I also thought the same thing.
I certainly didn't expect a slightly whiny post about an ancient OS (and a nearly unsupported 64-bit version of that).

Not really, there are easier way to record protected files than using the "What you ear" record option. The Hardware abstraction layer removal was actually a "feature" of Vista that had plenty of valid technical justifications, like improving stability, making it easier to move the same Windows image between different computers, etc... it was a side effect of the new and actually improved Vista driver model rather than a gesture to please the record industry.

Concerning the record "What you ear" option, it's a sound card feature, not an OS one, some cards still have it under Vista/Seven but honestly I have no idea which ones, mine does actually (The Realtec chipset found on my Asus Maximus V MOBO)

What you can try to do is right click on the "speaker" tray icon and select "Recording Devices".

There right click and make sure that both "Show Disconnected Devices" and "Show Disabled Devices" option are checked.

There check if you have the "What U Ear" option or "Stereo Mix" (as it's called on my PC) device enable it and select it as default recording device.

There is a catch though (at least with my sound chipset) for the "Stereo Mix" to work and be able to record "what you ear", you have to use an "analog" output, if you use Digital (SPDIF) or Optical output then the "Stereo Mix" won't record anything, but if you plug a speaker or a headphone directly to your sound card output and select this as the default playback device then the "Stereo Mix" option will work correctly.

A comment like this one from a staff of a tech business place makes me very concerned to be honest.

To run with your car analogy, despite driving a 1992 car you still have to get it to pass a periodical technical inspection in order to be allowed to drive it on the road. The problem with Windows XP is that at this point in time it fails that inspection very easily, making it a vulnerable OS.

And just as I wouldn't want you driving a car that doesn't pass inspection on the road for the fear of ramming your breakless automobile into mine, I sure as hell don't enjoy your PC being part of a botnet sending me spam or worse.

Let's just admit that technology moves forward, computer security evolves and you need to keep (at least relatively) up to date to not be a threat to yourself or to others.

can we please bury Windows XP already? it was good while it lasted but FFS get with the times.

Ah ok, not sure then even if I am able to do that even under XP. I'll still have to try it out. I hope I do, it would simplify the recording quite a lot.

Both of my Windows 7 machines are laptops, whether that affects the ability to record "what you hear".

Fortunately I was able to get Windows 98SE to run, otherwise I couldn't have played Heavy Gear properly. :) There are also even some GOG game(s) which seem to have more issues on Win7 and later, than XP.

Anyway, most home users don't upgrade a new Windows release to their existing PC, but wait until they buy a new PC which comes with the new Windows version preloaded.

Having said that, I still don't think publishers would need to support ancient Windows versions with their _new_ games. Just don't try to prevent me from running my old games and software on those old PCs/Windowses.

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is in Extended Support until 08/04/2014, the same day as the 32-bit versions.

There is no reason to choose Windows 7 now that Windows 8 exists, especially for gaming purposes. Windows 8 retains all key desktop functionality and even introduces some welcome improvements. If you really can't stand to see the new interface at all you can install Classic Shell or the like.

Yeah, most people don't buy new Windows versions until they get one preloaded with their new PC. Probably partly due to MS pricing, but also because of the hassle/fear of upgrading your existing Windows installation to a newer one (should one start from a clean table, or try to upgrade, or or or...).

I still have Windows XP running on two older PCs, but it is pretty much just for some older games. I can go online with it, but would rather not do anything where security matters to me, like net banking. Just to be on the safe side.

My solution to keep perfectly good PC hardware still functional and get online with it, is to replace the old Windows with Linux. Rather than buy a pricey new Windows license to an old PC that might die the next day, or which might not even have proper drivers for the new Windows version.

Rightclick then open file location and you'll see the folder with the actual shortcut, the reason the start screen replacements work is the files are still stored in the same way as they used to be, the start screen icons are just links to the links >.<

Ah ok, cheers. I would have thought I had tried that already, but apparently not.

I need that also to easily figure out that which shortcut is pointing to which program, e.g. in the cases Win8 Start screen just places five "Manual" links one after another, when they are actually pointing to manuals to different GOG games.

8.1 fixes that iirc by adding headers over the shortcuts.

No, it hasn't gotten SP3 because Server 2003 hasn't gotten a third service pack. XP x64 isn't a 64-bit edition of XP, it's a workstation edition of Server 2003 x64.

You're not the only one. It's the lack of capitalization that did it, I think. Although I did figure it out by the 2nd sentence.

Hence why I put it to you that I am borderline mentally disabled. I was just about ready to move on to the next post (hoping for a solid explanation as to why experience points were not dead in gaming) before I realised what I was reading...

Yeah, Steam used to support 2000 and maybe even 98 right? It's pretty awful that people who had been using Steam on those operating systems and paid for games to play on those operating systems cannot do so even though the game still supports that OS.