FINAL WARNING!

[Algenon5]

There are only SEVEN MORE DAYS before using Windows XP to access the internet becomes a dangerous liability to you and to others. The time to upgrade is NOW.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/2 ... 21327.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/microsoft-s ... indows-xp/

Which new operating system should you choose? The the general consensus is Win 7 professional 64 bit, which will run many old XP comparable programs. Win 7 Home Premium will not. Neither will the various versions of Win 8. Most long-time XP users find the transition to Win 7 pro an easy one. Which is definitely not true for Win 8.

Al

[xj900uk]

I am no expert but I think I am running Windows 7 Enterprise. Do I need to do anything? Normally Microsoft tells me when to do s/w upgrades and downloads, usually at the point of shutdown

[Algenon5]

I'm not familiar with Microsoft's UK product names. However if you're using any version of Win 7 (whatever it's called on your side of the pond) there is nothing you need do except keep up with your regular updates as you are presently doing. And of course make sure your anti-virus software is automatically updating.

Al

[A_Bullet]

Win 7 Enterprise it's not Microsoft UK product name. It's another version of Windows 7. And yes Win 7 x64 is the best OS at the time being. I am running it in my office PC. I am using Win 8.1 in my home PC but I don't care because its only for fun as I use it as a media server. But for business PCs NEVER Win 8. Its a pain in the ash! Try to guide a user used on an XP machine over a telephone to navigate through this horrible user interface.

[Algenon5]

I couldn't agree with you more re Win 8. I wanted to be fair, so I used 8 for about three months. Even after I had become thoroughly familiar with its screwy configuration simple tasks took longer, and multitasking was a nightmare.

Thanks for the 7 Enterprise info. Strange that I've never heard of it.

Al

[xj900uk]

I'm not familiar with Microsoft's UK product names. However if you're using any version of Win 7 (whatever it's called on your side of the pond) there is nothing you need do except keep up with your regular updates as you are presently doing. And of course make sure your anti-virus software is automatically updating.

Al

OK thanks it lets me know when it needs to update anything, usually on average about once a week, I just let it

[elsullo]

IF you are just a "recreational" computer user like me, Windows 8 ain't so bad after all. I don't need to run various "work" programs with multiple windows, etc. I hated Windows 8 at first and it was a pain to learn how to work it because it is designed around touch-screens which I have no instinct for. But we are already into 8.1 with a new update coming very soon, and the darn thing is working better. For just wandering the Internet and doing email it is just fine. Not to mention fast, and much more secure. There are some really great deals on new Windows 8 computers, so if you are not a tech-head and don't need "operational utility" right off the bat, go for it.........................elsullo

[xj900uk]

THanx - I need a new PC anyway this one is only a small laptop and it's getting a bit long in the tooth

[Algenon5]

HP has returned to installing Win 7 on their new PCs. That should tell you something.

Al

[Algenon5]

XP user, time is up. Put down the mouse, and step away from the computer with your hands behind your head.

Al

[xj900uk]

I surrender.... no wait, this is a job for... Wonderkick...

[Jerry]

I is scared. Me XP user. Pls send hlp.

Black suvs are outside with guys with guns. oh crap, my time is

[Algenon5]

Now for the waterboarding! (heh heh heh)

CIA/NSA Al

[smudger]

Why are Microsoft allowed to get away with this? It's like Ford saying, sorry your car is twelve years old so we won't be making any more spare parts for it, go buy yourself a new one!

[Algenon5]

I don't know how it is in the UK, but over here a car manufacturer only has to keep spare parts available for 13 years from the date of a car model's release.
Besides, this isn't a matter of spare parts. XP is old technology which no longer is compatible with the new technology. An XP user doesn't have access to the newest, fastest and most secure browsers from Firefox, Google and even Microsoft. There are other compatibility issues as well, which I'm too lazy to go into. You can't fix a broken tube (valve) radio with new transistors.

When you get a replacement part for you car it isn't free. I'm no big Microsoft fan, but can't expect them to keep fixing XP forever at no charge, assuming such fixes were even possible.

Al