The end of support from Microsoft is ending for Windows XP. Perhaps the best system they have came up with. It commands the majority of operating systems in use today. Later versions did not work as well.
Why do they just not come up with a one time charge for folks using Windows XP to keep up the service that we were so happy to get from them. I would be happy to pay a one time fee to make XP work forever.
That may be the whole plan. I will lay down for it as all my computers are old and work just fine.I like many people cannot afford to just go out and get a new computer. They are putting a scare in a lot of us I am sure. By the same token there are probably a lot of folks still chugging around out there on Windows 98.
You can go to Microsoft and see if your computer will be able to handle a operating system upgrade. Some older units will take the Windows 7 update. Most will not take the Windows 8 update. I have been checking around on the update and will probably require professional assistance. This will likely cost a lot as the computer shops will consider this a big shot in the arm for business. I will keep you updated as I can get more information.
So far what I have found is that you may have to get a very good anti virus, spyware and malware program. There are also others suggesting that Java, Flashplayer, and Adobe are venues that let hackers get access to your information. Microsoft Securities Essentials will also stop support for XP also. That is supposed to end in 2015. But without the XP security updates will be lame. That is why an outside provider may be the way to go. The top two I have found endorsed by pundits are Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 and Avast! 2014. McAfee and Norton will have something too. I took liberty to download Avast on the desktop. It is free for 30 days. It really slowed things down. Maybe because I still have Microsoft Security Essentials running too. It takes 500 MB. So it is probably good at what it does. The minimum package is about $35 per year. The best around $80. Kaspersky starts at around $80. I have not downloaded Kaspersky. Avast! has a sandbox and virtual computer mode which I understand makes some actions on your part more secure.
Also suggested was to not use Internet Explorer. Use Firefox and Google Chrome. I find this interesting as I got a malware that infected Firefox and Google Chrome called Conduit. It was a pain to get rid of. Internet Explorer was not infected. Conduit is a hijacking search engine that directs you to where ever it is they want. I read that Firefox and Google Chrome are going to be more secure that Internet Explorer.
So what do you do. Keep on going with XP. Upgrade or try to upgrade to a more modern operating system (Vista, 7 or 8). Another option is switching to a third party operating system like Ubuntu. They claim to have 20 million users and is free. The desktop and laptop I use both according to Microsoft can handle the Windows 7 OS in the 32 bit version. This is only because they meet the minimum requirements of RAM, processor speeds and amount of space left on the hard drive. People look at me like I am crazy using nine year old computers. But they work just fine and I am not hard on equipment and look almost new. They were very expensive units when new with a lot of optional upgrades which has contributed to their longevity.
If you can or attempt to upgrade to Windows 7 you have to do a custom installation. You can save your currant programs if you save them to an external hard drive. Microsoft is providing a free transfer program. But you will need a external hard drive. Bear in mind that if you do not transfer these programs and documents they will be lost forever. The other thing is finding a Windows 7 disc. I have found some available in the internet. You need the whole program with the COA and key code. Also the disc is only good one one computer. So if you need to upgrade 2 you need 2 discs. There may also issues with drivers etc after installation. Expect to spend around $100 for the Windows 7 OS disc. Make sure that it is genuine and have the key codes and unused as it will not work. Again a lot of people are going to in a panic (like myself) will try anything. Again it may be worth the money to take the unit to a professional for the upgrade. Kind of like calling the plumber. In the worst case scenario you can upgrade with effort and expense, buy a new machine or just keep chugging along until something bad happens.
In my experience with machines sometimes when you fix one thing it reveals another weak link. So in my case I pay and figure out how to do the upgrades. I am not concerned with saving anything on the laptop as I pretty much wiped it clean for speed purposes. The desktop has a lot of purchased games. If the games do not require an internet connection I can just remove it from the internet and use it for offline use only. Upgrading does not guarantee that these machines do not has some other catastrophic failure from the hard drive or mother board. In essence they could die anytime. Until I find more information do you attempt a DIYS fix. Let it ride and come what may. Do you buy a new machine. Let it ride fits into my budget.
Since XP is still in use in 30% of the machines to this day someone will come up with something. My nature is to panic about something which may not amount to much. A new computer is not in my budget any time soon. I would imagine this is the case with most people. I am not a hardcore fan of anything. Coordinately not a computer operating system. I do not have Windows XP tattooed on me anywhere. It is just a system in an appliance that I use. Simple as that.
The big thing they say is the hackers are just waiting for Microsoft to let there guard down. Then they can access everyone's bank account and credit cards. This may be true. XP users will be inundated with every bad thing that could happen to them.
I think that Microsoft should step up to the pump and continue support of their arguably best and longest lasting operating system. Others have came and gone by XP has hung in there for 12 years. As none other. Perhaps they could charge a one time fee for perpetual support. I do not think that Microsoft is going broke and it would seem to be a feather in a company's hat that they came up with technical ecstasy. Something that worked and still works. Later systems were not as good. Bill Gates has the money to spend on saving some kind of bugs in some remote country. Why can he not have his company continue to support his product for a few more years anyway? It just came to me last Sunday that this may be a big issue. I will try to figure out more and will post on it accordingly.
Please let me hear your comments.
You can go to Microsoft and see if your computer will be able to handle a operating system upgrade. Some older units will take the Windows 7 update. Most will not take the Windows 8 update. I have been checking around on the update and will probably require professional assistance. This will likely cost a lot as the computer shops will consider this a big shot in the arm for business. I will keep you updated as I can get more information.
So far what I have found is that you may have to get a very good anti virus, spyware and malware program. There are also others suggesting that Java, Flashplayer, and Adobe are venues that let hackers get access to your information. Microsoft Securities Essentials will also stop support for XP also. That is supposed to end in 2015. But without the XP security updates will be lame. That is why an outside provider may be the way to go. The top two I have found endorsed by pundits are Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 and Avast! 2014. McAfee and Norton will have something too. I took liberty to download Avast on the desktop. It is free for 30 days. It really slowed things down. Maybe because I still have Microsoft Security Essentials running too. It takes 500 MB. So it is probably good at what it does. The minimum package is about $35 per year. The best around $80. Kaspersky starts at around $80. I have not downloaded Kaspersky. Avast! has a sandbox and virtual computer mode which I understand makes some actions on your part more secure.
Also suggested was to not use Internet Explorer. Use Firefox and Google Chrome. I find this interesting as I got a malware that infected Firefox and Google Chrome called Conduit. It was a pain to get rid of. Internet Explorer was not infected. Conduit is a hijacking search engine that directs you to where ever it is they want. I read that Firefox and Google Chrome are going to be more secure that Internet Explorer.
So what do you do. Keep on going with XP. Upgrade or try to upgrade to a more modern operating system (Vista, 7 or 8). Another option is switching to a third party operating system like Ubuntu. They claim to have 20 million users and is free. The desktop and laptop I use both according to Microsoft can handle the Windows 7 OS in the 32 bit version. This is only because they meet the minimum requirements of RAM, processor speeds and amount of space left on the hard drive. People look at me like I am crazy using nine year old computers. But they work just fine and I am not hard on equipment and look almost new. They were very expensive units when new with a lot of optional upgrades which has contributed to their longevity.
If you can or attempt to upgrade to Windows 7 you have to do a custom installation. You can save your currant programs if you save them to an external hard drive. Microsoft is providing a free transfer program. But you will need a external hard drive. Bear in mind that if you do not transfer these programs and documents they will be lost forever. The other thing is finding a Windows 7 disc. I have found some available in the internet. You need the whole program with the COA and key code. Also the disc is only good one one computer. So if you need to upgrade 2 you need 2 discs. There may also issues with drivers etc after installation. Expect to spend around $100 for the Windows 7 OS disc. Make sure that it is genuine and have the key codes and unused as it will not work. Again a lot of people are going to in a panic (like myself) will try anything. Again it may be worth the money to take the unit to a professional for the upgrade. Kind of like calling the plumber. In the worst case scenario you can upgrade with effort and expense, buy a new machine or just keep chugging along until something bad happens.
In my experience with machines sometimes when you fix one thing it reveals another weak link. So in my case I pay and figure out how to do the upgrades. I am not concerned with saving anything on the laptop as I pretty much wiped it clean for speed purposes. The desktop has a lot of purchased games. If the games do not require an internet connection I can just remove it from the internet and use it for offline use only. Upgrading does not guarantee that these machines do not has some other catastrophic failure from the hard drive or mother board. In essence they could die anytime. Until I find more information do you attempt a DIYS fix. Let it ride and come what may. Do you buy a new machine. Let it ride fits into my budget.
Since XP is still in use in 30% of the machines to this day someone will come up with something. My nature is to panic about something which may not amount to much. A new computer is not in my budget any time soon. I would imagine this is the case with most people. I am not a hardcore fan of anything. Coordinately not a computer operating system. I do not have Windows XP tattooed on me anywhere. It is just a system in an appliance that I use. Simple as that.
The big thing they say is the hackers are just waiting for Microsoft to let there guard down. Then they can access everyone's bank account and credit cards. This may be true. XP users will be inundated with every bad thing that could happen to them.
I think that Microsoft should step up to the pump and continue support of their arguably best and longest lasting operating system. Others have came and gone by XP has hung in there for 12 years. As none other. Perhaps they could charge a one time fee for perpetual support. I do not think that Microsoft is going broke and it would seem to be a feather in a company's hat that they came up with technical ecstasy. Something that worked and still works. Later systems were not as good. Bill Gates has the money to spend on saving some kind of bugs in some remote country. Why can he not have his company continue to support his product for a few more years anyway? It just came to me last Sunday that this may be a big issue. I will try to figure out more and will post on it accordingly.
Please let me hear your comments.
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