Sure...if your xppro is installed on it. But you should really follow ID's advice and save yourself another headache.

Even better idea. I had Ubuntu as a dual boot on my laptop for awhile. It's a little different but fun to play with and a safe alternative. 

 Thanks, Ubuntu sounds like a fun project.. Xp is smiling, I think she likes it too. Looking at Used desktop machines for $250-$300.. Dell or HP...  32 bit or 64 bit...must have dual core?...  Adding memory to the Xp was easy, would these machines be easy too. Thanks for any thoughts                        

  If I create extra users on my Xp. When the one I'm on gets too corrupted can I change to a new one without bringing the Corruption with Me,

If at first you don't succeed....................Read, Read, Read the Frickin Book!   Elephants always walk on their tip toes, I have three Shrinks and they all say I'm perfectly Alright........ as long as I pay cash.

Ubuntu is more than a fun project, it is a viable OS and can do pretty much all that XP can/could and more.  Apart from a software repository that has pretty much everything you'd need, there is a program/app called WINE, which allows Ubuntu and other Linux users to install Windows applications within it.  Now please don't get me wrong here, I am not suggesting that you ditch Windows for Ubuntu. 

I wouldn't, but it is an OS that, in a dual boot situation with XP, would serve most of your needs until you can get a dedicated Windows machine up and running.  You could of course keep the Ubuntu and XP machine even when you do find a replacement capable of running Win 7 or 8/8.1. 

As for Dell, HP, Acer, etc, there's not a lot of difference between evenly matched machines and one is as good as the other.  You best bet would be to inspect the machines on offer and make a decision on how well it performs, etc.  Now some of these machines will take hardware upgrades and others won't, so ask before you buy anything.  Usually the lower end machines are not upradedable while mid to upper range PCs will generally accept more RAM, a dedicated graphics card and additional HDDs.  Again, check and be sure before you buy anything... in some cases 2nd hand/used goods can be non-returnable.

14 years?  Old age will, sooner or later...

Most computer components have a mean end-of-life failure time. [MTTF].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_life 

I do not dismiss you.  However, I would not be running XP without MS support because no amount of AV programs is going to preven a serious web attack.  Moreover, it is not recommended to run more than one AV program at a time due to potential conflicts... some of which could cause you to miss the very thing you're trying to prevent.. that being infection.

Unfortunately, there is nothing new to ensure the safety of your machine.  When Microsoft issues safety/security patches to its operating systems, the core of those OSes is altered to address the vulnerability which has been/could be exploited.  Other security programs do not do this at anywhere near the same level, and thus they cannot protect you as efficiently, which is why it is best to move on from XP sooner rather than later.  You may be safe from past threats because those were addressed prior to the cut-off date, but you are certainly not protected from new and more virulent threats that are likely to infect you... not to mention others while your unprotected machine is connected to the internet.

As for Jafo's reply, he is just pointing out that PC parts have finite lives, and that increasing ventilation with 8" x 3" holes is not going to extend the life of your rig.  If anything, the increased dust that can now get in could in fact shorten its life.

I answered your question.

Your computer is OLD.  It WILL die soon.

THAT is the 'something going to come along' - AGE.

As mentioned....cutting huge holes in the case will SHORTEN its life as you expose all moving parts [fans] to DUST.

....and tildes are not 'punctuation'.

Thanks ,