XP end of support

20/5/2014

As of 8th of April Windows has now dropped support for all Windows XP and Office 2003 products. Meaning there are no longer going to be any updates or security patches for either of these products.

What are my options if I'm currently running Windows XP or Office 2003

It's not the end of the world if you are currently on Windows XP or running office 2003. The operating system is still able to be used, only it is now in a state that is more vulnerable to any threats that appear.
So what are the options available to those still on Windows XP?

Purchase a whole new system

The most costly of the three options however this will give you a new manufacturers warranty for your computer as well as a more upgraded design/specification. This is ideal for those individuals that have been looking to upgrade their computer but just haven't got around to it where a new operating system and a computer with upgraded specifications can be had. Not quite so practical for large scale deployment such as migrating a business from XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

Upgrade to Windows 8.1

Probably the most long term solution provided the current computer meets the required specifications. This is ideal for those looking to get the most from their current computer and don't mind, or are willing to learn the new Metro style interface that has been created by Microsoft. This learning curve is probably one of the few drawbacks to upgrading to windows 8.1. A compatibility tool to check if your computer can run windows 8.1 is available to download at the end of this post.

Upgrade to Windows 7

For those who don't like the look or feel of Windows 8.1 there is still the alternative of Windows 7. With a look very similar to windows XP yet a more up to date system that can handle newer applications and systems this is by far the best options for those that want to stick with XP but are worried about the lack of security now that it is no longer supported. A compatibility tool to check if your computer can run windows 7 is available to download at the end of this post.

Whichever option you decide is best for you we at LCS are here to support you so whether you need us to upgrade the computer for you, or to migrate your information to your new computer, our team can help.

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