Windows XP Shutdown: 10 Facts To Know
The clock ticks for Windows XP holdouts. Explore the key issues before making your next move.
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Twelve years is an eternity -- no, several eternities -- in the tech industry. When Microsoft launched Windows XP in October 2001, desktops and laptops ruled, smartphones were in their infancy, and consumer tablets were nearly a decade away. Most operating systems from that era are long gone, but Windows XP has proven surprisingly resilient. According to web-tracking firm Net Applications, in January 2013 Windows XP was the second most popular operating system among desktop PC users, holding steady with a 29.23% market share.
Windows XP, the successor to the business-oriented Windows 2000 and consumer-focused Windows ME, remained entrenched in the enterprise even as Microsoft released newer versions of its flagship OS, including Windows Vista (2007), Windows 7 (2009), and Windows 8 (2012). All operating systems must die at some point, of course, and it appears that Windows XP's time finally has come. Microsoft will cease support for the venerable OS in April, a move that will leave XP users highly vulnerable to security risks.
How did XP manage to last this long? Perhaps it owes much of its longevity to the shortcomings of two of its three successors.
Windows Vista suffered from a variety of technical maladies, including slow performance, software and hardware incompatibilities, and reduced laptop-battery life. While Microsoft eventually resolved many of these glitches, Vista's reputation never recovered, and the OS was largely shunned by enterprise users.
Windows 7 was a notable improvement over Vista, offering faster startup and better compatibility. It soon became Microsoft's most popular OS and remains so today. According to NetApplications, Windows 7's desktop PC market share last month topped 47%.
And then there's Windows 8.x and its controversial redesign -- a touch-oriented UI bolted on top of the traditional Windows desktop. Needless to say, Win 8 has been a disappointment thus far, particularly among organizations reluctant to retrain workers to learn its new tile-oriented Modern UI. Microsoft may be campaigning hard to persuade Windows XP users to migrate to Windows 8.1, but Windows XP upgraders may prefer the more comfortable confines of Windows 7.
Many PCs running Windows XP are big iron beasts from the new millennium, and there's a good chance they'll prove too old to upgrade. This could spur sales of Windows PCs, or so Redmond hopes. Microsoft badly needs a catalyst to boost business and consumer interest in its flagging Windows 8.x platform, which is selling at a slower pace than Windows 7 did at this stage in its life.
Now dig into our slideshow and learn more before deciding how to proceed.
Your PC won't implode, melt down, or otherwise cease to function after the April 8, 2014, deadline for Windows XP support. It'll continue to work, but will become increasingly vulnerable to security threats. Why? Because Microsoft won't be sending out any more automatic updates that protect Windows XP from the ever-evolving horde of malware and other risks. It won't provide free or paid assisted-support options, either. Those brave (or clueless) souls who continue to use Windows XP after April 8 will do so at their own risk. Furthermore, more apps and devices won't work with XP when software and hardware makers ditch the platform to focus on newer systems.
Microsoft really, really wants you to upgrade to Windows 8.1 -- not Windows 7 -- even though the latter is probably a better match for legions of XP users who don't want or need the tablet-oriented Modern UI. But even if you're bullish on Win 8, your decade-old iron beast might not be. To be fair, the Windows 8.1 minimum system requirements aren't all that onerous: 1-GHz or faster CPU, 1 GB (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit) of RAM, and 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) of storage. But 12-year-old hardware may not match those specs. "Very few older computers will be able to run Windows 8.1," admits Microsoft.
The XP-to-Windows 8.1 upgrade isn't trivial. Win 8 isn't designed for PCs running Windows XP or Vista, and Microsoft strongly recommends you run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to see if your PC qualifies. (By the way, Windows 8.1 system requirements are nearly the same as those for Windows 8.) You'll need to install from a Windows 8.1 DVD and run a clean installation, which means you won't be able to keep any files, programs, or settings when you upgrade. (You can reinstall them later.) Be sure to visit your PC manufacturer's website to learn more about updated drivers and hardware compatibility.
Windows 7 is as popular as ever, particularly in the enterprise -- so much so, in fact, that longtime PC manufacturer Hewlett-Packard began promoting Windows 7 last month in a marketing campaign that couldn't have gone over well in Redmond. Anyone migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 should print this tutorial before getting started. As with Windows 8.1, the XP-to-Windows 7 upgrade requires a clean installation and won't transfer your files, programs, and settings.
Microsoft will also no longer support Office 2003 and Exchange 2003 as of April 8. This means no more online content, security, and software updates for users of these XP-era programs. One solution, of course, is to upgrade to a newer version of Office. (Tip: If you're not sure which version of Office you're using, there's an easy way to find out. On the Microsoft Word menu bar, click Help > About Microsoft Office Word. The About dialog box will show the Office version and Service Pack (SP) at the top of the window.)
Microsoft Security Essentials is an anti-malware utility that runs on Windows XP, Vista, and 7. (Windows 8 has its own built-in security software and doesn't need Security Essentials.) As an additional motivator to get XP users to jump ship, Microsoft will stop offering Security Essentials for XP on April 8. There's a bit of good news -- but not a lot -- for XP stalwarts, however. If you have Security Essentials installed, you'll continue to receive anti-malware signature updates, but only through July 14, 2015. Don't get too comfortable. Since Microsoft won't be releasing new security updates for the XP operating system, your PC will be far from secure.
Can't decide between Windows 7 and Windows 8? For Windows XP users mulling the best upgrade path, Windows 7 offers something extra: Windows XP Mode, which lets you run programs designed for Windows XP on PCs running the Enterprise, Professional, or Ultimate editions of Windows 7. It runs in a separate window on the Windows 7 desktop, but is a fully functional version of Windows XP.
That's the good news. The bad news is that Microsoft will also end support for Windows XP Mode on April 8, so running Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 would be risky business.
Microsoft makes no guarantees that your Windows XP programs will run on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, but it does provide a tool to fix app-related problems. On the Windows 7 or 8 desktop, right-click the troublemaking program's icon and then select "Troubleshoot compatibility." This launches the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter, which steps you through the process of pinpointing the app's problems and applying new settings. If the program still won't run, the Troubleshooter will also let you manually adjust the app's compatibility settings.
Windows 8.1 requires a minimum of 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) of free storage. Today's PCs, many of which have a terabyte or more of disk space, easily meet this requirement. But Windows XP rigs often come from an ancient era, when high-end PCs boasted 80-gig drives.
Assuming your creaky Compaq is upgradable, it may need some spring cleaning to accommodate the modern OS. Microsoft suggests a variety of tips to free up disk space, including archiving or deleting files you no longer need, offloading files to removable devices, such as SD cards and USB flash drives, or using cloud-based storage services.
Large enterprises generally have the staff and resources to manage a Windows upgrade smoothly, but smaller shops may need more help. If you're not sure whether Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 is best for your business, check out Microsoft's Support for Small Business site. The information is written for Windows XP users and provides upgrade tutorials and migration guides for Windows 7 and 8.
Large enterprises generally have the staff and resources to manage a Windows upgrade smoothly, but smaller shops may need more help. If you're not sure whether Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 is best for your business, check out Microsoft's Support for Small Business site. The information is written for Windows XP users and provides upgrade tutorials and migration guides for Windows 7 and 8.
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