4 Ways To Hang On To XP After The Cut-off Date
View PDF | Print View
by: KayBrenner
Total views: 12
Word Count: 505
I am sure the news could not come at a better time, after all we have been through a lot together with Windows XP. The average computer user has spent over 8000 hours using Windows XP and is the system most used to the connect us to the Internet.
If you are not prepared to go down the path of uprading to Windows Vista, what are you options after the cut-off date other than switching to Mac OS X or Linux?
Tech Support For Your XP Problems
Don't worry, there will be some support from Microsoft until at least 2014 for numerous technical issues with XP that users experience everyday. This will add another six years to XP's life but extensive support may be lacking
The other way around this problem is to simply type your problem into Google. Chances are if you've had a particular issue, so have loads of other people, and you're bound to find the solution somewhere online, as well as it being a lot easier than phoning Microsoft.
Acquiring XP on New PC
It will still be possible to purchase a PC with XP installed after the deadline despite Microsoft categorically stating that this will not be possible after the cut-off date.
Smart vendors who have an inventory of unused licenses, and same goes for other retailers, will still be able to sell you machine with XP preinstalled.
Juggling Operating Systems
A second alternative method of getting XP on a new machine is through the peculiar practice of downgrade rights. In this way a PC manufacturer who has the permission of Microsoft through downgrade rights, can sell you a machine with XP installed on it. Technically this is done where the machine previously had Vista on it, but was then downgraded to Vista before it was sold
If this is the case, you'll be supplied with the discs for XP and it's drivers, as well as the same discs for Vista, so you can re-upgrade at a later date if you decide to. Dell have confirmed that they will make this option open to customers, but it only lasts out until January 31st next year.
'Limited Hardware Capabilities'
There is an alternative legal way of getting your hands on XP. That is purchase a PC that has 'limited hardware capabilities,' a term that Microsoft has phrased for machines that lack the muscle power such as slow processor or limited memory, to run Vista. Laptops such as the Asus EEE lack both processor power and hard-disk space to run Windows Vista. Instead these machines must run XP.
XP Still Has Life Yet
XP still has some shelf life yet. There are still legal ways to purchase XP at least until June 2010, which is likely to be extended. Support for XP will be until 2014, allowing us enough time to get used to another operating, probably Vista's successor. Long Live XP!
About the Author
Kay Brenner is a Computer software consultant who specializes in restoring your slow PC, saving you time and money wrestling with a sick computer. To reclaim your dream machine you first bought, download a free PC Health Check
HTML Code For Copy & Paste
The following code can be copied and pasted into your web page to ensure all links are properly maintained.
Rating: Not yet rated