Win 7, win8 or win 8.1?

Inforapennyinforapound

I know there are many threads and i have done a little research....but as an ageing technophobe can someone please (in laymans terms) explain the differences in the above op.systems...

I use xp at the moment on my desktop and rather than mess about with upgrades(i think my pc may be unable anyway) i guess i need to buy a new one.

I can and do use an ipad so not totally illiterate!:j

Finally when i get a new pc how do i simply transfer all my files,photos etc to the new one?

Thanks in advance for your replies and understanding of inability to keep up to date with technology ....i am trying!!

closed

don't need, old one will still work as it does now.

usb hard disk caddy, or copy them to an external drive, or burn them to dvd's

Inforapennyinforapound

Closed,you mean not to bother to buy new pc just yet?....i do realise that it will still work but,well,you know,i a, a little confused..........it was a message i had from microsoft that has caused my post..

NiftyDigits

Brand name and model number of your PC?

closed

read some of the other threads on the subject, you don't need to throw a machine away because microsoft won't be doing windows updates for it.

Backup every few months with macrium disk imaging software (free), install antivirus (avast is free), try sandboxie (free). and you'll probably be able to use it in 4 years time.

Inforapennyinforapound

NiftyDigits,

It is an HP Pavilion model s7610.uk.

Os is xp media centre edition(whatever that means)!

Bought january 2007

Inforapennyinforapound

Thank you all so far,by the way.....i use avg free also

grumpycrab

Re. transferring stuff to a new computer the only problem can be email. If you use a browser for email this isn't a problem.

Inforapennyinforapound

I use outlook express on my pc and something else on my ipad.

Havent a clue as to what outlook express is,but it works!.....how i would get this and transfer emails to a new pc?.....i think i understand webmail,google,orange,hotmail etc

macman

Desktop email programs: you can install either Windows Live Mail or Thunderbird on your new W8.1 PC, and import your old OE emails and address book into it.

grumpycrab

Inforapennyinforapound wrote: »

.....how i would get this [outlook express] and transfer emails to a new pc?

2 main opitons:-
1. use a browser/webmail
2. as macman has indicated, outlook express (OE) doesn't exist on new computers; this is the one big issue with moving to new computers.
Windows Live Mail is the OE equivalent but most people I have installed this for dislike it. Thunderbird is recommended. Approx order would be :-
a. prevent OE from email syncing
b. install Thunderbird (TB) on old computer and import OE data into it.
c. export TB data
d. install TB on new computer
e. import TB data