Rumor has it that Microsoft is
ending (or has ended) support for Windows XP. What’s up with that? Do I need to
do anything about it?
Yes, it’s true. After 11 years
(eons, in computer terms), Microsoft is finally “pulling the plug” on Windows
XP. If you’re running Windows XP on any computer, you should pay attention:
After April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer provide updates or technical
support for Windows XP. That’s it. The end.
Microsoft, of course, wants you to
upgrade to a new computer running Windows 8.1, and for many people running
Windows XP, that’s probably a good idea—if you’re using a computer you
purchased when Windows XP was new, it’s likely 8 to 11 years old, and you’ll be
amazed at how much faster and smoother computers run in the 21st
century. Another option is to use the same computer, but attempt to upgrade it
to Windows 7. (Buying a new copy of Windows 7 at this point might be tricky,
and expensive. If you’re currently running Windows XP, it’s not guaranteed that
your existing computer will run Windows 7 adequately, and less likely that it
will run Windows 8.1. Upgrading to a new computer may be the only option, if your
computer is quite old.)
Microsoft has this to say about the
end of service: If you continue to use
Windows XP after support ends, your computer will still work but it might
become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Also, as more software
and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of
Windows, you can expect to encounter greater numbers of apps and devices that
do not work with Windows XP. In other words, they ain’t gonna help you, and
no one else is, either.
The biggest issue is one of
security: New malware gets released daily, and without support for updates to
your anti-virus software, you’re more and more likely to “catch something” as
you use the computer on the Internet. It’s also highly unlikely that any new device
you purchase (a printer, for example) will include support for Windows XP.
For more information from
Microsoft, visit one of these links: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-support-help,
or http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enterprise/endofsupport.aspx.
(Note that support for Office 2003 is also ending at the same time—if you’re
using that very elderly version of Microsoft Office, it’s probably time to
think about upgrading, as well.) Upgrading Windows and/or Office requires some
level of expertise, and you may want to enlist some help from a knowledgeable
expert or software/hardware consultant.
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