As of April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer support Windows XP. This means that if you have XP installed on your computer, over time your operating system will be less and less secure.
When Microsoft [MS] says they're no longer supporting XP, it means that the OS won't be getting regular security or driver updates through Windows update. It also means that MS will no longer support Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows XP beyond virus definition files. [3TG will continue to carry the XP install file for MSE]
In short, Microsoft will no longer address security issues for Windows XP, and bad guys will be able to find bugs/holes that won't be fixed.
It's debatable whether this is a good idea. XP was one of (if not the) most popular versions of Windows Microsoft ever made and there's still a large number of people using it. However, XP is 12 years old, and at a certain point Microsoft can't devote resources to updating an operating system that old. They've already supported the OS far longer than they'd expected to. To contrast, support for Windows 98 - which came out only three years before XP - ended eight years ago in 2006. At a certain point they have to decide when they should stop supporting their old products and urge users to upgrade.
Here are the options for Windows XP users going forward:
- Continue using your computer, which will become less and less secure
- Upgrade your operating system to a newer version
- Upgrade to a new computer
Option #1 is, of course, very risky and not advised for the reasons discussed above.
Option #2 is a great option if you don't like Windows 8 (which many people don't). You can purchase a copy of Windows 7 instead. The only problem with upgrading a Windows XP computer is that it isn't possible to do an in-place upgrade. This means you can't keep all your programs, settings, and files intact and just install the new version on top of the old one. All your data must be backed up, the computer wiped clean, the new OS installed, your programs reinstalled and your files moved back. The upside is that this is often still less expensive than buying a brand new computer. 3TG can perform the upgrade for you, starting at $330 (not including the Windows 7 installation disc). If you drop your computer off, the cost is $220 (not including software). Windows 7 Home Premium usually costs around $99.
Option #3 is clearly a good one for many XP users who might have old computers. If you're worried about using Windows 8, there are a few brand new systems shipping from HP that still have Windows 7 installed on them. On the other hand, if you don't mind trying out Windows 8, my favorite desktop is this Dell. 3TG can help get your new computer set up with all your data transferred from the old computer. This process usually takes about three hours for a total of $330. Again, if you drop off the old and new computers, there's a reduced price of $220. If you'd like to switch to a Mac, 3TG can help with that too. The cost to transfer everything over is the same.
If you decide on either upgrade, there's one more thing to keep in mind: compatibility. Your current software or hardware might not work on the newer operating system. You may also need a new version of Microsoft Office if you don't have installation discs for the version you're using. Most monitors will work with any version of Windows, but many old printers lose support in later versions. If you're interested in making a change, call 3TG for some free advice.
Remember, April 8th is the day that XP gets cut off. It's a good idea to start thinking about an upgrade so you can stay safe.