I have a computer question.

I have a computer question.
I got a pop up thingy on both of my computers that have windows XP. The pop up said that on such and such date windows will no longer be supported. What does this mean to me? Does it mean after that date my two computers are now heading for the scrap heap or what? I can operate computers but do not understand just how they work. So could you please keep it simple for me as I am a simple person.
Thanks for any help you could offer.
NorthEast puller.

Windows XP will no longer be supported by Microsoft on April 8, 2014. This means MS will not provide ANY updates for ANYTHING, most importantly security updates. A hackers dream!!!!

First off, your PCs will not necessarily be scrap. But it might be old enough you may want to either build a new PC yourself (pretty easy and fun) or buy one. I'm guessing you're a buyer from your question!

What I would do, assuming your PC isn't super ancient, is first back up all pictures, music, documents, and any files you want or might want to keep in the future. Back it up to an external USB hard drive. 1TB external drives are pretty cheap these days. Or burn to numerous CDs.

Then upgrade to Windows 7 (Home, Professional, or Ultimate) or Windows 8. For most personal non-gamer PCs, Windows 7 Home will be just fine and look on screen more similar to XP. If you now run or plan to run MORE THAN 16 GB of RAM you need Pro or Ultimate. 32 or 62 bit versions are available and which one will depend on your equipment and peripherals.

To upgrade, all you do is purchase an upgrade CD for the OS you want and update your current PC. It is almost as easy as putting the CD in your optical drive and following the on screen instructions.

All your files should be preserved during this process. But I recommend you back them up, as mentioned earlier, if some catastrophe occurs like a power outage mid-update.
Windows XP End of Life Information

I assume you are on Windows XP. Microsoft is ending support for XP on April 8, 2014. What that means is they will stop providing updates for the operating system, which is 12 years old. Your computer will run, but you might have problems if you try to install new hardware or software. The more serious concern is that Microsoft won't be issuing patches for the OS or updates to Microsoft Security Essentials for XP. That means Microsoft won't do anything to fix security problems in XP, and it's likely that vendors of third-party anti-malware software will phase out XP support as well. For a computer connected to the internet, continuing to run XP is a huge risk.

So what are your options?

1. You can, as you ask, buy a new computer with Windows 8 installed. That would solve your problem for another ten years or so.

2. You can upgrade your computer to Windows 8. The problem here is that Win 8 needs more memory and a faster CPU than XP. You may not be happy with your computer's performance running Win 8.

3. You can install Linux on your computer. Linux is a bit more forgiving in terms of hardware requirements than Windows. You could stretch the life of your computer out a few more years, but it would mean learning a new OS and different applications.

4. Or you can do nothing. Your computer will continue to run, but you're likely to have a lot of problems with malware. Eventually you'll try to install a new device or application and find it won't work on XP.

With the current prices of new computers, this may be a good time to start shopping for a replacement.

See the link below for the official Microsoft announcement.
Microsoft ends XP support April 8

FYI, I run Windows 7 Ultimate dispite Windows 8 being available when I build my PC. Windows 8 hasn't received the best reviews and is being blamed, in large part, for the decline in PC sales. Also if you buy, don't get a Mac. I have one and it is not worth the price and there is much less software available as compared to a PC.

Here's my take. I have run XP since 2002 and love it. So now they are telling me that if I continue to run XP my outdated junk computer is "at risk" Risk of what? They already told me it was junk. I am going on blindly in bliss. I'm going to be like the blonde that was getting late payment notices. She got one that was marked "FINAL NOTICE" She said, "Thank goodness they won't be bothering me anymore"
Maybe I will stop getting all those pesky update reminders?

Here's the thing - I understand getting comfortable with an perating system, and being happy with what you do with it while the rest of the world advances around you with enhancements you don't care about.

But the reality is, computers last three years. Anything over that and you start getting into your situation.

Yes, you can keep using XP. And you may have no trouble. But you're hard drive IS going to crash soon. When you go to install a new one, you may find the old device drivers don't work with your new drive.

In short, it's going to be come a bigger and bigger challenge to keep the old machines alive. Requiring more technical expertise just to maintain them than you'd ever need to run a new one.

The next problem is, Operating systems evolve quite a bit with each release. When you skip several generations of an operating system, by the time you DO move up, you're going to be so unfamiliar with it that you don't recognize anything. You'll essentially be learning from scratch, instead of slowly across time.

Do yourself a favor - go buy two cheap new computers.

Even the cheapest modern computer will be a better move than the ticking time bombs you have now - they WILL fail eventually, and irreversibly.

All it means is Microsoft will no longer update it. So for on-line work - a Microsoft brand of anti-virus and adware like "MS Security Essentials" will no longer be relevant. If you have off-brand protection -you can go on using XP forever - until something finally fails. I've got two computers that I've used for 12-13 years - a lot - with XP Pro.

Anybody that claims a computer only lasts a few years is being silly. A computer is a machine and just like a tractor - is made of many parts. Most are generic. The parts fail, the computers don't. Parts are cheap and can be changed. It's just a matter of when it's not worth it anymore.

I find the biggest problem to be program compatibility. Just about any program on XP will also run on Vista. But many of those programs will not run on Windows 7. And some programs specifically written for Windows 7 will not run on Windows 8. If your old programs serve you well - it might be worth keeping your XP machine near forever. If you do , just buy a 2nd newer machine for HD Web-stuff.

I am slowly going from XP to Windows 8.1. The computer I am using right now is using the latest operating system. Toshiba laptop for under $500.

I set up my Google Cloud and have loaded files from my old XP machine. On the new machine, the cloud looks like a regular folder so I can do my TurboTax, Quicken and such quite easily.

I might even load my other data files up there, bring them down to the new computer and then delete the cloud version.

I wonder if the lack of support of XP will now mean it is more in the public domain?

Not telling you what to do as that choice is up to you. However, I went to Linux (the Mepis Distro) in 2007 or 2008 and have not looked back. The learning curve for this was not bad at all and there are some good places for assistance online (discussion boards). I have been windows free for 4-5 years now I kept windows on and dual booted for a few years to be sure but, after a time realized that I had not booted to the windows side for a couple years and just dumped it..

Linux will extend your system for another 10 plus years, as long as the hardware holds up. There are some people running linux on very old systems- much older than yours, with no problems.

Unless you are using your computer for something that requires certain business applications such as Quick books, you do not need MS or their crap. If you are going to to learn a new system anyway, it might be time to make a clean break and learn a system that will be with you for a long time.

Your call and good luck.

Year & a half ago I bought a new DELL laptop with Win 7 Home ED. ; Upgraded to Win 7 Pro because it gave me VIRTUAL XP ( I love the XP OS ). Still have XP on my little ACER Notebook. Have (4) 500 Gig. external HD's for backup, one of which I have set up as a full OS backup for both XP & 7 Pro.

I think I have everything pretty well covered (I hope).

As with Dieselrider, I'm going to suggest that there are other operating systems out there that are not Windows. I guess it all depends on what you need your computer for. If you run a bunch of programs that need Windows software, you have to upgrade to a Windows operating system. If you need a computer for just internet or online transactions, try something else.
BTW, the computer I'm posting from is an old Compaq that cost $298 at WalMart about 10 years ago. I have long dumped the Windows OS and it is now running on Ubuntu. It boots much faster than the Windows 7 machine that sits next to it. Ubuntu updates itself about every week and the Ubuntu OS is a free download. My Windows machine has been hacked several times. This one just keeps putting along.

Just got my wife an HP2000 notebook for $280 at Walmart with Windows 8. It would not run several of her MS office programs from her Windows 7 machine. Windows 8 also does not support POP email servers which was a pain. It only gives IMAP support of email. Why they did that - I have no idea. We also refuse to use the "Cloud" they keep promoting. We keep out info in-house on DVDs or portable hard-drives. With a little tweaking and a few new programs the new machine works well. We did not need new programs however IF they had worked with Windows 8.

I just purchased a new computer. 1) My old computer is about 13 years old and the hard drive is making all kinds of noise, last time it did this it crashed. 2)With support for XP is going away, I don't like the idea of the machine being vunerable to hackers (just had my email hijacked recently). 3) when you factor in new hard and new operating system might as well get new computer that is equipped with the latest hardware requirements. I did buy mine with Windows 7. I have heard of lots of problems with 8 and I have seen 8 - I do not like the look/feel of it. Just some things to consider, everyone has their own preferences just like the color of their tractor.

A lot depends on how old your XP system is and how much memory it has.

You can check by going into Control Panel -> System and looking at the CPU speed (probably something like X MHz or GHz - megahertz or gigahertz) and memory (X MB or GB - megabytes or gigabytes)

If the speed and memory are in megawhatever it"s a pretty old and slow system. I"d retire it because newer software like web browsers and desktop applications assume you have a lot more processing power these days.

If both the speed and memory are in the giga whatever you could try buying a full install disk for Windows 7 Pro, but it might not work because...

Microsoft and the PC manufacturers don"t want you to upgrade the operating system. The jump from XP to Vista/7/8 is planned obsolescence to force you into buying a new PC. They"ve made it difficult to upgrade by making the new operating systems refuse to run on the older hardware.

Bottom line is that you would probably be happier just buying a new machine. It"ll be much faster and less likely to fail. You can still get a new PC with Windows 7 and Microsoft will support that OS until 2020. Otherwise, hold your nose and take the plunge to Windows 8.

If you buy a new PC you can get all your files off the old one onto a thumb drive and load them onto the new one. Your XP applications are probably not going to work or are ready to be upgraded anyway. If want to try Linux after you get everything you need off the old PC I'd suggest Fedora with Open Office. If all you do is the usual browsing and word processing it's pretty much the same and your old PC will be adequate.
Fedora

Thought of something else for you to consider if you think about updating to a new windows on the old box. Some, if not all the newer windows are for a 64 bit system. I truly do not know if they offer anything on the old 32 bit systems any more.

If your old system is 32 bit and you try to upgrade to a 64 you will find lots of problems.

However, linux will comes in both 32 bit and 64 bit in the newer versions. At least the one I run does. I can't speak for all of them.

That pop up was installed with the last round of patches from
Microsoft, so at least you know your computers are as up-to-date
as they get.
If you decided to upgrade to a newer Windows OS, whether its a
new computer or upgrading you current one, the Windows Easy
Transfer software will move your files, pictures and many settings.
It's a free download for XP/Vista and is included in 7. Link

lots of good advice.
In my case, I have multiple XP computers running software that
would be a major hassle to update, some not possible at all..
So, these will stay XP, with a good drive image stored elsewhere for problems.
For my internet browsing computer, whatever 'throwaway' that is on sale will be fine.
Networking them all gives me access to everything, and
when online, all other computers are Physically disconnected from my network.
If I need to network it, it gets a thorough check first, then only hooked to the network when offline.

For people that only use one computer for everything (risky)
MS marketing strategy is good. Upgrading eventually will be forced.

The computers will continue to operate, but the OS will not be updated to respond to threats.

(quoted from post at 04:34:29 03/30/14) I have a computer question.
I got a pop up thingy on both of my computers that have windows XP. The pop up said that on such and such date windows will no longer be supported. What does this mean to me?NorthEast puller.

Click to expand...

There is a good post at "Techguylabs" (Leo Laporte) that addresses your query. http://www.techguylabs.com/blog/keep-windows-xp-secure-after-april-8-support-deadline I might add: if you HAVE to use Java set it up so it doesn't work online (there is an option somewhere in the settings to accomplish this). MS Security Essentials will be updated until sometime in 2015.

Everyone should run as a limited user, no matter what OS you're running.

It means it's time to upgrade your complete system prices are very good right now get one with terribyte of hardrive and at least 500 gigabyte of memory. The new programs are huge and need lots of memory to work. I have one program that it 3.1 gigabyte befor it's installed.
By getting the max now it means your computer will last longer without adding to it.
Walt
PS XP is about as old an OS as you can get you way passed time to update to 8.1 not 8 it has problems that are cured in 8.1 also you setup 8.1 for 32 or 64 but 64 is best you can still run most 32 bit programs or update them.
Also get a touch screen monitor it's a lot of fun and works great for those who don't type.

I did not say a computer only lasts three years, I said after three years (on average) they BEGIN hitting obsolescence issues.

It's due to the rate at which software and hardware advances.

Use that figure to put your own pc's age into perspective. If it's 5 years old, it's pretty old. If it's 10 it's ancient and you will start to have serious obsolescence issues.

I've got a computer from the late 80's that still runs, but I can't do anything useful with it.

I managed the support department for AT&T Wireless for the entire US for eight years. And EMC's five years before that. I was in charge of tens of thousands of PCs. Trust me when I say three years is where they start falling behind noticeably.

Advanced users notice it first of course, and need to upgrade sooner, but my entire point was - upgrade, or risk hitting problems that require you to start figuring out how to adapt your old machine to the world - that can take more effort than just staying up to date.

Hello Waltavies,.

The hard drive terabyte size is good, but that 500 gigabite physical memory..... May be a type-o?

Guido/

Thanks guy’s for the info. I think I am going to see what the computer requirements are to run the True Value ordering program and a point of sale system as I would like to grow in to one for the hard ware store. So it looks like we will be shopping for two new computers one for the store and one for the house so they are both the same.
Thanks for the help. I may have more questions on computers as I get shopping. The kids at best buy and places like that talk circles around me when it comes to these type of purchase and could sell me a pink elephant as the best thing I need and I would have no idea that it should be a blue elephant instead.
Northeast puller

If you're going to run a point of sale system, then you are correct, you need to figure out the system requirements for the POS and work back from there. Sort of like "I need a truck that will pull a 20,000 lb gooseneck trailer" versus "I need a truck".