Decades-old Windows systems are still running trains, printers, and hospitals

[sol1109]

Many of these systems are in a category called embedded PC systems. Mfg's buy industrial PC modules with the OS built in to manufacturer the completed product. Once the OS goes obsolete the whole embedded pc usually needs to be replaced because the mfg no longer makes one with the same chip set or connections and offers no path to update the OS in the older hardware since no evaluation can be done with the new OS due to a lack of older hardware still in their inventory. On top of that, the application firmware from the final product manufacturer would need updating and testing with the new OS which they will not do for free if at all.

 

[Ben Myers]

Many of these systems are in a category called embedded PC systems. Mfg's buy industrial PC modules with the OS built in to manufacturer the completed product. Once the OS goes obsolete the whole embedded pc usually needs to be replaced because the mfg no longer makes one with the same chip set or connections and offers no path to update the OS in the older hardware since no evaluation can be done with the new OS due to a lack of older hardware still in their inventory. On top of that, the application firmware from the final product manufacturer would need updating and testing with the new OS which they will not do for free if at all.

True, but repairing an embedded system may not be impossible. A great many embedded systems use standard parts, motherboards, cooling fans, memory, hard drive and so on. Standard parts can be replaced if replacements can be found. Sometimes, improvements are possible, too, as in replacing a spinning HDD with and SSD.