Upgrade from XP to . . . ?

We're in a bit of a quaundary here. We presently have a computer running XP Pro which will no longer be supprted by MS in a few weeks. We can't afford to buy a new one, DO NOT want a laptop and are too old to have to learn all of this stuff all over again.

We're quite comfortable with a mouse and keyboard and don't want or need a touch screen. What are our options at this point in time?

Any and all suggestions will be considered and welcome. Thank you.

 

Hi indutch, Keep your updates going to the last hour and MSE will continue till 2015 as I understand it. Other AV Brands have varying end of supply dates, but once the support from MS ceases - going on the Internet will be very risky.
Don't visit unknown sites and the best help would be WOT (Web of Trust) which gives you plenty of warning of doubtful sites.

I would try to look for a later comp with W7 on the second hand mart. Neil.

 

Please do not get panic. Microsoft will going to withraw further support for XP. If you have no issue you can continue to use your existing OS.

 

XP won't suddenly stop working. It just won't get updated.
Messrs Microsoft et al want to keep us buying new computers and new software.

At work we have test equipment that requires Win98 or (earlier).
Believe it or not Win98 has not worn out yet!
Neither has the expensive RF test equipment.

At home I have a low light level (astronomy) camera that requires a parallel port.
Again the old computer still works.
The camera has plenty of years left.

Very often the external hardware and software added to desk/laptop computers has a very long life. Don't be fooled by the sales hype to go out and buy Win8/9/whatever comes next.

XP is a good solid operating system.
If your old software and hardware continue to run, stick with them.

 

Hi David, you obviously do not use your 98 OS to surf the web. As I pointed out to indutch, surfing the web with XP once the support from MS ends will be risky.

If you intend to take part in this Forum or any other web contact, you will require a Secure OS with support after the end date. Neil.

 

No we don't use the older computers for surfing. We use them (as you can see from my post) mainly for other purposes. Though they do get on our network.

Today we are supporting a micro still in production from the 90s. The manufacturers dev kit required win98. Were we supposed to tell all our customers that as of about 2000 they had to throw away their equipment?

As for surfing. Yes I agree you need to keep up to date with security. But types of security and their implementation is a huge subject. In fact a few universities are now offering bachelors and masters degrees in this subject. Security is not necessarily effectively done by using the latest verion of a browser that came with the latest version of windows.

 

Very bad idea if you are going to use it on internet.

After MS drops support [updates] for Win XP, you can expect a flurry of activity from malware writers targeting Win XP un patched security holes.

Its time to update. I don't know your specific requirements but Win 7 is one choice. Linux is another if you are not tied to MS stuff though it would take a little learning from your side.

 

I still run XP and really can't afford to go out and get a new computer. I have only just enough capability to run Win 7, and I think I'll be close to collapse all the time. I certainly don't plan to go to that turkey Win 8, but I might just go looking for a more powerful used computer with the ability to handle Win 7 better than mine can.

Unfortunately, my Quicken 2003 won't fly with Win 7, and my elderly printer needs replacement also. I need a wi-fi printer that can talk to Momma's iPad.

 

MS Money 2004 will run on Windows 7.

Money released a free sunset version that will run on Windows 7 too...

Money Plus Sunset Deluxe
​

I hate MS pulled the plug on Money. It was (and still is) a great financial tool.

 

Keep an eye on "Specials" through normal outlet stores. I picked up a new HP 2540 Wireless All in One printer for $59.00. I managed to update my comp hardware for less than $500.00 and the W8 Pro OS cost $135.00.
I decided to bite the bullet and update which should keep me OK for another 4 years.
All the OS's will operate OK in the future, but will not be safe to use on the internet as they will be vulnerable to Viruses and Trojans still floating around.
Most AV Software has an end date for support for older Windows OS's.
As I noted on an earlier Post, the retailers are moving towards All in One computers, Laptops and Notebooks with Touch pads like Smartphones.
You can't find computers produced as Tower units and Monitors unless you shop on the likes of eBay.
It's still user choice but bear in mind that there's no money for manufacturers producing "old" style units beyond the "use by date ".
Electronic Technology keeps improving so rapidly that like most "whiteware" in home use, we need to set replacement dates. This is usually 5 year cycles with whiteware. Neil.

 

There's new desktop Windows 7 units still out there, Neil

http://www.dell.com/us/p/deals#!windows-7-desktop-deals

I'm sure the other PC makers have a few deals left too.

 

DavidValentine wrote:
"XP won't suddenly stop working. It just won't get updated. Messrs Microsoft et al want to keep us buying new computers and new software.
At work we have test equipment that requires Win98 or (earlier). Believe it or not Win98 has not worn out yet! "

I agree, and neither has Win3.1. I am posting here with Win3.1 & DOS6.0. Even with OS and software this obsolete, I can take part in this forum, read e-mail, Usenet news, FTP, Gopher.
Still three years ago, this computer was in use at my work. Its only purpose was to run occasionally a DOS based HVAC-design program. But that DOS program and its files were then transferred to a Win XP pro computer, (and I got this box for free ) where it works just as well. And we will keep that XP machine also after MS stops supporting XP, it is not connected to our network.
At home, I have no intentions to stop using my Win xp home laptop. If I need to do online banking, shopping, etc. I can do that at work during my lunch hour with modern, up to date OS and software.

 

James, great prices but here in the land of the Long White Cloud, they are over $1000.00NZD.
My brother recently bought a Lenova Desktop running W7 Pro with 19 inch LCD monitor for $210.00 on Trademe (NZ's eBay).
He will be able to surf the web with Security for probably another 4 years without using the employers latest network to do his online banking etc. (ThomasJK).
My brother and I are fully retired and we must utilize this modern technology as Post Offices and Mail deliveries slowly fade into obscurity.
Couriers are used more than Post and our mail deliveries are going to be chopped to 3 a week. It currently takes up to 7 days for mail to travel about 36kms as the Post Offices are trying to stockpile mail to make economics work.
When currently employed people are in retirement and they suddenly realize they don't get mail delivered and they receive a pension direct to their bank a/c. - this technology becomes a very useful tool - but it must be SECURE to use on the Internet. Neil.

 

Following on the post by ThomasJK.

We used to have a DOS based package that was for machine control in an HVAC related application. The DOS programmes had steadily evolved since their first use in 1987. But as the new millenium approached we came under pressure. Sales people and non computer savvy customers thought it was an inferior product. They thought they ought to be buying an up to date with Windows. Basically the pretty colours along with point and click had them hooked.

We looked at issues of working with Windows and all it entailed. A huge (for the day) hard drive along with all of the unreliability we were seeing in desktop type computers. I include big blue in this - but that is for another day. All put together it was an obvious backwards step. But the customer is right, etc.

In the end we used Windows embedded in a UK designed and built CPU board. We were pushing CE2.1 to the limits. The new software was of course somewhat flaky in the early days. As time progressed CE versions became better and eventually XP embedded came along - again with issues.

What I'm getting at is that new fangled stuff is usually for selling to the uneducated masses. If the established package works well, don't try to fix it.

 

There is a Microsoft program that will test your system to see if it can handle Windows 7. It was in a post from one of the administrators here a few weeks back. It told me that my system could, with the exception of the version of Quicken I have, but the overall capacity and speed were a bit marginal.

I'll stick with XP for a while after MS stops supporting it, but will probably have a decent lap-top and a wi-fi printer before the end of the year.

We have a big family event in August, combining our 50th wedding anniversary, my wife's and my sister's 70th birthdays and a grand-daughters 21st all in two weeks, so a lot of funds will be going to that.

 

Hi,

Rather than replying to individual posts in this thread,my reaction is that there is way
too much fear mongering about the end of support for XP.
Judging by several posts in this thread ,many agree with this notion.

Apart from that. I see nothing mentioned about working in a virtual environment or sandbox.

There are many programs or applications that can help you with this.
VMWare ,Virtualbox, VPC . Also ShadowDefender ,Returnil, and for browsers and also other software there was BufferZone, although that's no longer being developed,
but Sandboxie is (Sandboxie.com)

Sandbox your browser and catch all internet ****. Empty the sandbox and it's gone.
These are just a few examples. A search for "virtual machine software will bring you several results or "sandbox(ing) internet browser" etc.

So there's absolutely no need to panic.

Something to consider.

Pete E.

 

Yes, virtual environment would work if you have a program that you must run & later version of Windows don't support it.

But most people may not have the need or the horse power.

 

Thanks for your response. I was hoping for a more positive response to sandboxing all browsers.

True ,most people may not have the need for a more powerful system
to run a virtual machine, but they -I mean ALL -people have the need for
a sandboxed browser.

Eg. I've been running 3 machines with about 12 partitions and since
I "discovered" Sandboxie in 2005 (although it came out in 2004) I haven't
had any malware or virus on those machines.

Why? ,Because everything is caught in the sandbox. Empty it and it's gone.
No jumping through hoops performing elaborate AV scans scans or uninstalling
or registry scans etc.etc. Gone is gone.

You don't need a powerful system either to run this protection utility/program.

Anyway, people do what they like. If they don't want to listen, it'll be their problem.

All I can say is that I wouldn't go on the internet without browser sandboxing.

Pete E