If you must run XP to run hardware (think scanners) get Windows 7 Pro that has a virtual copy of XP and just set that up to do scanning. There are some other posts about how to change the TCP to increase security, but DO NOT use the virtual for internet.
You can use a virtual machine clone of the current system if you are upgrading, but that might not be within the licensing guidelines. If you are NOT upgrading but doing a full install (which you kind of have to do anyway from XP) I believe it would be legal to virtualize the current system. One reason NOT to do this is that there are so many links and the tendency is to use the familiar. You are probably better off just using the new virtual copy from Win 7 Pro.
Otherwise get Windows 8.1 and a either a program called Start8 or Classic Shell that brings back the beloved start menu and opens to the desktop. This makes Windows 8.1 equivalent to Windows 7.6 (or some other later iteration of Windows 7.)
That way you won't complain in about 6 years about them not supporting Windows 7. See this info sheet from microsoft
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/lifecycleI'm afraid that, with the utmost respect, I'm going to have to disagree with Wendell.
1. If you have old hardware that requires XP, it's time to replace that hardware. Question: How old is that stuff, anyway? Does the OEM even support it anymore? If you don't have any good questions to those answers, then how do you expect to answer the question of what you are going to do if that scanner/multi-function printer/whatever breaks? I assume you have such a device because you actually need it, not because you felt sorry for someone's sales quota. If you need it, then what happens if it breaks and no OEM will repair it? Again, upgrade under your control, not when something flies apart thereby forcing you to totally unplanned.
2. Again, virtualizing copies of XP just to maintain old hardware must itself be maintained. Are we spending enough money to avoid an upgrade that would equal the cost of the upgrade?
3. While getting Windows 8.1 is fine, if you want the Start menu that badly just get Windows 7. Programs like Start8 and Classic Shell are fine and dandy and all that, but they are not supported by Microsoft. So if one of those programs interferes with a line-of-business app that you actually need, you'll need to call Start8 or Classic Shell support - and good luck with getting the producer of a $49.99 start menu mod to fix it so it will work with your $1,200 EMR or $8,000 Practice Management software. As Wendell points out, Windows 7 still has six nice longs years of support. At the end of that six years, yes, I will be making a post about how you need to be getting your butt of Windows 7 then just like I'm telling you to get off XP now. Then again, how many here really do use computers that are six years old? Wait, don't answer that. Really, don't.
4. LEARN WINDOWS 8.1. Getting back to the Start8/Classic Shell thing, if you are going to buy Windows 8.1 then please learn how to use Windows 8.1. There are lots of videos on YouTube and on other sites on how to use this OS properly. It took me 10 minutes to master the new Start Screen in Windows 8. 10 minutes. That's all. The Windows 8 Start screen was refined in Windows 8.1, will be refined further in Windows 9, but it will still be there. Just like UAC is still with us now and how many of you hated that? Touch is here to stay.
People, I say again, it's time to move forward. Holding on to the year 2002 (XP release year) barely made sense in the year 2010 (Windows 7 release year). Why are we trying to make it have any sense at all in the year 2014? Save yourself the grief.
JamesNT
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