I have an older computer running Windows XP, and since Microsoft stopped supporting it I have had a lot of trouble getting things to run. Computer has trouble rebooting, and things just run really slow.

I do not want to buy a new machine yet and I don't want to pay for a newer version of windows. Are there any free alternatives? Is there are work around?

Anyway to patch up Win XP so it will work without slowing?

Can you play Windows games on linex? If GOG games will work on linex then that can solve the problem for me, plenty of free versions of linex OS.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Tried reinstalling XP? You can still get the service packs from MS: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/learn-how-to-install-windows-xp-service-pack-3-sp3

When I used to run XP, I had to reinstall at least every other year, but I would you usually reinstall every year. Perhaps a reinstall of XP is needed to get your computer working like new. Just don't forget to back up everything before you format.

Usually you get one with a new machine :)

I'm with HereforBeer on this one - Microsoft announcing they were ending support wouldn't slow down an otherwise functioning computer. Something else happened around that time that caused it (assuming of course the computer was running well in the first place). If you don't want to go for a full on wipe and reinstall (which I do think is a good idea as general practice every now and again) then you can always use a Restore Point to bring your computer back to a state where it was faster (say you noticed it really started slowing down about 2 weeks ago - load up a 3 week old restore point). You might lose some of your files and it's not as clean a slate as a reinstall but it's something to consider. Also, run a virus scan, defrag hard drive yadda yadda yadda.

I would say it is just time to move on.
Windows 7 licences, of Windows 8, if you prefer that one, are really cheap nowadays, down to 50 bucks or less.
Of course I would recommend to switch over to Linux, but reading your text I do not really think this is an option for you, so stick with the OS you like.

You weren't very precise about when problems have had begun but maybe this will help?
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/systemcenter/en-US/e905da87-ec3e-4af7-aad5-8403e7de60b4/today-on-all-windows-xp-computers-stopped-working-microsoft-antimalware-service?forum=systemcenterrom

You can play games in linux with Wine emulator i guess.
Win Xp with Sp2 is works stable, Sp3 has some problems about cpu usage. (I had that problem)
You can try to reinstall your system, also if your main harddrive has two partition (like c or d) , get your backups to another harddrive and delete your two partitions then create again. (maybe there is some broken or bad sectors in your harddrive)
If you can't reinstall your system, use some software to clean useless registry files (ccleaner is fine) , you can check your system about trojan and virus (malwarebytes,spybot s&d). If your virus program has high memory usage (like kasper) you can change your virus protection program. If you have one :)

You can try these settings too.

Don't forget to check your harddrives health. (hdd sentinel is nice program for it also you can find some free softwares)

Try running some Linuxes off a flash drive, see what you like.

I also agree with the reinstall. And as Ixamyakxim said, Windows officially ceasing support has nothing to do with it; they've been weaning off support for years now. Also XP doesn't defrag automatically by default like the newer systems do, so you might need some good ol' defrag! But a reinstall is the way I'd go.

..or you can just run chkdsk /r from command line and see if any bad sector are reported at the end! (takes a WHILE though!) I'd suggest a chkdsk anyway as it sorts out a whole bunch of filesystem corruption issues
If its a Dell it should have a diagnostics partition available as a boot option from pressing f12 at the BIOS POST Splash screen - run all the diags in there if so!

I've just read this article (dated 2014-04-17) on polish web (google translate below):

(...)
While support for Windows XP ended up precisely on April 8 , the company continues to update their anti-malware software, Microsoft Security Essentials. However, it seems that the update is not always in this case good. Learned this at least a few hundred users " ikspeka ", who can now use their computers .

Yesterday updated antimalware engine in the plans should bring a lot of good , but unfortunately it bounced installation hiccups large group of users. The new version of Microsoft Security Essentials , Forefront Client Security , Forefront Endpoint Protection , Windows Intune Endpoint Protection and Windows System Center Endpoint Protection instead of positive effects in the form of better protection, only annoyance caused a wave of dissatisfaction with the operation of the company.

After the antimalware engine update Windows XP incredibly even slows down and freezes. Moreover, for some users in general no longer included as in the case e.g. corporate networks is quite a big problem . The only solution is complete only services , which also recommends that Microsoft itself . According to what they write users , it is not always easy, because often they are not even able to get to the login screen.

Really interesting is that such a serious error occurs a few days after the abandonment of support for Windows XP. We do not believe , however, that it was a deliberate action to convince people to move to a newer system . However, Microsoft does not come at the best of image .
(...)

What applications/games do you need it for? You might be able to run it all under WINE. If you're low on system resources, Xubuntu might be a viable solution.

linux seems to be on the gog's "to-do" list atm.

There is of course "WINE", but as i am not linux gamer, i have no idea how well it works these days. All i know its getting better for sure - but thats it. Someone else probably knows better.

Reinstall WinXP, apply the Service Pack 3 and some of the later patches to it, deactivate internet access and install Linux Mint (with WINE) as your primary OS in dual boot.

Or just go with Linux (preferably Mint, because it's easy and stable) and install a virtual WinXP in Virtual Box, may save you some partitions and HDD-space.

I'm running a dual boot setup since November and it's very convenient.
Most of my important XP-programs run via WINE or there are better Linux alternatives anyway ("Asunder" for CD-Ripping for example) and if I want to play something without distracting me with Internet stuff, booting up my XP-gaming partition is an easy way to go.

If Linux game support and WINE get even better over time, I'll abandon Windows completely.
Many of my games already have Linux ports and these will come to GoG.com sometime too.