What you need to know about Windows XP
by: KayBrenner |
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Windows XP is retiring at the end of the month, like all its predecessors. After seven years of service, Microsoft is ending sale of the operating system to PC manufacturers. It sounds scary but every dark cloud has a silver lining.
The news comes as a big disappointment to those of who have come to trust the system, which we have grown to love and still favor over the troublesome Microsoft Vista. Since its release, the average user has spent 8000 hours in front of their PCs connected to the Internet.
If you are not prepared to go down the path of uprading to Windows Vista, what are you options after the cut-off date other than switching to Mac OS X or Linux?
Tech Support For Your XP Problems
There is some hope that Windows will continue to offer support for the numerous technical issues that users face everyday with XP, until 2014. However, support may just be the bare minimum and difficult to get hold of.
The other way around this problem is to simply type your problem into Google. Chances are if you've had a particular issue, so have loads of other people, and you're bound to find the solution somewhere online, as well as it being a lot easier than phoning Microsoft.
Options for XP on New PC
It will still be possible to purchase a PC with XP installed after the deadline despite Microsoft categorically stating that this will not be possible after the cut-off date.
Smart vendors who have an inventory of unused licenses, and same goes for other retailers, will still be able to sell you machine with XP preinstalled.
Switching Operating Systems
A second alternative method of getting XP on a new machine is through the peculiar practice of downgrade rights. In this way a PC manufacturer who has the permission of Microsoft through downgrade rights, can sell you a machine with XP installed on it. Technically this is done where the machine previously had Vista on it, but was then downgraded to Vista before it was sold
If this is the case, you'll be supplied with the discs for XP and it's drivers, as well as the same discs for Vista, so you can re-upgrade at a later date if you decide to. Dell have confirmed that they will make this option open to customers, but it only lasts out until January 31st next year.
'Limited Hardware Capabilities'
Another way that you can get your hands on XP is by purchasing a PC that has 'limited hardware capabilities,' a term Microsoft has coined for machines that cannot handle Vista. These are basic machines that do not have the processing power, laptops such as the Asus EEE for example, that run slow processors and have limited RAM. However, this is only until June 2010.
Not the End of the Road for XP
To tell the truth, XP lives on. You can still buy it until at least June 2010, which will probably be extended, and you'll still get support until 2014. That's a long time to say goodbye to your favorite operating system, although you need to be aware that eventually you're going to have to make the switch.
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About the Author
Kay Brenner is a PC errors expert who restores slow PCs, saving you time and money wrestling with a slow PC. To reclaim your dream machine you first bought, download a free PC Check Up
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