Microsoft are withdrawing support for the XP operating system in early April, although up to 30% of the worlds PC’s are still running it. Could someone who knows about these things highlight the risks to continued use after this date, and suggest a suitable replacement OS. From what I gather Windows 8 is not a total success, would 7 be a suitable alternative even though logic suggests it will be ‘withdrawn’ before Eight ? As it happens I will be replacing my present PC as all the components are getting on a bit, so a new OS is on the cards.
By: Moggy C - 2nd February 2014 at 09:07
The same thoughts as most here. I have an ageing laptop running XP for some specialised legacy applications, my desktop and ultrabook run W7 and it’s an excellent bit of kit, significantly better than XP.
Definitely worth the faff of the upgrade.
Moggy
By: hunterxf382 - 1st February 2014 at 20:40
As well as my aviation background I also repair pc’s on the side having learnt my craft many years ago when Windows didn’t even exist! I’ve got several pc’s here at home dotted around the house, and run XP fine, and Vista fine too actually. All are updated and free of bugs after using various tools of the trade to sort some out. I used to loathe Vista too, but I’m using a high spec mini-tower on Vista right now to write this (it’s my main terminal)? I’m a staunch supporter of XP and I will be very reluctant to let it go eventually…. my two ‘spare’ laptops run it as they are both lower spec machines….
I wouldn’t be in the business of repairing other’s pc’s if there wasn’t a good deal of junk on many people’s pc’s without them even realising it – often the cause of crashes and other issues, which is how I end up with them in for repair. It’s almost 99% software issues these days as hardware is very rarely the problem.
I have used Windows 7 a lot over the last year as I also help with an IT class for mature citizens in my local community centre, and find 7 to be a nice version to use, with very few issues in itself? The driver problems for older hardware will eventually vanish as 3rd party drivers get written, or the hardware gets replaced over time – so not a big deal there…
Windows 8 – forget it – even Microsoft are ditching it after a lot of problems and an interface no-one really liked. It’s not long before the next rollout of a new Operating System so 7 is the biggest OS in the retailers now.
I’m not in any rush to upgrade to anything to be honest – why fix something that isn’t broken etc etc 😉
By: charliehunt - 1st February 2014 at 19:25
7 has been fine but was advised away from Vista.
By: Bob - 1st February 2014 at 19:03
Move to another OS? Ubuntu or something similar?
By: TonyT - 1st February 2014 at 18:51
You will have to at some point as websites stop supporting it, xp is still on mine and rocks, trouble is Microdross cannot flog software if no one needs to update……. Me I would love a system free from the dross I never use, so I can add the stuff I NEED and run quicker, I don’t need half the crap MicroDross think I should have
By: hampden98 - 1st February 2014 at 18:37
There is no problem with continuing to use windows XP if it does the job for you.
However there will be no more updates or patches and so potentially XP could be compromised (hacked) and new devices will not support it.
If thinking of upgrading you can get Windows 7 for around £50 – 80 quid.
But make sure your devices support it (printers, external disks etc).
I’ve been running Win7 Professional on my two machines without problems.
As BenyBoy said stay clear of Vista and stick with XP if you have to. Vista is buggy and crashes often (even more than XP).
By: benyboy - 1st February 2014 at 18:29
I liked XP too. All I can say is, I am having no problems with Windows 7 and do not even consider Vista !
Sign In
February 1, 2014 at 6:10 pm