As of April 8, 2014 Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows XP Service Pack 3.   Here are a few of the more common questions we get regarding end of support for Windows XP.

What exactly does “no longer supporting” mean in this case?

It means that Microsoft is no longer releasing security updates for the operating system.  Existing updates will remain available on Windows Update.

What about Microsoft Security Essentials for XP?

Security Essentials is no longer available for download as of April 8th, however if you already have Security Essentials installed it will continue to recieve updates through July of 2015.

Can I upgrade to Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8?

That depends on your computer.  The system requirements for Windows 7 are essentially a 1ghz CPU, and 1GB of RAM.  As a practical matter however, most computers more than 5 years old will not provide reasonable performance with newer versions of Windows.    Furthermore, the only supported in place upgrade from XP is to Windows Vista.  Windows 7 and Windows 8 will require a reinstall of the operating system, and other applications on your PC.  Windows Vista is no longer being sold, so unless your computer came with a Vista upgrade disc, your only options will be Windows 7 or Windows 8.

Do I need to purchase a new computer or upgrade?

Again, this depends on your individual situation.  Most Home users can continue to use XP for the moment, though we highly recommend planning to either replace the PC, or if  possible upgrade to Windows 7/8 in the near future.  It is however, highly recommended that you maintain a current backup of your computer, and ensure you have up to date antivirus software installed.

As a business user, we recommend replacement or upgrading as soon as possible.  In a multi computer networked environment, having a single vulnerable computer could be catastrophic when a new exploit is released.

Will you continue to support customers with Windows XP machines?

Yes.  We will continue to offer support to customers with any version of Windows.  However, please understand that without support from Microsoft there is a reduced amount of tools available for troubleshooting and correcting problems with Windows XP based computers.

If you would like a personalized evalutation and recommendation on moving away from XP, please feel free to contact us to arrange a consultation.