As of April 8, 2014, Windows has pulled the plug on XP. But there’s no need to panic – this doesn’t mean that XP will stop working. That being said, there are some important things to keep in mind after Windows has ended support for the XP operating system.
“End of life” is code for “no longer supported,” meaning you won’t be able to get any more updates or bug fixes for your operating system (OS). If you really prefer XP, you can keep using it for a short time, as long as you are vigilant about virus protection and backing up. However, the longer you use it the more likely it is that it will be vulnerable to hacking attempts. Windows XP debuted in 2001, and Microsoft has certainly faced greater security threats since then and needed to address those threats in their newer operating systems (like Windows 7 and 8). Keep in mind that there is risk involved in using an unsupported OS, and take measures to offset that risk. (For more info, see Why Windows XP Users are more vulnerable to threats, via CNET.com). Make sure you have the latest version of trustworthy antivirus software, and save frequent backups of important documents and photos.
Because of the risk of running an out-of-date OS, the ideal solution is to upgrade to a newer model. We recommend Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns and we can guide you about the best way to upgrade your system to keep you working smoothly and securely. Call us at (970) 544-9700 today.