century ago. The elevator was running Windows XP. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Microsoft. The company may not have the cultural cachet it did when that hospital lift was installed, but after a couple of decades playing catch-up Microsoft is back on top. The tech giant has been the first or second most valuable business on earth for the better part of five years. Today, Microsoft is betting on AI to carry it into the next generation of computing. But as it dumps tens of billions of dollars into bleeding-edge technology, some argue that one of Microsoft's most enduring legacies may be the marks it left on society long ago. Since its launch in 1975, Microsoft has penetrated digital infrastructure so completely that much of our world still relies on aged, sometimes obsolete Windows software and computers, chugging along and gathering dust long after they first booted up. For people stuck using these machines, the ghosts of Windows' past are an ever-present feature of daily life. "In a way, Windows is the ultimate infrastructure. It's why Bill Gates is so rich," says Lee Vinsel, an associate professor at Virginia Tech in the US who studies the maintenance and repair of old technology. "Their systems are built into everything around us, and the fact that we have all of these ancient examples around is the story of the company's overall success. That's what's kind of amazing about Microsoft. For a long time, Windows was just how you got things done." Even if you're a diehard Apple user, you're probably interacting with Windows systems on a regular basis. When you're pulling cash out, for example, chances are you're using a computer that's downright geriatric by technology standards. (Microsoft declined to comment for this article.) "Many ATMs still operate on legacy Windows systems, including Windows XP and even Windows NT," which launched in 1993, says Elvis Montiero, an ATM field technician based in Newark, New Jersey in the US. "The challenge with upgrading these machines lies in the high costs associated with hardware compatibility, regulatory compliance and the need to rewrite proprietary ATM software," he says. Microsoft ended official support for Windows XP in 2014, but Montiero says many ATMs still rely on these primordial systems thanks to their reliability, stability and integration with banking infrastructure. And there are plenty of other surprising applications of old Microsoft products hidden in everyday life. In 2024, Windows was at the centre of a controversy across the German internet. It started with a job listing for Deutsche Bahn, the country's railway service. The role being recruited was an IT systems administrator who would maintain the driver's cab display system on high-speed and regional trains. The problem was the necessary qualifications: applicants were expected to have expertise with Windows 3.11 and MS-DOS – systems released 32 and 44 years ago, respectively. In certain parts of Germany, commuting depends on operating systems that are older than many passengers. A Deutsche Bahn spokesperson says that's to be expected. "Our trains have a long service life and are in operation for up to 30 years or longer." Deutsche Bahn regularly modernises its trains, the spokesperson says, but systems that meet safety standards and prove themselves stable are generally kept in operation. "Windows 3.11 is also exclusively used in a small number of trains for operating displays only." It's not just German transit, either. The trains in San Francisco's Muni Metro light railway, for example, won't start up in the morning until someone sticks a floppy disk into the computer that loads DOS software on the railway's Automatic Train Control System (ATCS). Last year, the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA) announced its plans to retire this system over the coming decade, but today the floppy disks live on. (The SFMTA did not respond to a request for comment.) (Read more from BBC Future about the people who won't give up floppy disks.) In a brightly lit room in San Diego, California, you'll find two of the biggest printers you've ever seen, each hooked up to servers running Windows 2000, an operating system named for the year it was released. "We call 'em boat anchors," says John Watts, who handles high-end printing and post-processing for fine art photographers. The printers are LightJets, gigantic machines that use light, rather than ink, to print on large-format photographic paper. Watts says the result is an image of unparalleled quality. Long out of production, the few remaining LightJets rely on the Windows operating systems that were around when these printers were sold. "A while back we looked into upgrading one of the computers to Windows Vista. By the time we added up the money it would take to buy new licenses for all the software it was going to cost $50,000 or $60,000 [£38,000 to £45,000]," Watts says. "I can't stand Windows machines," he says, "but I'm stuck with them." It's a common predicament with specialised hardware. Scott Carlson, a woodworker in Los Angeles, is steeped in the world of Microsoft thanks to CNC machines, robotic tools that cut or shape wood and other materials based on computer instructions. "Our workhorse machine runs on Windows XP because it's older. That thing is a tank," Carlson says, but the same can't be said for the operating system. "We actually had to send the computer back to get completely rebuilt a few years ago because XP was getting more and more errors," he says "It was practically a brick." For the people who use this old technology, life can get tedious. For four years, psychiatrist Eric Zabriskie would show up to his job at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and start the day waiting for a computer to boot up. "I had to get to the clinic early because sometimes it would take 15 minutes just to log into the computer," Zabriskie says. "Once you're in you try to never log out. I'd hold on for dear life. It was excruciatingly slow." When it comes to decrepit computer systems that inhabit larger companies and organisations, the main culprit is generally "deferred maintenance", says M Scott Ford, a software developer who specialises in updating legacy systems. "Organisations put all their attention on adding new features instead of investing those resources into making improvements on [the basics of] what already exists," Ford says, which allows reliance on older technology to build up over time. Most VA medical facilities manage health records using a suite of tools launched by the US government in 1997 called the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). But it works on top of an even older system called VistA – not to be confused with the Windows Vista operating system – which first debuted in 1985 and was originally built on the operating system MS-DOS. The VA is now on its fourth attempt to overhaul this system after a series of fits and starts that dates back almost 25 years. The current plan is to replace it with a health record system used by the US Department of Defense by 2031. "VA remains steadfast in its commitment to implementing a modernised, interoperable Federal [electronic health record] system to improve health care delivery and positively impact patient care," says VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz. He says the system is already live at six VA sites and will be deployed at 19 out of 170 facilities by 2026. "CPRS works, but at times [using] it was an overwhelmingly frustrating experience," Zabriskie says. Where modern health record systems have simple point-and-click interfaces, he would find himself typing out "c://" and the full file path to pull up a document. "CPRS is 100% text, and it's all capital letters. The thing looks like a word processor from the '90s," Zabriskie says. "It's like learning how to use an old car. You have to memorise all these commands, and you're always running into errors. Something that should take a minute ends up taking half an hour because you forgot to type a dash somewhere." It's a key example of a knowledge transfer problem that crops up as technology ages, according to Vinsel. "A lot of times when we're not updating infrastructure and keeping it healthy, you end up in a situation where there's only one guy in another state who knows how to keep the system running," he says. Sometimes, government facilities in particular hang on to ancient software because its simplicity makes security easier to maintain, Vinsel says. "But there are all kinds of opportunities for failure here, especially when you get increasingly complex systems hooked up to the internet and companies stop supporting old software. Cybersecurity is a huge worry around this issue." In some cases, however, old computers are a labour of love. In the US, Dene Grigar, director of the Electronic Literature Lab at Washington State University, Vancouver, spends her days in a room full of vintage (and fully functional) computers dating back to 1977. "As soon as people got their hands on computers they started making art," Grigar says, and she's dedicated to preserving it. In the early days of computing, artists, writers and programs were defining what art and storytelling would mean in the new digital world. Titles like Stuart Moulthrop's Victory Garden or Michael Joyce's afternoon, a story rattled the world of fiction, challenging the very definition of literature by laying out their narratives with links, which allowed for a sort of choose-your-own-adventure style of non-linear writing that set new precedents for the digital age, Grigar says. But she's not just interested in early, experimental e-books. Her laboratory collects everything from video games to Instagram zines. "I use an acronym to explain what sets this stuff apart: Pie. It's participatory, interactive and experiential," Grigar says. "You can't take it off the computer and print it or hang it on a wall." Emulators let you run some old software on new machines, but Grigar says important features of these works are often lost in the process. "It's just not the same experience." Grigar's Electronic Literature Lab maintains 61 computers to showcase the hundreds of electronic works and thousands of files in the collection, which she keeps in pristine condition. Many of the computers look like they were purchased yesterday, with little of the yellowing of plastic cases you might expect from the era of beige electronics. The only thing missing from Grigar's collection is a PC that reads five-and-a-quarter-inch floppy disks, she says. Despite their ubiquity, the machines are surprisingly hard to find. "I look on eBay, Craigslist, I have friends out looking for me, nothing. I've been looking for six years," she says. If you have one of these old computers lying around, and it still works, Grigar would love to hear from you. More like this:• The people who won't give up floppy disks• Is it finally safe to ditch your phone case? I put it to the test• The failure that started the internet From the beginning, one of the key business strategies that set Apple apart was the fact that for the most part you had to buy Mac computers if you wanted to use Mac software, Ford says. "Apple is also really aggressive about deprecating old products," he says. "But Microsoft took the approach of letting organisations leverage the hardware they already have and chasing them for software licenses instead. They also tend to have a really long window for supporting that software." The approach gave Microsoft a huge advantage in securing business clients. It's part of why these old Windows machines hang around for so long, Ford says. "Microsoft is just something you get stuck with." * Thomas Germain is a senior technology journalist for the BBC. He's covered AI, privacy and the furthest reaches of internet culture for the better part of a decade. You can find him on X and TikTok @thomasgermain. -- For more technology news and insights, sign up to our Tech Decoded newsletter, while The Essential List delivers a handpicked selection of features and insights to your inbox twice a week. For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Express Tribune
17-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Same slides, new fiscal year
Listen to article It is that time of the year again. No, not mango season — though that might offer more sweetness than what is coming. It is pre-budget seminar season in Pakistan, our annual economic charade where universities, think tanks, chambers of commerce, and just about every office with a whiteboard and Wi-Fi hold solemn gatherings to discuss 'The Way Forward'. PowerPoint clickers are charged, macroeconomic jargon is dusted off, and economists reappear like migratory birds, repeating the same truths that have now become ritual chants. One wonders: is there a secret mandate from the Ministry of Finance compelling every economics department to host at least one budget seminar before June? Or is it just national cosplay everyone pretending their budget recommendations will somehow find their way into the corridors of power, where the actual budget is being stitched together in Excel sheets, under IMF supervision and political desperation? The truth is that these seminars have become Pakistan's economic folklore. They appear in May, make a bit of noise, generate a few tweets, and vanish without a trace much like the budgets they try to influence. Let us take a moment to salute our brave economic commentators. Year after year, they appear on stage like clockwork, armed with the same prescriptions: broaden the tax base, rationalise subsidies, increase exports, fix the energy sector, reduce the fiscal deficit, and invest in human capital. They are not wrong. But it is hard not to notice that they have been saying the same things since 2020. Or was it 2010? Actually, some of these slides are so old you can almost smell the Windows XP on them. One prominent economist even used the exact same line this year as last: "We must delink politics from economic policy." If only he could also delink himself from this loop of budget déjà vu. And then there are the PowerPoint slides, gloriously adorned with World Bank graphs and IMF warnings, showcasing declining tax-to-GDP ratios (currently hovering around 9.2 per cent, the lowest in South Asia), rising debt-to-GDP (77.8 per cent in FY24), and current account deficits as if they were horoscope signs. Everyone nods solemnly. We have seen this show before. Now let us ask the forbidden question: do these recommendations ever reach the Ministry of Finance? If they do, is there a designated intern who bins them with a polite auto-reply? Or do they simply fade into the budget void like an old PC's startup sound? One can only imagine the Finance Division receiving a report titled 'Budget Reform Proposal from Institute of Economic Rethinking' and responding with a group chuckle before going back to their IMF spreadsheets. There is no evidence — none that these seminars have ever substantively influenced a federal budget. Not even a footnote. Even more absurd is that the actual budget-makers — bureaucrats, special assistants and IMF whisperers - rarely attend these events. It is like holding wedding rehearsals without the bride and groom. The audience is often a mix of students, donors, NGO representatives and retired civil servants enjoying the air conditioning. What we are witnessing is not policy input. It is policy theater. There are photo opportunities, panel selfies, hashtags and post-event pressers. Some speakers use it to test-drive op-ed ideas. Others hope to impress the donors in the room. And a few institutions hold these seminars so that they can say in their annual report: "XYZ Think Tank contributed to budget discourse through a high-level policy roundtable." And why not? The show must go on. After all, what else are we to do when the economic reality is bleak and largely pre-decided? Pakistan's FY25 budget will be written with one eye on the IMF (which has already demanded a tax revenue target of Rs12.97 trillion), and another on urgent financing needs from bilateral partners and financial markets. Within this harsh matrix, how practical is it to propose, say, "cutting non-development expenditures" when 52 per cent of the budget is already going to interest payments and another 11 per cent to defence? What is the point of "rationalising tax exemptions" when those with the power to tax are often the ones enjoying those exemptions? And why talk about "reforming state-owned enterprises" when PIA and Pakistan Steel are now punchlines, not policy goals? If this sounds cynical, it is but it is also empirically accurate. Our pre-budget seminars are economic rituals, not reform tools. Like a high-budget drama serial that resets every season, they offer emotional highs, some tears for the middle class, and the illusion of progress. In 2023, over two dozen budget seminars were held in Islamabad alone. Yet Pakistan still missed its fiscal targets, borrowed five billion dollars more than expected, and delayed reforms on pension and energy subsidies again. Even as inflation briefly catches its breath at 0.3 per cent, the rupee continues its downward yoga, and foreign reserves dance around the eight billion dollar line with the enthusiasm of a tired ballerina. So why do we continue this spectacle? Because, much like sending good wishes to the Pakistan cricket team, it makes us feel better even when we know the outcome. To be clear, debate is not the problem. Dialogue is necessary. But repetition without impact is a form of national gaslighting. If the same economists are saying the same things at the same places with the same results, maybe just maybe the problem is not the budget. It is the echo chamber. Let us save the seminar snacks, reduce paper waste, and redirect some of that pre-budget energy toward pushing for parliamentary hearings, public budget scorecards or citizen audit tools. Until then, happy seminar season! Pass the microphone and the samosas.
Tom's Guide
14-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
This hidden Windows 11 feature lets you force an emergency restart — how it works and where to find it
Windows 11 hides a powerful emergency restart feature that most users don't know exists. This method provides a safer alternative to forcefully holding down your power button when your PC freezes completely. Unlike the harsh shutdown you get from pressing and holding the physical power button, which can corrupt files and cause system instability, this emergency restart goes through a more controlled process that reduces these risks. The technique has reportedly been around since Windows XP over 20 years ago, but it's so well-hidden that even the most tech-savvy users often miss it. If you've ever had to force-shutdown a frozen computer, this method offers a cleaner solution that could prevent data loss and potential system issues. Here's how to use the emergency restart feature on your Windows 11 PC. The process only requires a simple keyboard and mouse combination that you probably already know. First, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard. This opens the familiar Windows security screen that most users recognize from logging in. Next, hold down the Ctrl key and click the power button located in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Don't release the Ctrl key when clicking. A warning dialog will appear stating: "You are attempting an Emergency Restart. Click OK to immediately restart. Any unsaved data will be lost. Use this only as a last resort." Finally, click OK to confirm, and your computer will shut down and restart normally. Emergency Restart shines in specific situations where normal restart methods fail. For example, when your computer has completely frozen and won't respond to any keyboard or mouse input, traditional restart options become impossible to access. This method is particularly useful when software crashes have made your system completely unresponsive, Task Manager won't open or close unresponsive programs, or when your screen is stuck on a particular application or error message. Laptop users especially benefit from this feature if their device lacks an easily accessible physical power button, or if the power button requires holding for several seconds. The technique serves as your go-to solution when standard troubleshooting methods have failed. If Emergency Restart isn't working or your system is still responsive enough to navigate menus, there are a few alternative methods you can try to safely restart your PC: Command Prompt: Open Command Prompt and type shutdown /r, then press Enter. Run command: Press Windows + R, type shutdown /r, and hit Enter. PowerShell: Open PowerShell and run the same command: shutdown /r. Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to File > Run new task, type shutdown /r, check "Create this task with administrative privileges," and click OK. Now you've learned how to use the Windows 11 emergency restart feature, perhaps take a look at some of our other computing articles. You can give your old Windows 10 PC a second life with these 7 practical uses you might not have considered and how to install Windows 11 on an 'unsupported' PC. And to be secure as possible, here's 7 things you should do now to avoid getting hacked. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Tom's Guide
08-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
How to make and run your own AI models for free
When most people think about AI, they tend to focus on ChatGPT, in the same way that search means Google. But there's a large AI world outside of chatbots which is definitely worth exploring. One example is the growing community of people using AI models on their home computer, instead of using third-party cloud services like OpenAI or Google Gemini. But why would I do that, you ask. Well for one thing you get to control every aspect of the AI you're using. That ranges from the choice of model, to the subject matter you use it for. You may like Everything runs completely offline with no internet needed, which means there's no problem keeping your stuff private. It also means you can do your AI work anytime, anyplace, even without a WiFi connection. There's also the question of costs, which can mount up quickly if you use commercial subscription services for larger projects. By using your own local AI model, you may have to put up with a less powerful AI, but the trade-off is that it costs pennies in electricity to run. Finally, Google has just started running advertising in its Gemini chatbots, and it's likely that other AI suppliers will soon follow suit. Intrusive ads when you're trying to get stuff done can get boring very fast. How to get started There are three main components to getting your local AI up and running. First you need the right type of computer, second you'll have to select the right AI model and finally there's the matter of installing the right software to run your model. Oh, and you'll also need a little bit of know-how to tie it all together. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. (Image: © Pixabay) Whole books could be written—and probably will be—on choosing the right computer to run your local AI. There's a huge number of variables, but for a simple starter, only three things matter. Total amount of RAM, your CPU processing power, and storage space. The basic rule of thumb is you should use the most powerful computer you can afford, because AI is power mad. But it's not only about the processor; just as important is the amount of memory (RAM) you have installed. The bottom line - forget about using your old Windows XP machine, you're going to need a modern computer with at least 8GB of RAM, a decent graphics card with at least 6GB of VRAM, and enough storage space (preferably SSD) to hold the models you'll be using. The operating system is irrelevant; Windows, Mac, or Linux are all fine. The reason these things matter is that the more power your computer has, the faster the AI will run. With the right configuration, you'll be able to run better, more powerful AI models at a faster speed. That's the difference between watching an AI response stutter across the screen one painful letter at a time, or whole paragraphs of text scrolling down in milliseconds. It's also the difference between being able to run a half-decent AI model that doesn't hallucinate, and delivers professional quality answers and results, or running a model that responds like a village idiot. Quick Tip: If you bought your computer within the last two to three years, chances are you'll be good to go, as long as you have enough RAM, especially if it's a gaming computer. (Image: © Freepik) AI model development is moving so fast this section will be out of date by next week. And I'm not joking. But for now, here are my recommendations. The number one rule is to match the size of your chosen model to the capacity or capabilities of your computer. So if you have the bare minimum RAM and a weak graphics card, you'll need to select a smaller, less powerful AI model, and vice versa. Quick tip: always start with a smaller model than your RAM size and see how that works. So for example if you have 8GB of RAM, select a model which is around 4 to 5 GB in size. Employing trial and error is a good idea at this point The good news is more and more open source models are coming onto the market which are perfectly tailored for modest computers. What's more, they perform really well, in some cases as well as cloud-based alternatives. And this situation is only going to get better as the AI market matures. Three of my personal favorite models right now are Qwen3, Deepseek and Llama. These are all free and open source to different degrees, but only the first two can be used for commercial purposes. You can find a list of all the available open source AI models on HuggingFace. There are literally thousands of them in all sizes and capabilities, which can make it hard to select the right version - which is why the next section is crucial. (Image: © NPowell) There are a lot of great apps on the market, called wrappers or front ends, which make it easy to run the AI models. You just need to download and install the software, select the model you want to use, and off you go. In most cases, the app will warn you if the model you've selected won't run properly on your computer, which makes the whole thing a lot less painful. Here are a couple of my personal favorites. LM Studio LM Studio is a free proprietary app that is an easy way to use models on your computer. It runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, and once installed, you can instantly add a model by doing a search and selecting the best size. To do this, click on the discover icon in the left sidebar, and you will see a model search page. This scans HuggingFace for suitable models and gives you tons of great information to make the right choice. It's a very useful tool. PageAssist My personal favorite free open-source tool for running local models is PageAssist . This is a web browser extension which makes it easy to access any Ollama AI models on your machine. You will need to install the free Ollama program first, and follow the instructions to download models, so this method requires a little more expertise than LM Studio. But PageAssist is a superb way of running local AI models at the press of a button, offering not just chat, but also web search and access to your own personal knowledge base. Ollama (Image credit: NPowell) Olama is rapidly becoming the number one way to install and run free open source AI models on any small computer. It's a free model server which integrates with a lot of third-party applications, and can put local AI on a level playing field with the big cloud services. Final Thoughts There's no question that local AI models will grow in popularity as computers get more powerful, and the AI tech matures. Applications such as personal healthcare or finance, where sensitive data means privacy is critical, will also help drive the adoption of these clever little offline assistants. Small models are also increasingly being used in remote operations such as agriculture or places where internet access is unreliable or impossible. More AI applications are also migrating to our phones and smart devices, especially as the models get smaller and more powerful, and processors get beefier. The future could be very interesting indeed. More from Tom's Guide
