Help - do I need to upgrade to Windows 7

cathy711

Hi can anyone advise me please. I have XP on my PC, and everything works fine for me ( an occasional browser), and even though all my updates from Microsoft are done automatically, on various sites, I get a message saying my browser is outdated.

Can anyone recommend - should I buy windows 7 ( £80-£100) and update, or can I download another browser.

Any help appreciated.

gonzo127

download firefox, chrome or opera all are very good and are actually better than internet explorer anyway

and no you do not need to upgrade to windows 7, although it is always worth while keeping an eye on when microsoft are planning on pulling the support for XP which is currently set at April 8th 2014 however this could be extended

espresso

No need to update your operating system to Win 7 but you can get a much better browser here.

GunJack

It's because you're using Internet Explorer 6 or 7. What the messages are related to is IE8. Open IE, and go to Tools > Windows Update and do a custom search for updates, and look for IE8. Select it and install the update. This will keep you on a familiar browser that websites do support, and in slower time download and try Opera (currently my fave). Even if you use a different browser in the main, it's always a good bet to keep IE for those odd sites which won't work properly with alternatives

GeoffX

I'd avoid Google's Chrome as it is spyware - it transmits data about every website you visit back to Google. Try Firefox or Opera. I'd recommend the latter as it's less reliant on plugins for what should be basic functionality.

Swan_2

excellent advice from the others cathy, no need to spend any money

we've got various desktops & laptops running either XP or W7 & they've all got Firefox on them working perfectly

[Deleted User]

GeoffX wrote: »

I'd avoid Google's Chrome as it is spyware - it transmits data about every website you visit back to Google.

What data?

texranger

cathy711 wrote: »

Hi can anyone advise me please. I have XP on my PC, and everything works fine for me ( an occasional browser), and even though all my updates from Microsoft are done automatically, on various sites, I get a message saying my browser is outdated.

Can anyone recommend - should I buy windows 7 ( £80-£100) and update, or can I download another browser.

Any help appreciated.

if you do want to upgrade ( not needed through) you dont need to spend £80 to £100

http://www.software4students.co.uk/Microsoft_Windows_7_Professional_32_bit_Upgrade_Edition-details.aspx

an upgrade is £38.49

Fifer

texranger wrote: »

if you do want to upgrade ( not needed through) you dont need to spend £80 to £100

http://www.software4students.co.uk/Microsoft_Windows_7_Professional_32_bit_Upgrade_Edition-details.aspx

an upgrade is £38.49

Are you assuming Cathy is a student? That's a student upgrade.

texranger

Fifer wrote: »

Are you assuming Cathy is a student? That's a student upgrade.

i use them all the time for kaspersky upgrades. etc you dont need to be a student yourself the student can be a member of your family.

jayme1

GeoffX wrote: »

I'd avoid Google's Chrome as it is spyware - it transmits data about every website you visit back to Google.

no it doesn't at all, it only sends search queries back to google which is the same as using the google website, it certainly doesnt send 'every website you visit' to google.

for future reference when you type something into the search bar if you select the one with a magnifying glass that is a search and will search for the word using google, if you select another non magnifying glass option then that is not sent to google unless you have instant search turned on.

also your statement about opera and firefox, what exactly does opera have in way of better basic functionality over firefox?

plus since you obviously cautiously scared for your security don't ever turn on opera turbo, because then everything you do (passwords and all) goes through operas servers.