Completely stuck! Need help with what next after windows XP

jbuchanangb

I am running XP on my trusty laptop -see spec
https://www.toshiba-europe.com/bv/computers/products/notebooks/satellitepro4600/techspecs_5.htm
This will never run anything later than XP, so I'll just keep on using it.
It has XP pro SP3 fully up to date, and Avira antivirus also up to date.
Gets a bit sluggish at times, but it copes.

If I can stick with XP so can you.

debitcardmayhem

S0litaire wrote: »

.......snipped

I'm not going to suggest Linux since the oldies might struggle a bit. ^_~ but yoiu can run it from CD/USB stick so you can let them try it without messing up the machine...

"We oldies" (using Fedora/Mint/Ubuntu etc) got to be old by not casting aspersions at our elders :cool:

cheddar_caveman

Go Apple and worry no more

giraffe69

Whilst XP will continue to run and won't turn into something very risky from day one it will in time lead to more dead ends. Not only won't it be supported but hardware manufacturers will stop producing or supporting drivers and some versions of software won't run in time. I think the aggravations will grow in time so I would view to upgrade when you are ready. Windows 7 is fine. All you need to do is
a. check it will run on your machine (your specs sound ok)
b. check your hardware e.g. printer will run (almost for certain it will)
c. Give yourself a little time to get used to it.

prowla

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

"We oldies" (using Fedora/Mint/Ubuntu etc) got to be old by not casting aspersions at our elders :cool:

I started using UNIX in the 1980s, before Microsoft Windows existed.

NiftyDigits

rock-y-beach wrote: »

If anyone could please help or steer me in the right direction I would be VERY appreciative.

We all (myself, my parents, my partner and his parents) use windows XP and have done for many years with no problems. Now with windows XP becoming vulnerable next month due to microsoft ditching it, we are completely stuck with what to do next.

My partner tried windows 7 on an old PC of mine the other year and it all messed up. So don't know what to do in case our computers are not good enough to handle windows 7.

My parents have a 4 CPU 3.00GHz 3.01GHz, 1.99GB of RAM pc and I have an intel core 2 CPU with 1.86 GHz with 2.00 GB of RAM pc.

It seems the options available to us are the following:

1) switching to linux which is free but have heard reviews it is difficult to use if you are used to windows

2) Buying a windows 7 cd or code which would cost £50+ to £70+ of which money is very tight at the moment and also there is the chance it wont run on our pc's so that money will have been wasted

3) Buying a new pc but wouldn't these have windows 8 on of which I have heard bad reviews of windows 8 not working properly

or 4) buying a refurbished pc that's got windows 7 but that could also mess up if there is something wrong with it (past experience from buying from a 2nd hand computer shop & ebay)

Does anyone have any opinions please?

thank you very much

Do these machines have brand names and model numbers?

patman99

The only issue you might come across is that your bank *may* decide to block access to online banking from machines running XP (like they did with Windows Me).
Both the machines you are using are more than adequate for running 7 on.

If you want to try a user-friendly Windows-a-like Linux, then Mint Linux fits the bill. Easy to install & keep updated. If you feel very adventurous, then Archlinux is worth a punt, but you need extreme patience and access to 2 PCs in order to install it (one to install on and one to read the idiots install guide on. Archlinux has the advantage that it will never be out of date.

henm2

prowla wrote: »

Linux is perfectly viable as a desktop OS, but Ubuntu (my favourite desktop Linux) is a bit resource hungry.

I

I would put LXLE http://lxle.net/ on it (LXLE is an enhanced version of Lubuntu)
It works extremely well with machines that are capable of running XP and although it includes a very comprehensive selection of software it is not resource hungry and is very easy to use.
Another possible selection would be Zorin 8 lite

Neil49

Microsoft have also said that Internet Explorer will not be updated with XP in mind whereas both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox will continue to support XP for at least the next couple of years.

Given that, I would switch to one of those browsers fairly soon. Importing your existing bookmarks/favourites is all part of the process and is very easy.

debitcardmayhem

prowla wrote: »

I started using UNIX in the 1980s, before Microsoft Windows existed.

Doh, I started using Unix in 1979, oh and M$soft had Xenix(a Unix derivative) in the very early 80's (probably 1980) computer says so :eek: