I just had a 2004 issue HP-Compaq nx6110 with windows XP Pro installed given to me for free. It works well and has no technical issues that I know of. The question is, will this run ESU Lokprogrammer well? And can it recieve and upload the soundfiles? My modern laptop is a chromebook, which won't do any of that.
I am using a similar vintage IBM Thinkpad for both JMRI and LokProgrammer. Works just fine. For JMRI, you will need to do the manual Java update (the automatic updated will fail, but the Java website has the instructions) For the ESU programs, you just need to download the current USB device drivers for their stuff.
The problem is XP is no longer supported by Microsoft. Meaning if you put it on the internet to download files (java, sound files, etc.) it could (and very likely will) get infected with malware or viruses. You might be better off using it offline only. Use your Chromebook to get the files you need and put them on a thumb drive to move them to the old XP machine. Other than that it should work for what you need.
Your laptop with Windows XP doesn't support newest versions of JMRI, Java and other needed software. Try to switch it to Windows 7. It will do everything under Win &
Not true. The latest versions of Java and JMRI work just fine with XP. Only the auto-updated for Java doesn't work (see above). Manual loading of Java instructions can be found here: https://java.com/en/download/help/windows_manual_download.xml
Thanks so far. Does the aftermarket stuff like "avast" protect an XP machine? And the idea for using the thumb drive to transfer is great. I do not have net in my trainshed and so do all of this stuff setting in the house.
Most of the antivirus / malware protection programs still support XP. I continue to run Norton on mine.
The LokSound programmer is nice to have to change sound files and do programming but it is not necessary to do most decoder programming. With the exception of sound files, JMRI works very well on the program track to read and write to the decoder and gives a saved file of all CV"s.
Did it have a clean install of XP on it? If not, check for the XP license key sticker. if you can still read it and have an OEM XP install disk, do a complete clean install of XP. I love XP and still run it on about eight computers in my house, but when it gets old and used, the only really good cure is a clean install to start fresh. Just a tip from an old XP user that "keeps it going as long as he can".
It has the disc and was a factory install. Am probably going to take it to the original shop and have them go thru it. Will ask them to dp a clean install. Thanks!
