An Irish Wake to bid fair well to an old friend…
With all the changes in technology, it was inevitable that some of the old standbys would fall by the wayside.
Sherman, set the Wayback Machine for 1999. A time when technology was booming, brick cell phones were vanishing, and companies like Microsoft and Apple were just hitting their stride.
In the super secret Microsoft development labs, a project for a new operating system, code named “Whistler”, (no lie, it really had a code name!), were nearing completion. When finished, “Whistler” would provide a single, adaptable operating system for both the home and business environments.
New technologies were available, and the looming threat of Y2K spurred development through the new millennia, until, on October 25, 2001, Microsoft unveiled what would quickly become the most popular commercial operating system in its history.
Windows XP.
For those of you who remember the nightmare that was Windows 95, 98, 2000, and even worse, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP offered three very important things:
First, it was user friendly. Improvements to the user interface had been ongoing through the releases of Windows NT - Millennium, and Microsoft listened to the voices of customers, incorporating features for both home and business use into one solid OS.
Second, it was adaptable. Through online features like Windows Update, and Windows Server Update Services, the user was able to ensure that they always had the most up to date version of their operating system.
Third, it was STABLE! As an IT professional, stability is very important, and Windows XP offered a stable platform for home and business users.
We all loved Windows XP.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and like Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Saturn - Windows XP is being retired. After twelve years in circulation – an eternity in tech years – Microsoft has decided to cease supporting XP effective April 8th 2014.
What does this mean for the average user who still has Old Reliable running on their home computer?
Initially, not much. Your computer will continue to function normally for a while. However, users will begin to notice performance issues as other technologies continue to evolve.
The biggest effect will be felt by individuals with older machines, (those manufactured prior to 2003) as network demands begin to overwhelm the processing capacity of those older machines. Eventually, your XP machine will become little more than an electronic typewriter.
So, what do you do?
Upgrading to Windows7 is the easiest way, and in many cases, doesn’t require a lot of new hardware.
Many people ask me about upgrading directly to Windows 8, or Windows 8.1, since these are the newest operating systems, but I tend to discourage this approach for a couple of reasons:
First, Windows7 still incorporates all the things that we learned to appreciate in Windows XP. This will make learning to navigate the new Operating System much quicker and easier.
By contrast, Windows8 was created around a "Tablet PC" design, incorporating icons and apps instead of the old cascading menus. If you have an Android or Windows smartphone, take a look at your screen and imagine that as your computer operating system. This change in format might throw a few people off.
Second, older systems simply won’t be able to handle Windows8’s graphical requirements. Windows7 is much lighter (in terms of disk space and memory requirements) than Windows8, and will provide a smoother transition.
So, how do I make the transition from Windows XP to Windows7?
1): Make sure your machine can run Windows7
Windows7 requires some room to work, so for some PC’s, a simple memory upgrade will be required. Microsoft suggests your PC have a minimum 1 Gigahertz Processor, and at least 1 Gigabyte of RAM for Windows7 to function – I, personally recommend you double that just so things run more smoothly.
You will also need a minimum 16 Gigabytes (32 bit version) to 20 Gigabytes (64 bit version) of hard drive space to house the Operating system
Finally, you will need to be running DirectX9 Graphics or better for video.
2): Backup all your personal information, documents, music, pictures, etc, BEFORE you begin this process! Because XP and Windows7 are written in different languages, you cannot upgrade from one to the other. Instead, Windows7 will remove XP and reinstall itself during the installation process.
TRICK: All of your information and data is stored on your hard drive. You can always remove that and purchase a new one, with larger capacity, and install Windows7 on that. Then just plug your old hard drive into your USB port and transfer your personal information that way. BANG – instant external backup at the same time!
Once you determine if your Windows XP PC can actually handle Windows7, you’ll want to purchase a full copy of the operating system – DO NOT PURCHASE JUST THE UPGRADE! I say this because Windows7 upgrades are available for individuals who wish to upgrade their Windows Vista computers, (a move I highly recommend, by the way). The simple upgrade will not work with XP.
Windows7 comes in several versions, but for the sake of this article, the two most popular are Windows7 Home Premium Edition and Windows7 Professional.
Home Premium is the most popular version for home use, and provides a solid foundation for home computing, networking, and media. It has been the standard OS offered for most off-the-shelf PC’s sold.
It is available in two forms, 32 bit and 64 bit versions. For the sake of this article, most XP machines will probably use the 32 bit version.
Windows7 Professional, like Home Premium, offers 32 bit and 64 bit options, and for most systems, the 32 bit OS will be fine. It also offers several other options over Home Premium – primarily an option to run programs in “XP mode”.
XP Mode in Windows7 Professional offers a “translator” to allow older software to run as if it were being run on an XP machine, (because Windows7 is written in a different programming “language”, software written for Windows XP will not function). If you have a lot of software, (games, educational programs, etc), then Windows7 Professional may be a better way to go. Many businesses go with WIndows7 Professional for its backward compatibility and other networking features.
It is important to note here, that, while XP is being retired, supplemental applications like Microsoft Office, Outlook, and other Microsoft products can be carried over into Windows7. As long as you have the product key for your Microsoft software, you can go to the Microsoft Website (www.microsoft.com), and re-download your current version of that software without having to purchase them again. I do recommend, however, that anyone running MS Office/Outlook 2003 or earlier upgrade those versions in order to get the most out of their new Windows7 system. This is not a requirement, just my own personal suggestion.
As always, if you’re unsure, consult a professional before you begin the process.
When you consider the average life expectancy of an operating system is between three to five years, the fact that Windows XP has been around for over a decade reaffirms its reliability as a staple in business and personal computing.
So long, Windows XP! It’s been a heck of a run!
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please feel free to use the "contact us" tab and send us a message. We'd love to hear from you!
With all the changes in technology, it was inevitable that some of the old standbys would fall by the wayside.
Sherman, set the Wayback Machine for 1999. A time when technology was booming, brick cell phones were vanishing, and companies like Microsoft and Apple were just hitting their stride.
In the super secret Microsoft development labs, a project for a new operating system, code named “Whistler”, (no lie, it really had a code name!), were nearing completion. When finished, “Whistler” would provide a single, adaptable operating system for both the home and business environments.
New technologies were available, and the looming threat of Y2K spurred development through the new millennia, until, on October 25, 2001, Microsoft unveiled what would quickly become the most popular commercial operating system in its history.
Windows XP.
For those of you who remember the nightmare that was Windows 95, 98, 2000, and even worse, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP offered three very important things:
First, it was user friendly. Improvements to the user interface had been ongoing through the releases of Windows NT - Millennium, and Microsoft listened to the voices of customers, incorporating features for both home and business use into one solid OS.
Second, it was adaptable. Through online features like Windows Update, and Windows Server Update Services, the user was able to ensure that they always had the most up to date version of their operating system.
Third, it was STABLE! As an IT professional, stability is very important, and Windows XP offered a stable platform for home and business users.
We all loved Windows XP.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and like Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Saturn - Windows XP is being retired. After twelve years in circulation – an eternity in tech years – Microsoft has decided to cease supporting XP effective April 8th 2014.
What does this mean for the average user who still has Old Reliable running on their home computer?
Initially, not much. Your computer will continue to function normally for a while. However, users will begin to notice performance issues as other technologies continue to evolve.
The biggest effect will be felt by individuals with older machines, (those manufactured prior to 2003) as network demands begin to overwhelm the processing capacity of those older machines. Eventually, your XP machine will become little more than an electronic typewriter.
So, what do you do?
Upgrading to Windows7 is the easiest way, and in many cases, doesn’t require a lot of new hardware.
Many people ask me about upgrading directly to Windows 8, or Windows 8.1, since these are the newest operating systems, but I tend to discourage this approach for a couple of reasons:
First, Windows7 still incorporates all the things that we learned to appreciate in Windows XP. This will make learning to navigate the new Operating System much quicker and easier.
By contrast, Windows8 was created around a "Tablet PC" design, incorporating icons and apps instead of the old cascading menus. If you have an Android or Windows smartphone, take a look at your screen and imagine that as your computer operating system. This change in format might throw a few people off.
Second, older systems simply won’t be able to handle Windows8’s graphical requirements. Windows7 is much lighter (in terms of disk space and memory requirements) than Windows8, and will provide a smoother transition.
So, how do I make the transition from Windows XP to Windows7?
1): Make sure your machine can run Windows7
Windows7 requires some room to work, so for some PC’s, a simple memory upgrade will be required. Microsoft suggests your PC have a minimum 1 Gigahertz Processor, and at least 1 Gigabyte of RAM for Windows7 to function – I, personally recommend you double that just so things run more smoothly.
You will also need a minimum 16 Gigabytes (32 bit version) to 20 Gigabytes (64 bit version) of hard drive space to house the Operating system
Finally, you will need to be running DirectX9 Graphics or better for video.
2): Backup all your personal information, documents, music, pictures, etc, BEFORE you begin this process! Because XP and Windows7 are written in different languages, you cannot upgrade from one to the other. Instead, Windows7 will remove XP and reinstall itself during the installation process.
TRICK: All of your information and data is stored on your hard drive. You can always remove that and purchase a new one, with larger capacity, and install Windows7 on that. Then just plug your old hard drive into your USB port and transfer your personal information that way. BANG – instant external backup at the same time!
Once you determine if your Windows XP PC can actually handle Windows7, you’ll want to purchase a full copy of the operating system – DO NOT PURCHASE JUST THE UPGRADE! I say this because Windows7 upgrades are available for individuals who wish to upgrade their Windows Vista computers, (a move I highly recommend, by the way). The simple upgrade will not work with XP.
Windows7 comes in several versions, but for the sake of this article, the two most popular are Windows7 Home Premium Edition and Windows7 Professional.
Home Premium is the most popular version for home use, and provides a solid foundation for home computing, networking, and media. It has been the standard OS offered for most off-the-shelf PC’s sold.
It is available in two forms, 32 bit and 64 bit versions. For the sake of this article, most XP machines will probably use the 32 bit version.
Windows7 Professional, like Home Premium, offers 32 bit and 64 bit options, and for most systems, the 32 bit OS will be fine. It also offers several other options over Home Premium – primarily an option to run programs in “XP mode”.
XP Mode in Windows7 Professional offers a “translator” to allow older software to run as if it were being run on an XP machine, (because Windows7 is written in a different programming “language”, software written for Windows XP will not function). If you have a lot of software, (games, educational programs, etc), then Windows7 Professional may be a better way to go. Many businesses go with WIndows7 Professional for its backward compatibility and other networking features.
It is important to note here, that, while XP is being retired, supplemental applications like Microsoft Office, Outlook, and other Microsoft products can be carried over into Windows7. As long as you have the product key for your Microsoft software, you can go to the Microsoft Website (www.microsoft.com), and re-download your current version of that software without having to purchase them again. I do recommend, however, that anyone running MS Office/Outlook 2003 or earlier upgrade those versions in order to get the most out of their new Windows7 system. This is not a requirement, just my own personal suggestion.
As always, if you’re unsure, consult a professional before you begin the process.
When you consider the average life expectancy of an operating system is between three to five years, the fact that Windows XP has been around for over a decade reaffirms its reliability as a staple in business and personal computing.
So long, Windows XP! It’s been a heck of a run!
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please feel free to use the "contact us" tab and send us a message. We'd love to hear from you!