Windows XP's demise - sits back; opens popcorn

[ChrisR]

Many thanks, Roger S, John, Phil, Eric and Devonwoody, for your replies.

You have helped me make a decision, as I was thinking along the lines of going to an independent computer builder/supplier, but was also thinking about cost, but you are all correct, if I don’t feel competent then paying for an experienced person, would be money well spent.

We have a good one locally, he repaired my sisters computer, which included home collection/disconnection, repair = (new power supply unit), return computer and reconnect, was only just over £100.00 including vat, which I thought was very reasonable.

Now all I have to decide is weather I upgrade or give up, I get great satisfaction from visiting/using sites such as this one, but actually using the computer gives me no pleasure at all. it’s the same as driving my car, its just a necessary evil to get from A to B, hence my car which is in its third year from new has only clocked up two thousand five hundred miles, and a third of that was by my brother-in-law. :roll:

Many thanks again all.

Chris R.

 

[devonwoody]

ChrisR. don't upgrade and continue that's all you have to do.
It will still work.

 

[Eric The Viking]

We have a good one locally, he repaired my sisters computer, which included home collection/disconnection, repair = (new power supply unit), return computer and reconnect, was only just over £100.00 including vat, which I thought was very reasonable.

He sounds like a good chap. I'd use him.

Get XP upgraded to Windows 7, ask him to make it look as much like your existing machine as possible.

Then go on as you are, in relative safety.

Regards,

E.

 

[RogerS]

ChrisR. don't upgrade and continue that's all you have to do.
It will still work.

No. If he is still using the internet and XP then it is irresponsible to suggest this for all the reasons already given.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Another piece from the computer press, FYI...
http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news...-windows-xp-and-are-they-dicing-with-disaster

E.

 

[devonwoody]

His computer might never become infected, my spare hasn't and I have had it three years and nipped in to the I/e occasionally.
Never put any of the updates in either.
He doesn't have anything financial on his computer so what does it matter, He can always upgrade if, if , if he got hit.
Don't visit Viagra sites and you should be ok ChrisR.

 

[RogerS]

His computer might never become infected, my spare hasn't and I have had it three years and nipped in to the I/e occasionally.
Never put any of the updates in either.
He doesn't have anything financial on his computer so what does it matter, He can always upgrade if, if , if he got hit.
Don't visit Viagra sites and you should be ok ChrisR.

Do you never get spam? Where do you think spam comes from? Do you think that the spammers have 10,000 PCs sitting in a warehouse spamming all day?

No, they don't. They will use ChrisR's computer and yours if they get a chance.

dw....I think you are deliberately stirring things.

 

[Eric The Viking]

His computer might never become infected, my spare hasn't and I have had it three years and nipped in to the I/e occasionally.
Never put any of the updates in either.
He doesn't have anything financial on his computer so what does it matter, He can always upgrade if, if , if he got hit.
Don't visit Viagra sites and you should be ok ChrisR.

John,

In the nicest way, this is dangerous nonsense.

If you know what a 'rootkit' is, you'll know why I've just written that.

Chris R's personal information may not be placed at risk, but other people's might.

Sorry, but you really are wrong about this.

E.

 

[Harbo]

DW - most of the virus attacks I've received have come from attachments etc from friends and relatives!

The only safe way with your outdated stuff is not to log onto broadband?

Rod

 

[devonwoody]

You have your own virus security so you should be protected.

ChrisR. might not want to spend £100 or whatever to protect you. (who says you must change your motorcar to a more modern version because it would be safer for other road users?. ) (apart from the mot)

Microsoft should not ditch its customers, and if 500+ million computer owners do not change to W7, then Microsoft have got a problem and then perhaps they will continue to support.

 

[Benchwayze]

I've heard that hackers can get into your machine now, even if it's not switched on; if this is true, presumably it's via broadband.

I switch off at the wall, after I have shut down, but the broadband is still connected to my house. Is this how this feat of magic might be achieved?

:?

 

[RogerS]

....
Microsoft should not ditch its customers, and if 500+ million computer owners do not change to W7, then Microsoft have got a problem and then perhaps they will continue to support.

That is such rubbish. Microsoft have already got the money for XP.

dw - you are talking utter b****cks and making me angry.

As I said you are deliberately stirring and I won't bother to respond to you again on this topic.

benchwayze.....urban myth..you have nothing to worry about on that score

 

[Eric The Viking]

I've heard that hackers can get into your machine now, even if it's not switched on; if this is true, presumably it's via broadband.

I switch off at the wall, after I have shut down, but the broadband is still connected to my house. Is this how this feat of magic might be achieved?

:?

Nah.

No power = no access.

There is a 'wake on LAN' feature in PCs. It's for business use: the machine can be turned on via a network signal, so that updates, etc. can be done overnight when it's not needed by the normal user. If there's no power available this won't work. You can imagine that feature being exploited by hackers, but it's the only thing I can think of that might start that sort of rumour.

By the way, it's sensible to disable it in the computer's BIOS (easily done by anyone competent), but most PCs come with it enabled by default (because when machines are being built/set up in large numbers, it's helpful).

It's always made me nervous (it's been around for 20+ years), but I've never heard of it being a hacking vector. I've never had cause to use it either, but then I've never done PC support. You used to find empty chip sockets on network cards, to add in that functionality*. I never encountered a network card with a boot PROM actually fitted, although it must have been popular otherwise the sockets wouldn't have been there. Wake-on-LAN and booting aren't synonymous though, even then.

E.

PS: I'm beginning to wish I hadn't brought this subject up really! Just don't shoot the messenger...

*well, not exactly, but a closely-related feature.

 

[doorframe]

....
Microsoft should not ditch its customers, and if 500+ million computer owners do not change to W7, then Microsoft have got a problem and then perhaps they will continue to support.

That is such rubbish. Microsoft have already got the money for XP.

dw - you are talking utter b****cks and making me angry.

As I said you are deliberately stirring and I won't bother to respond to you again on this topic.

Sounds like Roger needs a new handbag!

 

[devonwoody]

I've got a windows 98 on laptop, I occasionally switch it on, I am not chucking it out.

It still works.

(and I want it because I have programs that only work with windows 98) that has had no support for donkeys years.

There is a download there of a proper pilots license manual that would cost hundreds of pounds to purchase. (it came on a flight sim program disk and that has not worked on any windows computer since)

 

[ChrisR]

[Don't visit Viagra sites and you should be ok ChrisR.[/quote]

Devonwoody.

Have you been peeking at my computer again. [-X

Take care.

Chris R.

 

[MMUK]

Mark,

You may not need to replace the machines, unless they're quite old: upgrading the operating system to Windows 7 or 8.1 will do it.

Bear in mind that you need at least a 1.6GHz processor for 32 bit or a 2.2GHz multi-core for 64 bit for them to run properly.

You also need a MINIMUM of 2GB RAM for 32 bit and 4GB for 64 bit.

 

[JustBen]

Computers are so cheap to build now, it's not worth the hastle struggling with an old machine,

You can build a half decent machine for about £100-£150.

If anyone needs help with a copy if windows7, just send me a message.

 

[RogerS]

Interesting thread, this. I have an old Vaio laptop currently running XP but it hasn't been turned on in the last six months. I think I might give Linux a whirl. I am hoping that it will be powerful enough although it is quite a few years old.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Interesting thread, this. I have an old Vaio laptop currently running XP but it hasn't been turned on in the last six months. I think I might give Linux a whirl. I am hoping that it will be powerful enough although it is quite a few years old.

Try the download I suggested earlier. burn to CD as a bootable image and off you go. I've had it running in 1/2gig of memory (but it was a bit slow).

E.