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Legacy Windows systems persist in hospitals, banks, and transit
A New York City hospital elevator running Windows XP earlier this year highlighted how deeply outdated Microsoft software remains embedded in global infrastructure, from ATMs to high-speed trains.
Why ancient software refuses to die
Lee Vinsel, a Virginia Tech professor studying technology maintenance, attributes Microsoft's enduring presence to its foundational role in digital infrastructure. "Windows became the default way to get things done," he said. "Its systems are woven into everything around us."
Even Apple users interact with Windows daily-ATMs, for instance, often run on Windows XP or the 1993-era Windows NT. Elvis Montiero, an ATM technician in New Jersey, explained the hurdles: "Upgrading costs millions due to hardware compatibility, regulatory compliance, and proprietary software rewrites."
Trains, printers, and healthcare stuck in the past
Germany's Deutsche Bahn sought IT administrators in 2024 to maintain train displays using Windows 3.11 (1993) and MS-DOS (1981). A spokesperson noted trains operate for 30+ years, and stable systems are retained. Similarly, San Francisco's Muni Metro still boots its Automatic Train Control System via floppy disks, though a decade-long phaseout is planned.
In San Diego, two massive LightJet photo printers rely on Windows 2000. John Watts, who operates them, called upgrades prohibitively expensive: "Switching to Vista would cost $50,000-$60,000." Los Angeles woodworker Scott Carlson faces similar struggles with a Windows XP-dependent CNC machine, which recently required a full rebuild after errors rendered it unusable.
Government systems lag decades behind
Psychiatrist Eric Zabriskie described the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), built on 1985's VistA, as "excruciatingly slow." Logins took 15 minutes, and the text-only interface required memorizing DOS-style commands. The VA is replacing it by 2031 after multiple failed attempts.
M. Scott Ford, a legacy systems developer, blamed "deferred maintenance" for such stagnation. "Organizations prioritize new features over updating existing infrastructure," he said, creating knowledge gaps where only a few experts can maintain aging systems.
Security risks and preservation efforts
Vinsel warned that outdated software poses cybersecurity risks, though some agencies retain it for simplicity. Meanwhile, Dene Grigar's Electronic Literature Lab preserves 61 vintage computers to showcase digital art from the 1970s onward. "You can't print or hang these works-they're participatory and interactive," she said, lamenting the difficulty of finding a functional 5.25-inch floppy disk reader.
Microsoft's long shadow
Ford contrasted Apple's aggressive deprecation of old products with Microsoft's strategy: "They chase software licenses and support old systems for years." This approach cemented Windows as an inescapable fixture in business and infrastructure, ensuring its legacy endures-even as the company invests billions in AI.
"Microsoft is just something you get stuck with."
M. Scott Ford, Legacy Systems Developer
