Windows XP Expiring Today

The time has come to say goodbye. Today, Microsoft will officially end support for its aging operating system, Windows XP.

For the tech-savvy, this is a non-issue. You’ve said goodbye to XP, which first launched in 2001, and embraced a more modern OS, like Windows 7 or Windows 8. But March data from Net Applications showed that XP is still the second most popular operating system around the globe, with 27.69 percent of the market. So there are more than a few devices out there that need an upgrade—and fast.

Microsoft has been pleading with customers to upgrade to a new OS for years. While that might seem like a marketing ploy to get you to buy Redmond’s latest offering, there are a few reasons why you might want to take the company’s advice.

Why should I upgrade?
First and foremost, this is a security issue. Windows XP-based machines will still work after today, but Microsoft will no longer roll out security updates for the OS. That means your computer will be more susceptible to hackers and other scammers, who could exploit bugs that Microsoft is no longer fixing to gain access to your machine and steal your personal information.

Are there any exceptions?
Amidst some backlash, Microsoft in February officially extended Microsoft Security Essentials updates for Windows XP users through July 2015. “For enterprise customers, this applies to System Center Endpoint Protection, Forefront Client Security, Forefront Endpoint Protection and Windows Intune running on Windows XP,” Microsoft said. “For consumers, this applies to Microsoft Security Essentials.” Still, Redmond cautioned that anti-malware solutions on outdated operating systems are limited. Some anti-virus providers will extend support for XP users, but not all.

Is this really a huge deal or Y2K-level dramatics?
It seems like news of a new data breach or computer scam makes news every day; do you really want to put yourself at risk because you like XP, or you just don’t want to bother with an upgrade? According to a recent report from Ondrej Vlcek, Avast’s chief operations officer, Windows XP users’ systems will be “six times” more likely to come under attack by third parties than those running Windows 7.

So, how do I make the switch?
Microsoft has an online tutorial that will help you upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7. Make sure you back up all your files, as the update will not preserve your programs, files, or settings.

Can I upgrade to Windows 8?
It’s not impossible, but “Windows 8.1 isn’t designed for installation on PCs running Windows Vista or Windows XP,” Microsoft warns. If you’re eyeing Windows 8, your best bet is probably to buy a new machine. If cost is an issue, check out PCMag’s roundup of The 10 Best Budget Laptops, most of which run Windows 8.

What’s so great about Windows 7 or Windows 8?
Besides the security protection, Windows 7 is two steps ahead of XP (let’s just forget about Vista, shall we?) so it comes with some bells and whistles that most PC users will want to take advantage of.

Microsoft, of course, would much prefer that you embrace its latest operating system, Windows 8. It has been slow to pick up market share (just over 11 percent in February) thanks to the touch-centric UI, but on April 8, Microsoft will roll out Windows 8.1 Update, an operating system revamp that might make Windows 7 fans more comfortable making the switch to Windows 8.

Uninstalling programs effectively

Whether you’ve accidentally installed an application or just need some space, the easiest solution is to simply uninstall the program. While plenty of computer users know how to do so, it can be confusing if you’re new to the world of computers. But there are a few ways to uninstall an application.

The Control Panel approach

In Windows XP, you’ll need to click ‘Start’ in the lower-left corner, ‘Settings’ and then ‘Control Panel’. From there, you’ll need to double-click on ‘Add/Remove Programs’. A list of programs will then appear and you’ll then need to right-click and select ‘uninstall’ to remove the selected program. In Windows Vista and 7, you’ll need to click the ‘Windows’ icon in the bottom-left corner and then click on ‘Control Panel’. You’ll then need to double-click ‘Programs and Features’, which will bring up a list of applications installed on your computer. From there, you’ll need to right-click on your desired application and select ‘uninstall’.

In both operating systems, a dialogue will appear, confirming your decision.

The Program Files approach

The first thing you’ll want to do is to navigate to the folder of the program you’d like to uninstall. Most programs can be found in ‘C:\Program Files’. From there, you’ll need to find the relevant folder, which will either be named after the program itself or after the developers. For example, if I’m looking for the VLC Media Player folder, it can be found in the ‘VideoLAN’ folder (named after the developer). Now, logic dictates that you should simply delete the folder if you want to get rid of the program. However, computers and logic don’t go together well – you’ll need to find the uninstall application.

Uninstall applications usually have the word ‘uninstall.exe’ or a variation of the word, such as ‘unins000.exe’ or ‘uninst.exe’ in it. Double-clicking it should bring up a few steps, such as confirming the uninstall process and whether you’d like to retain any miscellaneous data.

A dedicated uninstall program

In most cases, these two steps are all you’ll need to uninstall an application. However, some pesky programs tend to leave data behind or simply can’t be removed in a straightforward way, taking up more space and making your computer run slower. That’s where Revo Uninstaller comes in. This freeware application is pretty straightforward, listing all programs on your computer, with users simply needing to right-click to uninstall. Revo Uninstaller can also remove registry files and other leftover data, freeing
up space and giving you a tiny speed boost. To download the application, simply click here and download the freeware version.

—Article courtesy of iafrica.com

www.psyberconsulting.co.za

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