Windows XP support ends April 8, 2014
 

So my poor old PC is going slower & slower & I took it in for a check up... they called to tell me... your computer is old the data needs to be transferred to a new computer.... not happening! BUT I took in my laptop & have everything transferred onto it now with it's Windows 7.... my PC is Windows XP and wouldn't you know microsoft isn't going to support updates etc. after April 8th this year! Not sure how many people this will affect, but I really loved my XP and now I'm going to have to learn something new... except of course, it's also almost obsolete! And of course... no matter what I try to do to speed up my old PC.... it's just slow...slow...slow. I was worried that something had attacked it, and I still don't know the answer to that, as they didn't even do a scan on it :(

yes april is d-day for me too. hope my sis inlaw when she comes to visit next month brings me a laptop. she has one for me. can't wait. my machine is running slow slow... as to learning curve again :(

Yep.......I have the same Slow problem with my PC & Windows XP. I really like XP, I know it is really outdated but it was much easier to use than Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. I got an HP touch PC with Windows 7 on it then I got a lap top touch with Windows 8.1......I saw a difference from XP to 7 but nothing to drastic and I like 7. Now 8.1 is a whole other story that is for sure....haven't learned everything about 8.1 yet but then I don't think I ever learned everything about XP or 7. I am getting to old for all this techy stuff and having to learn new things....I just wish they would keep things simple....HA!!

We are really glad we kept our old laptop with Windows XP on it. Some vocabulary software we bought years ago won't run on the newer operating systems, so dd is using it on the old laptop even though she has a new desktop computer.

old and cherished software is the reason i am keeping this old XP too. patricej says i'm rolling with the dinosaurs LOL

old and cherished software is the reason i am keeping this old XP too. patricej says i'm rolling with the dinosaurs LOL(quoted from QuiltnNan)
Count me among the dinosaurs too. I love my xp and really don't want to learn a new system at 80 years old! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!! The new systems are not so easily learned as the old ones. Leave us in peace, please. LOL

I am hanging on to XP on my old desk top computer because it is the operating system that will run my old embroidery software. I don't do enough embroidery to justify buying new software so I hang on to the old.

DH just bought a new lap top because the old lap top was so slow. DH would try to use it for presentations and he was always getting these updates running during the presentations. It was sooooo veerrrryyy slow! I took all my family pictures off thinking that would help. The new lap top has Windows 8. I already posted my frustration on that. I'm glad I have a Mac!

Hey ladies, if my 91 year old MIL can learn new systems so can you! :) Just put your mind to it. I also went from XP to windows 7 and it wasn't so bad. I had a direct phone line to my kids in college and just experimented alot. LOL!! Leave those dinosaurs behind in the dust!

I buy a new laptop every two years. I subscribe to Carbonite so it's easy to have all my photos and files installed on the new one with just one click. New technology is amazing but you won't know if you don't use it. I found the cheaper laptops work great for me. I never pay more then $300 for a new laptop. Don't be afraid of the cheaper ones, they work just fine for personal use. I use it for photos, quilt files, email and internet. I use Open Office for creating documents and pdf files.

Count me in as one of the dinosaurs because I still use XP and don't want to change. Hubby says that I can continue to use it, but without updates. And yes, it does run slow. I do get tired of these big companies and their greediness. We don't buy new machines, my hubby builds ours, so we will have to buy the software if it ever becomes affordable. Never probably.

Well PatriceJ, I am also rolling with the dinosaurs. I had Window"98 on my previous computer and had no problems with it after many years after Microsoft pulled the plug. XP is the best operating system Microsoft ever developed. Every new release has had many problem they sweated to get fixed. Maybe with a new CEO, they will realize it is valuable to keep us dinosaurs safe. How else do you think they are going to make any money?? Not from me.

I thought they discontinued support on XP a long time ago. I loved my XP but eventually got a new one with Win7 it is ok, I hate Win8 which my husband has and refuse to learn that. I read the other day that HP is going to offer their computers again with Win7, if you are interested in a HP.

I too used my XP until it was almost on it's last gasp. I had a brand new laptop that was given to me for my BD in 2012 for my 80th. I just let it sit, all that time, but this year, I had to find out how to use 7, whether I wanted to or not. There are many things about it that I am not crazy about and make life more difficult than need be, but I guess 8 is even much worse and even the tech savvy don't like it much. Guess they have to make them obsolete to sell new ones. The PITTS!

The office I work in, just upgraded our computers, I asked why we had to...Large Expense...the computer tech told me when Microsoft quits supporting XP, it will be a free for all for HACKERS, VIRUS's....etc

. Same here with me...and because I just love the system. Powers that be say you can continue with XP if you keep it protected with good security ware...it will be usable for quite a long time. The newer OS's win7 & 8 will run some of the emb softwares if the processor is 32 bit (64 bit you're outta luck)...at least PE Design will still work. I have hoarded laptops with XP and I plan to just use for my embroidery...OFF LINE. I won't have to worry about virus and hacking!

I, too, will continue to use XP. My computer technician tells me that I can still use it without the updates, just keep my anti-virus and malware up to date.

I still have a PC with XP, I did like it a lot, I also have one with Vista and a Lap Top with W7 and now I have a Lap Top with W8, I have had no problems learning about it. There are tutorials that will help you, also just google it and you will find all the answers. If yo use a smart phone it is not much difference. If you don't stay up with the changes it is harder to understand. New PC's are so much faster now. As long as I can do what is necessary for me to do I am ok with it. I think PC's are like life, it just gets more added on and harder to handle sometimes, we just have to keep up with it as we go, lol.....good luck with the changes.

***
*** Ditto here.
*** Have a Dell with XP (bought Sept. 2006) and love it, but
*** Slow, slow, slow.
***
*** Keeping it cause I can't afford any thing else (SS does not stretch any further).
***

Through the years I have had at least a half dozen different Windows. So far the XP has been the best one for me. It was the easiest to learn and navigate and it loaded info before I released the mouse clicker. But these last 3 weeks it has been frustrating as heck. 20 to 30 minutes to be able to open any mail after turning it on in the morning. - it feels like dial-up would be faster. And my son the computer wizard has moved back to Ohio so I have no idea how to reprogram to the next best windows program and keep all the old programs-bookmarks and files etc etc . So now what do I do ? And how do I do it ? I have not found that ''new and improved'' is always an ''improvement''

Through the years I have had at least a half dozen different Windows. So far the XP has been the best one for me. It was the easiest to learn and navigate and it loaded info before I released the mouse clicker. But these last 3 weeks it has been frustrating as heck. 20 to 30 minutes to be able to open any mail after turning it on in the morning. - it feels like dial-up would be faster. And my son the computer wizard has moved back to Ohio so I have no idea how to reprogram to the next best windows program and keep all the old programs-bookmarks and files etc etc . Now what do I do ? And how do I do it ? I have not found that ''new and improved'' is always an ''improvement''

I noticed the last time we were at DH's doctor's office, THEIR computers run XP. Not gonna worry about it too much.

Yes, Jazzmyn, I too wish they would keep things simple!
I had to give up my XP for the same reason - slow. Slow. SLOW!
And about to lose all support.
Now I have Windows 8. Hate it.

To stay in business I have to learn the new stuff/software and it is a pain in the derrier. I keep telling everyone I was doing just fine. Many of our offices are going paperless. So I've had to resort to a laptop and tablet. I'm right now using my pc and yep it's slow. Often locks up after about 1-1 1/2 hours. Also if I pull up a few too many windows. I do a lot of research and that is a pain when it all locks up and I have to restart the computer. :(

I absolutely hate windows 8, very difficult to navigate and find important things. Its about as awful as vista. I wish they would let you choose the OS when you buy a laptop

Your computer may be slowing down because you don't clean the cache. Download the free program 'crapcleaner' from Piriform.com and run that. You will be amazed how many mb's or maybe gb's it will delete of your old browses and trash in the recycle bin. I guess there are other/better cleaners, but I like this one----and it's free. Also, what browser are you using? Firefox is far superior to IE, in MHO

I love my XP. It is very very slow like me. Will find it hard to replace when the time comes.

The new software is not that difficult. You lady can do it! Just don't give up and keep working with it. You are more tech savvy than you think.

I have been on computers since before they became a household idem (I use to write my own programs for my work) and yes I still like the XP better then all the windows programs since then. I use the free program "CCleaner" to keep mine running almost like new. There are a lot of free programs out there that will help you keep it clean and running well. Maybe not as fast as the newer computers but better then then being forced to buy something you don't want.

The only problem with keeping the XP that I see coming up is that most all websites will be forced to update their sites to accommodate the newer systems and not keep the programs that use XP so that will leave us XP people left out of the picture because they won't support our version of windows any longer. It will take some time for them to do this but believe me, it is coming. Just as it has in the past.

I will personally keep my XP because like some have mentioned, my programs are not supported on the newer machines and a lot of money was spent on them. I don't have the money to invest in new programs either. I have several programs that cost as much as $2,000 (no that's not a typing error) and I would much rather invest that money in sewing or quilting then buying the updated versions of those programs.

So I would suggest to anyone that has the XP comtuer to have someone that is NOT related to a store look at it and try cleaning it up. At least you will still be able to run your old programs. You may have to buy a cheaper computer to get around on the net and that might be ok for some. But you can always down load stuff on the newer one and transfer it to the XP and work on that when you are not on the net. That's my plan, because I still think XP is the best one out there.

oh yea, in case you are wandering, I do have a Windows7 but I hate it and I have tried putting my programs on it and they just don't work right. It is a pain in the butt to access the computer the way I like to, which is more in depth them most people do. They try to hide the files from you and only let you access what they want and that is a bust for me. Yes I could spend tons of time learning their newer way of getting to the files but I rather spend that time doing something constructive and not re-inventing the wheel sort of speak.

Ok I'm off the podium.

Wish they wouldn't stop the support on the old versons. I loved XP but bought a new laptop with Vista, and love it, too. Some of my more "mature" friends have 7 & 8 and dislike both of them. I keep hoping they'll come out with a more user friendly version, but doubt it.

I heard somewhere that some shop was telling people they could have w7 instead of w8 because so many people hated w8. I have it aand am able to use it ok. I think a lot of people would like to see w7 stay, lol...I like vista, that is what I use most. I also have wxp that I use for old programs. I will try to keep it up and going for that reason. Sorry Girls but instead of getting better I think it will only get worse. I just try to keep up so I can keep an updated PC

Don't panic! Remember, the bottom line is that salesmen SELL things, and that includes new operating systems. Read this from a newsletter I get from a Canadian guy (http://[email protected]) who has saved my bacon several times with his profound computer savvy, and save your panic for something that deserves it - like the state of our country (or what used to be our country). Helmut has a unique way of cutting through the rumors and emotions to get to the essence of things. Following is a quote from today's newsletter (all credit to Helmut):

Tech Support Pits
From: Darla
Re: XP fearmongering

Dear Webby,
I wrote to you back in January regarding the no support issue for XP after April 8th. I’ve been reading more info and getting more confused. I have a couple of questions to ask you because I don’t want to have to buy a new computer right now.

If I keep my old computer with XP & continue to use Internet Explorer & Outlook Express (Also use Kasperksy), will I be ok from Hackers, etc? Or would I be any safer using Chrome as my default browser while still using Outlook Express?

A employee at a "store" that sells computers said I could keep XP and change to Chrome and still be able to use
Outlook Express for my mail.

Thank you so much for your time, Darla.

Dear Darla -
Your XP with Kasperski and IE and Outlook Express will continue to function as usual. Just because you are cute
and sexy, that does not mean the hackers will stop trying to break into banks and government, and suddenly focus
on you.

Keep in mind that industry and commerce uses 55% Linux and 45% XP. The ones that use XP all have a Linux "Live CD' in a drawer and can switch to Linux in minutes. All the store POS (Point Of Sale) machines run fine on Linux, but nobody in their right mind would try to run them on W7. For W7 and W8, they would have to replace the machines.

While that would delight Microsoft and their Asian computer manufacturing businesses, industry and commerce does not consider that a justifiable business expense, not when everything runs just fine on XP or Linux.

Any hostile action by Microsoft against XP users will just drive Industry and Commerce to Linux. So, don't panic
about the sales hype.

Outlook Express is on Death Row. It would probably be a good idea to start getting used to an email program that is viable. I still use Eudora, and have since 1993. The modern version of it, using the source code of it, is Thunderbird. I have never heard anything bad about it. You might want to look at Thunderbird and get familiar with it.

The major difference between Eudora and Thunderbird is that Thunderbird has a Linux version. That way, if you some day have to replace your XP when it dies of old age, and you get fed up with W8 and switch to Linux, you are already comfortable with the email program.

The same goes for browsers. FireFox is the same on Windows and Linux.

Have FUN!
DearWebby