What to do with Windows XP

Well, it had a good long run.  Windows XP is now 13 years old.  In less than 10 months Microsoft is pulling the plug on our old friend XP.  Adios, my friend.  You had a good long run (thanks to Vista).

Are you still running Windows XP on your office computers?  You're not alone, industry experts estimate that about 44% of PC's in the U.S. are still running it.  Microsoft has set April 8, 2014 as its official end of life.

What does that mean to you?  That means that 10 months from now, Microsoft will stop publishing updates and patches for the software that runs your PC.  If new vulunerabilities, malware exploits or errors are found in the code, you're on your own!  No more updates.  Your Windows Update program will stop updating the O/S.

That might not sound serious to non-professionals but that is a BIG problem.  Trust me!  After April 8, your exposure to malware and hackers goes up dramatically if you don't update your Windows version.

Ok, you're thinking to yourself, I'll just go get an upgrade kit to Windows 7.  Uh, No!  You can't do that because when Microsoft introduces a new operating system (Windows 8) it cuts off all upgrade kits to previous versions.  You can only upgrade to Windows 8 and the quantum leap in hardware requirements for 8 make that a very bad idea for older computers. If you have a computer designed for Windows XP, it probably won't have adequate resources to run Windows 8 (or Windows 7 for that matter) adequately which wants a newer multi-core CPU, more RAM and better video performance.

Bottom line?  It's time to start looking for a new computer.  If you're concerned about the change in the look and feel of the Windows 8 desktop, the sooner you buy, the better.  Some manufacturers (HP in particular) are still making some models of notebooks and desktops that have Windows 7 Pro installed.  That's going to change, though, the longer you wait.  Microsoft is pushing hard to get all new computers loaded with Windows 8 only.

What about down grading your new Windows 8 Pro computer to Windows 7 Pro?  Yes, that is legal but it is a hassle unless it's installed by the manufacturer as a built-in downgrade option.  If you're feeling Geeky, it can be done but you'll have to call Microsoft, provide a proof of purchase for Windows 8 and get the software and a valid product key.  Then set aside a couple of hours for the migration.

If you're a business with a number of Windows XP computers installed and haven't allowed for replacements in your budget, it's time to revisit that budget  At the very least, you're going to have to increase your maintenance budget to allow for the increased support costs that will be required to keep those XP antiques running with an unpatched O/S.

At ACT, we provide our clients an annual hardware life cycle plan identifying devices that have hit the end of their useful life so that they can adequately budget for new technology.  Some follow our guidance and some don't.  For every year a computer stays in service beyond the end of it's useful life business you should add about 20% to the cost of ongoing maintenance.  With the end of life for it's operating system, that number should probably double. Sadly, some businesses have the philosophy "let's run 'em 'til they break."  Those people will eventually realize that it's cheaper to replace a computer than it is to keep fixing and disinfecting them.  Usually, it takes a catestrophic loss to bring the point home, however.

One final thought for your budget.  Support for Microsoft Office 2003 stops on April 8, 2014 too. Any of you out there still running that too?  Yes?  I thought so!