Windows XP Goodbye Old Friend

Windows XP Goodbye Old Friend

It's over for an old friend and the internet just turned 25.  In 25 years we've come a long way from all the OS (operating systems) that were developed, now a decision needs to be made if your one of the 500 million PCs running Windows XP.  This means that after April 8th, 2014 there will be no new security updates available through automatic updating for computers that are still running Windows XP.

If you continue to use Windows XP after support ends, your computer should still work, but it will become five times more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. And as more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, a greater number of programs and devices like cameras and printers won’t work with Windows XP.

I tell ya 500 million PCs still running XP says a lot for this OS and has been supported for 13 years (Aug 24th, 2001)  where support for an OS is only scheduled for 10 years. She'll kick for a while like someone dying but at some point, it will crash.  So what to do?  Not to worry mate many choices, some of which might turn people away from Microsoft for bailing on XP and others will upgrade.  If you like XP you will love Windows 7, its end of extended support is Jan 14th, 2020.  Look at Windows Lifecycles.  Windows XP and 7 were OS that you can go under the hood and tweak to your heart's content.  But as time rolls on will all be operating from a cloud and all you'll have is a connection and a monitor, man that ain't for me, long live the PC.  What do you want?  I'm building here, power, graphic and sound.  Forget about it!

Another worry is, will my computer run the newer OS?  So let's go out and run a diagnostic to see if your box is capable. Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (this is only for Windows 7 upgrade from XP)

On another note of Windows OS ,many do not like 8 and 8.1 but if you like touch screen you can see if your box can run one of the 8s. Upgrade to 8 or 8.1 this is for XP users.  But I'll say it again many do not like the 8 OS.

So luck is not a factor here, you can upgrade if possible depending on your box or build a new computer and or buy one.  The other options are even a new OS altogether like Linux  or Mac.  This all depends on what software you like to run and how you like an OS to function.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anti-Virus Support  (note in the article it claims Microsoft Essentials will be supported till July 2015, this not true, after last windows update it shuts down ME. You will need new Anti-Virus software with Firewall)

Last but not lease, if one doesn't have the money for upgrades and a new computer and you do not intend on buying newer software as time rolls on I see no reason why you can't limp XP along.  Watch this video in explaining Vista and XP afterlife.  You will have to change browsers, Explorer only goes up to 8 for XP and newer versions will not run on Vista or XP.  But Chrome and or Firefox will.  

PuppyLinuxWorld

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End Date XP

This will effect a lot of business who use software that does not run on 7 and 8, oh hell!

PC Surgeon



XP Update

5/2/14
I'll have to admit, windows XP will be in the history books of the webs frontier.  A bug hits Internet Explorer end of April and XP get's included in the patch, who loves ya?

From Microsoft's Adrienne Hall, General Manager, Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft:

The security of our products is something we take incredibly seriously, so the news coverage of the last few days about a vulnerability in Internet Explorer (IE) has been tough for our customers and for us. We believe, and take a huge amount of pride that, among widely used browsers, IE is the safest in the world due to its secure development and ability to protect customers, even in the face of cyber criminals who want to break it.

This means that when we saw the first reports about this vulnerability we said fix it, fix it fast, and fix it for all our customers. So we did. The update that does this goes live today (5/1/14) at 10 a.m. PDT.

Microsoft