Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP in 2014. However, most features of Weather Watcher will still work if you follow these steps to configure Windows XP:
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Install Internet Explorer 8 from here. This is the most recent version of Internet Explorer available for Windows XP.
Note: You should install Internet Explorer 8 even if you’re not using Internet Explorer as your primary web browser.
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Install all available Windows updates.
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Download this ZIP file (from this GitHub repository) and run the installers and REG files in order from 001 to 009. These changes will enable TLS 1.2 – allowing your computer to connect to websites (like NWS) that require connection using the latest security protocols.
Note: Some of the Microsoft installers will suggest rebooting at the end of the installation. Do so each time you’re prompted.
Note: The REG files will configure settings in the Windows registry. You should see a success notification pop up when double clicking those files.
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Enable TLS in Internet Explorer by doing the following:
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Click “Tools” → “Internet Options” in the top menu
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Click the “Advanced” tab
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Scroll down to the bottom of the Settings and check the boxes “Use TLS 1.1” and “Use TLS 1.2”
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Install Weather Watcher 7.2.263 (or higher). The current Weather Watcher installer can be downloaded here.
Even after these updates are installed, the following Weather Watcher features will not work:
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The radar map does not display in the main Weather Watcher window. You could click “Settings” at the bottom of that window and set the “Map Image Link” to a map image of your choice.
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The map does not display when adding new weather stations. Google Maps (the maps used by Weather Watcher) no longer works in IE on Windows XP.
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The map does not display in the Local Observations window. It’s also using Google Maps.