Antimalware, firewall, and other security programs for Windows XP working in 2023 and hopefully beyond

[Dave-H]

Glad to see that you had the same end result as me, with the file from Softpedia.
I was going to try again with it myself, but I won't bother now as I know now that I will just end up with the same version 22!

Although I didn't try installing without an internet connection, I too had noticed that despite the size of the 'offline' installer, it still actually downloaded the installation files, presumably the 22.03.05 ones!

I suppose the next thing to try is using that 'offline' installer file on a Windows 10 installation, to see if it does the same thing.
I'm speculating that maybe version 23 does not actually support Windows XP, so if the installer detects XP it installs version 22 instead.
Just a thought.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

I'll test in a Win10 VM.

It really is the *BEST* way to TEST.  You can try all the "uninstaller" programs you want, you will find that installing/uninstalling "frequently" has a tendency to "F Things Up".

Keep that baseline VM and only install into clones, DELETE the clone when done testing.  This approach is the GUARANTEED *ONLY* approach to ***NEVER*** F anything up!  

[NotHereToPlayGames]

Also, as another "teaching lesson", monitoring your TEMP folder is generally a MUST during ANY "install".

It's also a great way to get (and archive) the "real" installation file(s) even if using a tiny "stub" that downloads the "real" installation files.

In general, as long as you do NOT close the "stub" or pull from TEMP folder "while" it is running, then you can copy the "real" installation files from TEMP before the "stub" deletes them.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

The same exact v23 *offline* installer when ran in Win10 *ALLOWS* for an OFFLINE installation.

In XP, the *Offline installation* checkbox is disabled so you are forced to use the offline installer as a "stub" that downloads v22!

 

XP:

 

 

10:

 

[NotHereToPlayGames]

one moment, ran out of space to allow copy-and-paste screencaps...  bad news, that means all previous screencaps will be deleted (my time is too valuable unto myself to use any image hosting services, sorry, just 'fact')...

[NotHereToPlayGames]

The same exact v23 *offline* installer when ran in Win10 *ALLOWS* for an OFFLINE installation.

In XP, the *Offline installation* checkbox is disabled so you are forced to use the offline installer as a "stub" that downloads v22!

 

XP:

 

10:

[Dave-H]

I always raid my Windows temp folder for installation files when doing an installation with an online installer.
I usually do it when the first 'do you want to continue' prompt comes up, as many installers immediately delete the temporary files when the installation ends.
I've got hold of many files which work as offline installers that way!

Well I think that proves the theory.
You can't actually install version 23 on XP, only version 22!

That 'offline installation' checkbox was there when I installed version 21, the first one I installed.
I wondered why later versions didn't offer it, now I know, it won't offer it on XP.

I assume that you did actually get version 23 on Windows 10.

I do hope this doesn't mean that Panda are soon going to drop XP support for Panda Dome.
I suppose as long as the version I've got still gets the equivalent of pattern updates, unlike Malwarebytes 3.5, it's not a problem.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

9 minutes ago, Dave-H said:

I assume that you did actually get version 23 on Windows 10.

Yes.  Not in LTSB 2016, but yes in 24H2.

In 2016, it "installed" but attempts to open the GUI resulted in an "exception error".

At what version of 10 did the "exception error" get fixed is unknown.

I've already deleted the VM clones.  I could reclone/reinstall if screencaps are required.

Basically, I know enough at this point that my "real hardware" XP will *not* be getting Panda Dome (it may not get ANY antivirus, to be perfectly honest, it's just for out in the garage).