A few questions...

Hello, for starters, I am new to this whole thing and I want to make an older system(XP, ME, or Vista) run as my main OS with some modern programs. The most I am looking for is:

A browser(it being able to run extensions and Tor will be a bonus)

An antivirus software

Spotify

A VPN app

And a malware or PC cleaning app such as CCLeaner.

Is this possible? What softwares do you recommend for the following OSes:

Windows XP

Windows ME

Windows Vista?

I am planning on getting an Sony Vaio VGN-UX or an OQO model 02 if I can find one. What programs would best work on it and my Gateway Windows ME laptop?

Any help appreciated;

Much love and stay safe!

 

These are the only 2 browsers that I'm aware of that support Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP2 and are kept up-to-date and support most websites:
Feodor2 MyPal 28.9.1 (it looks and works like the old Firefox versions)
Maxthon Cloud Browser 5.3.8.2000

They work well in my Windows XP Professional SP3 (is integrated to April 2019) test computer.

I haven't used Windows 98SE and Windows ME in many years, so I can't comment on them.

 

I would forget any versions older than XP. You won't find any updated software that will work on them, especially web browsers. I have 98SE and ME in virtual machines, all the web browsers fail to load most websites on those OSes.

IE5:


Seamonkey 1.1.19 wasn't much better:




I keep these 98SE in a VM for nostalgia - it and XP were my favorite MS OSes.

 

The Feodor2 MyPal browser was just updated to version 28.9.2

https://github.com/Feodor2/Mypal/releases

Select the correct installer file, depending on if your PC has Windows XP SP3 32-bit or Windows XP SP2 64-bit.

 

Thanks,

 

Browser:
Mypal: https://github.com/Feodor2/Mypal/releases
Centaury: https://github.com/Feodor2/Centaury/releases
Newmoon (NMXP) & Serpent: https://rtfreesoft.blogspot.com


Antivirus:
Avast? (i'm not sure if it's still works on xp)
Qihoo360 TSE
Panda?
https://gridinsoft.com/comparison/index.php?lang=en
Glarysoft Malware Hunter https://www.glarysoft.com/malware-hunter/ (I use this + ublock origin)

Spotify:
v1.0.20.101 https://www.filepuma.com/download/spotify_1.0.20.101-10661/
Web player via Centaury: https://open.spotify.com/

VPN:
Windscribe https://assets.windscribe.com/desktop/win/Windscribe_1.80.exe

CCLeaner:
CCleaner v4.19.4867 or older

Is this possible? YES!

Windows XP (this one)

 

The last version of Piriform CCleaner that will work with Windows XP is 5.63.7540
Newer versions require Windows 7 or newer.

The current version of Feodor2 MyPal is now 28.9.3

 

Yea, but v5xx is a bit bloated (IMHO)

 

Only if you allow it to install the "extras" it offers.

It works great for me for what I use it for.

 

Yep, that 'extras'.

That's why i stay with v4, and it works great for me for what i use it for, too

 

You could try Clamwin antivirus (www.clamwin.com). It's built on the ClamAV engine and works all the way back to Win98.

 

Avast/CCleaner should be avoided.
https://www.ghacks.net/2018/08/01/ccleaner-5-45-dont-install/
https://www.howtogeek.com/361112/heres-what-you-should-use-instead-of-ccleaner/

 

As of about a couple months ago when I did the Google research, the only VPNs that support XP are:
Express VPN *
IBVPN *
VPNArea
IVPN
AnonineVPN
FrootVPN *
AirVPN
Windscribe
When you research each, I'd pay particular attention to them with a *.

Browsers are Mypal, Centaury, Basilisk/Serpent and Firefox. There are various Chrome/Chromium based browsers, but are next to useless due to the embedded CA security certificates store. If you know how to install a master certificate to overrule the others, or a MITMproxy to strip the SSL/TLS, then you can use Chrome, SRWare Iron or Slimjet browsers. There is TOR browser for XP, but it is not recommended. You would do better getting TAILS or Kodachi Linux installed to a flashdrive.

I use Malwarebytes, Superantispyware, and AdwCleaner instead of the antivirus (think I used to use Avira). Your best shot at proofing XP against attack is to get a wired router like MikroTik, have a pro come to setup its SPI & NAT. Hook in your PC, go online and download a software firewall (I use Outpost Firewall 2009). The combination of hardware and software firewalls will do the job.Add in the Malwarebytes and such if you're paranoid.