The deadline is near. Do you still have a Windows XP computer? On April 8, Windows will no longer support that system. That means no more security and other updates. Your computer will be vulnerable.
What will you do about it?
What will you do about it?
First, you better download Windows Security Essentials right away from Microsoft, because that will not be available after the deadline. You'll at least be semi-protected. Here's the link, which offers the download, and other information about the demise of Windows XP.
If your XP crashes, do you have a backup plan? Hopefully, you have an online provider that copies your content safely; or at least you own a backup drive.
I bit the bullet and replaced my desktop and laptop computers, which both ran on XP. The laptop is now using Windows 7, and the desktop is on 8.1. So far, Windows 7 is easier, but I'm getting used to 8.1. It's a learning experience.
For my old desktop, I'd already invested in the online program, Carbonite. Because I had so many photos and documents, plus my server was slow, it took about a week to get everything transferred to the new computer. At least it's all there now, and I haven't lost anything. Carbonite continues to back everything up.
The old desktop is sitting upstairs and will be used occasionally to stream programs over the Internet and other odd jobs, unless it decides to crash.
The old desktop is sitting upstairs and will be used occasionally to stream programs over the Internet and other odd jobs, unless it decides to crash.
For my laptop, I emailed important documents to myself. Some I transferred to my desktop, others are still in email in the event I need them. The photos were a different matter. I put some of them on Flickr, using the personal setting. I'm also in the process of transferring all the photos to a small backup hard drive, which has more capacity than my laptop, and is as small as a transistor radio.
If you don't have much time and only have a few vital items to save, you might try the free Dropbox program as a temporary holder of important documents. You'll have to pay them if you have a lot to save.
An interesting side note I learned today is that many ATMs run on XP. I'm wondering if they'll meet the deadline. If they don't, can people still get money if they need it?
Also, it appears many government computers have not been upgraded. Hopefully, they'll get in line before it's too late.
Some say, April 8 is more of a warning date, and computers will not crash immediately. Still, from then on, those computers will become vulnerable and are sitting targets for nut jobs. I'm not taking any chances.
What about you? Do you have a Windows XP computer? If so, what are you doing about it?
Morgan Mandel - Romance & Mystery Author
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All good advice. We each have a system, I guess. Neither I nor my husband have XP anymore--we have Windows 7, and my old computer has ? the one that makes Docx files. He uses that as a backup. You know the older Toshibas were workhorses--the newer ones don't seem to have the longevity as those older ones. We have our various methods of saving and storing--mostly thumb drive which we switch out about three times a year with old ones in our bank safe deposit box. And he has an external drive he sometimes brings in here to back up mine.
ReplyDeleteBut let me tell you, if your house burns down and you have nothing outside your home with your files, you're dead in the water. It happened to our neighbors, and since then we're even more cautious about saving things somewhere outside the house. Thanks for all the reminders.
Better safe than sorry.That's why when I'm writing a book, I email it to myself each day. If I ever needed the files, I could pull them up on another computer.
DeleteYikes. I'm so glad we have a techie like you, Morgan. I am so clueless about this stuff. I'm pretty sure I don't have XP, but I'm going to double check so I know for sure.
ReplyDeleteI wish I were a techie, but I do my best. A real techie could hire out for lots of money!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, Morgan. I do have XP and I also have Carbonite for backup. Hopefully I will be okay until we get a new computer for me. I think the Windows 7 is friendlier than the 8.1 too. I use that at work. I'm going to miss this XP - it's been good to me!
ReplyDeleteYes, I miss my XP also. It was a lot easier to work with. That said, now I have more RAM and I'm happy about that!
DeleteWhen I ordered my latest computer from HP (custom built to my specs) I got the standard 1 terabyte drive that comes with it. I added a 500 gig internal file drive. This is where all the files, photos, and reviews are stored. The hard drive can crash every day if it wants to but my files are safe. Just to be sure I have an external USB 3.0 back up drive which duplicates my 500 gig drive.. Then in case all the Gods and Goddesses of perversity want to dump on me I have all my mission critical files on 2 thumb drives.
ReplyDeleteI learned all this back in the days of the 486 computers and the early Pentiums. Better safe then insane.
You are so right about being safe rather than insane, Nora!
DeleteExcellent advice, Morgan, and thank you. I had XP but ended up getting a new desktop with 8 on it. I'm getting used to it, too. It's encouraging to know you're looking out for us and sharing something we need to know.
ReplyDeleteMarja McGraw
Yes, Windows 8 is kind of confusing, and I saw something about 9 coming up. First, they should make 8.1 better.
DeleteAaarrggjj!! I have Windows 8 on my laptop and I HATE it! Don't know what I'm going to do for my desktop...
ReplyDeleteI'm not too thrilled with 8.1, but it's a little better than 8. Just seems like there's extra steps on it that can be avoided.
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