Windows XP:

[bulldogchesty]

I know, not a car question. XP is stopping their support in 3 days. What should I do now? I am not too computer savvy. Help.:sSig_noob:

 

[300rag]

Just keep on going with it, it is so much less of a resource hog than the new versions.

 

[commando1]

The sky is not falling. There will be internet support from all over the world for years to come.
There's people who will help you with Windows 3 to this day.
http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=9405

Just don't expect the latest hardware to come with drivers that will work with XP.

 

[tbm3fan]

I am posting this today via my Windows 7 computer as I retired the Windows XP yesterday. In a healthcare office Win XP can no longer be used due to security reasons and HIPPA. All machines should be retired or taken off the net by April 8th or else. Health data, insurance data among other data could be compromised and the fines are substantial if a patients info is hacked.

As for home you can continue and better have a robust anti-virus, more likely anti-bot, program. Rumors around the net are that hackers are waiting in the wings with bots that can attack and take over your computer to then make attacks through your computer making tracing difficult. If there are millions of Win 98s out there who can tell. Anyway that is just a idea floating around the net so take it with a grain of salt or not. Me, no chances with all the financial information on the computer.

 

[Badvert65]

Well, retire any Win98 machines for certain. It has no security and isn't readily networkable. Win XP has security and is networkable. No real need to upgrade unless you absolutely have to. My company is switching to Win 7, but that is because all the new machines come with it. For the average person, I wouldn't bother upgrading until you feel the need to get a newer computer. FYI, you cannot 'upgrade' a Win XP machine to Win 7, it will take a full OS install (from scratch) so you would need all your software disks, drivers, etc.

 

[67Monaco]

Convert to BSD....

 

[tbm3fan]

Should note I buy Win 7 computers off eBay. Have bought all my computers off eBay since 2001 with never a problem. Budget about $150 per machine and can get more than enough capability. Then move programs over to a USB Western portable 4G hard drive for the new computer. Done.

 

[theos911]

Linux Mint XFCE Edition

 

[53ryder]

Heck, I'm using Vista still.

Glenn

 

[OneEyed]

Search around some tech sites, Ive read a few articles that offer tips for surviving without XP. Find a good anti-virus and spyware, some articles Ive read suggest that you should pay for a good program. I run AVG, CCleaner and NoScript. Just because windows will stop supporting doesnt mean the other guys will.

Just remember, windows gave us Internet Explorer while the other guys give us Firefox, Chrome, AVG, etc....These so called other guys are the ones keeping us from using the windows products, so I think they will continue to help us do that.

I think the big thing is stay away from shady websites and suspicious emails and downloads. The NoScript is very nice, its blocks alot of crap but if you know that you are on a safe website, you just click to Allow that site and it will run fine. But if you find yourself on a shady site it will block stuff before it has a chance to load.

I know that I'm gonna try and stick with XP for as long as I can, so I'll try and keep myself "in the know" on this topic.

 

[67Monaco]

Linux Mint XFCE Edition

Cinnamon is my flavor of choice when on mint.

 

[bulldogchesty]

Well, I got my new Windows 7 computer in the mail, now I need to transfer my hard drives?

 

[70NPORT]

There is software you can purchase to mirror your current harddrive(s) to your new computer. No problem, done in the past.

 

[commando1]

All you need is a transfer link cable.
You connect the computers.
Load the software that comes with it and Windows does all the rest.

$20.00 and worth it. A monkey can do it now.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...nsfer-Cable-for-Windows-8/productID.256537200

The first time Microsoft has done anything right.

 

[Ripinator]

I know, not a car question. XP is stopping their support in 3 days. What should I do now? I am not too computer savvy. Help.:sSig_noob:

As the drop dead date neared for XP, I looked around to determine my options. I thought I would add a couple of gigs of memory to my XP machine and then buy Windows 7 and install it. But. . . My XP machine is going on 8 years old and it ain't a fast machine anymore. Windows 7 is about $100 more or less, so I was looking at about $200 to make the switch using my old machine.

Looked at Tiger Direct and their "Re-Furbished" in-stock deals. Found an HP machine with 3.17 GHZ speed, 4 gigs of memory and Windows 7 (64-bit) - all for $239.00.

 

[67Monaco]

Jebus H Christ on a popsicle stick you guys take the long way to solve a problem. Stop confusing poor guy.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-easy-transfer

Has all the software and information you need.

 

[70NPORT]

Bingo

 

[commando1]

That's what I said. And he still needs the cable.

 

[67Monaco]

That's what I said. And he still needs the cable.

He is capable of getting on the internet which means he has a network, no cable needed. Do the transfer via the network.

 

[commando1]

And the lights flicker 1/2 way through the process...