Windows XP End of Life

[The Drummer]

We’re all aware of the fact that Windows XP “end of life” is arriving soon in mid April. I have a computer over ten years old that was given to me, and I don’t really want to sink money into it or put up with the aggravation of reformatting and installing another OP, let’s say Window 7, then having to go through re-installation of programs, such as anti-virus, etc. This “relic” works fine as is. I don’t want to spend the money on a new computer. I’m not a gamer, per se, and I don’t need a ton of horse power.

So my question is: Should I just keep running XP after the death knell and roll the dice or should I change the operating system? I figure if I do nothing and anything catastrophic occurs, I’d have to wipe the machine anyway.

Interestingly enough, I read that the vast majority of ATM machines are still using XP and that banks are reluctant to upgrade because of the cost – a couple thousand per machine times thousands of ATMs. It seems the banks aren’t too worried. That is, if the aforementioned information is valid.

So when Windows XP becomes unsupported, how bad will it be?

I’d welcome some advice.

Thank you.

[jframe2]

XP as an OS is not bad at all, it is when people starting doing things on the Web that might possibly allow viruses, etc into the computer that is going to be a problem because MS is not writing "fixes" for XP after the end date.

I, too, have several machines with XP and use one of them to act as the Master controller for the home network; safe because it is not open to the Internet.

Other uses for XP can be as a Media device for audio, video etc. A search will give you some ideas for creative uses for XP machines.

[TXRocket]

No OS is totally immune to attack. If you have anti-virus and maybe anti-spyware programs that are up-to-date you are pretty safe.

[Jdriller]

a good online back up of data and programs would be good. so if your computer crashes you could get another one with the windows 8 (which sucks) and the from the back up reinstall everything you had on your old computer at once. maybe with some online connection with the help people to make it go smoother. but at least you would still have all your stuff and would not have to reinstall each program one at a time

[The Drummer]

Thank you to everyone who responded. I appreciate it.

TD

[Stud Daddy]

Drummer email me here if you have issues you need resolved.
If you are bouncing around off of Naughty Internet sites you will eventually catch an STD on your PC.
I would suggest you either back up any important data, photos, videos etc. NOW to either a Stand alone HD, a cheap Multi Gigabit Memory Stick or a separate on-board HD or HD Partition dependingon the quantity of such you need to save/backup. I'd also include phone numbers and other important data you have. Your Pal SD

[Whirlaway]

Back up programs ???

I thought programs were proprietary (the ones I use) and there was no way to copy, duplicate or transfer them to another computer without access codes/downloads, etc.

For example, are you saying it is possible to copy Windows Professional Excel/Word to another computer without the discs?

Help ?

BTW, thanks for the info on XP being phased out !

Originally Posted by Jdriller

a good online back up of data and programs would be good. ......... but at least you would still have all your stuff and would not have to reinstall each program one at a time

[The Drummer]

Originally Posted by Whirlaway

Back up programs ???

I thought programs were proprietary (the ones I use) and there was no way to copy, duplicate or transfer them to another computer without access codes/downloads, etc.

For example, are you saying it is possible to copy Windows Professional Excel/Word to another computer without the discs?

Help ?

BTW, thanks for the info on XP being phased out !

I'm by no means a computer expert, but I believe you're right about programs. They can't just be copied and then installed on another machine. Programs contain "bits and pieces" of stuff that are distributed in many different places on a computer. By simply copying; the various data segments won't know where to go.

Again, I'm no expert, so I'm not entirely sure about this. Maybe there's a way to do it?

[The Drummer]

Originally Posted by Stud Daddy

Drummer email me here if you have issues you need resolved.
If you are bouncing around off of Naughty Internet sites you will eventually catch an STD on your PC.
I would suggest you either back up any important data, photos, videos etc. NOW to either a Stand alone HD, a cheap Multi Gigabit Memory Stick or a separate on-board HD or HD Partition dependingon the quantity of such you need to save/backup. I'd also include phone numbers and other important data you have. Your Pal SD

Thank you for the kind offer, Daddy.

Try to stop by the "Rat's Nest" one of these days. Me and the guys (and gals) have been wondering where you've been. But, hurry up. The joint might not be in business much longer.

TD

[Gotyour6]

You can clone the drive to an image and just re-image it when needed.

Look up clone-zilla

You wont have docs, pics etc but backing it up will help that.

XP will be fine without help from MS.

[The Drummer]

Originally Posted by Gotyour6

You can clone the drive to an image and just re-image it when needed.

Look up clone-zilla

You wont have docs, pics etc but backing it up will help that.

XP will be fine without help from MS.

Thanks, Gy6.

[Guest070316-1]

For the sake of keeping up with the times, I'd go after another computer altogether. Seen e machines from best buy for like 300. Has windows 7, a decent cpu, and everything else. Probably even cheaper shopping online. Will run a heck of a lot better than xp and support for at least another 10 years more than likely. Might be worth the investment to upgrade all the hardware at once as old harware, std's/virus's or not, will crap out eventually and get worse with no support.

[Whirlaway]

My XP is a workhorse; hate to see it become useless just because Microsoft doesn't want to continue with supports.

[nyc1skibum]

Run the micro$oft updates on XP, add virus scan, malwarebytes, easycleaner, and carbonite. Keep on running XP and do Not believe the hype that once M$ stops supporting that you Have to change.
XP Will Not stop working nor become useless! 7 is ok to move to if you have a new PC.

If you adventurous, and want to try a new OS, download PCBSD, a FreeBSD variant that is made to be a desktop OS.

[Mr. GPop]

before you nay say getting a new pc, most the "standard" ones out are fairly cheap but with a decent amount of horse power.... reason being is the users complained about no power on the pc to run the OS.. that has changed.

and if you feel adventurous get a Ubuntu distro of linux.... with the MATE desktop it resembles XP and all you need is Open Office and a few programs (all are free btw) to run a workstation like you had before..