Jump to content

Welcome to Geeks to Go - Register now for FREE

Need help with your computer or device? Want to learn new tech skills? You're in the right place!
Geeks to Go is a friendly community of tech experts who can solve any problem you have. Just create a free account and post your question. Our volunteers will reply quickly and guide you through the steps. Don't let tech troubles stop you. Join Geeks to Go now and get the support you need!

How it Works Create Account
Photo

How necessary to upgrade from XP to Windows 8?


  • Please log in to reply

#1
aaaa44

aaaa44

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 151 posts

I use Windows XP and MS Office 2000.  How necessary is it for me to upgrade to Windows 8 and the latest version of Office to avoid infection?  I've read that as long as key programs like Adobe, Java, etc. are kept up to date and IE is not used that virus infection is not much of a threat, and it will only be necessary to upgrade to a newer Window version when software manufacturers stop supporting XP and when it gets difficult to surf the internet.  How prone to infection am I by using an old version of Office?  Is the threat of infection from using older Windows operating systems and older versions of Office exaggerated to sell more software or is the threat real enough to fork over the cash to impoverished Microsoft?  Where is the cheapest place to get the newer versions if necessary?  Thanks for any replies.  


Edited by aaaa44, 03 July 2014 - 04:39 PM.

  • 0

Advertisements


#2
Ztruker

Ztruker

    Member 5k

  • Technician
  • 7,091 posts

As long as you use a decent anti-virus program and avoid IE I think you are no worse off than before XP support ended. Just my opinion, many folks will disagree.

 

I do advise you to look into upgrading soon but many Windows XP computers are really not a good match for Windows 8 so you would be better off buying a new one.


  • 0

#3
aaaa44

aaaa44

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 151 posts

These are my computer specs.  Is my computer a good match for Windows 8?

 

Motherboard: ASUS P5G41T-M LX PLUS, Intel G41 Socket 775 

O/S: XP Home from installation cd I bought from Newegg, 32 Bit, SP3, version 2002

RAM: 4GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3, 1333 MT/S

CPU: Intel Celeron Dual Core E1200, 1.6 GHz, 512K, 800 MHz, OEM, Advanced

Intel G41 Express Chipset

Performance Series, Allendale, socket 775

PSU: Power Up 450 Watt ATX

HD: WD Caviar SE, 320G, IDE

Monitor: Samsung 2032NW, SyncMaster, 5ms, 3000:1, Dynamic Contrast, 20”


  • 0

#4
jds63

jds63

    Member 1K

  • Member
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 1,100 posts

Hi aaaa44,

 

That interested to know check here about Windows 8 or 8.1    http://windows.micro...load-online-faq


  • 0

#5
donetao

donetao

    Banned

  • Banned
  • PipPipPip
  • 753 posts

As long as you use a decent anti-virus program and avoid IE I think you are no worse off than before XP support ended. Just my opinion, many folks will disagree.

 

I do advise you to look into upgrading soon but many Windows XP computers are really not a good match for Windows 8 so you would be better off buying a new one.

I agree with Ztuker! What I would do if you don't want to up grade for awhile; use a 3rd party program like Macrium Reflect and create a image of your OS on a external drive while your OS is healthy. If your PC gets bogged down and infected, just restore the image and you will be back up and running just like the day you created the image. You should be creating a back up of your OS once a month any way. That's one way to beat Bill Gates out of a few $$. Eventually you will have to up grade. Personally I would avoid W8 like the plague. It your PC is running well; now is the time to create the back up image.

That's my 2 cents!

PS Macrium Reflect is very user friendly and has many tutorials. I would never own a computer with out having Macrium Reflect.

http://www.macrium.com/help.aspx

Hey jds63 :wave:


Edited by donetao, 03 July 2014 - 11:33 PM.

  • 0

#6
Gary R

Gary R

    Trusted Helper

  • Malware Removal
  • 445 posts

Using an unsupported OS is a danger because it is no longer patched, because of this it doesn't matter a bit how many AV programs you have installed, or how up to date you keep everything else, because your computer can still be exploited.

 

Malware writers often use what is called a "zero day exploit" as a means of getting into your system. A ZDE is a weakness in an OS that has not been seen before, and is therefore exploitable.

 

With a supported OS, Microsoft will investigate these ZDEs when they appear, and within a relatively short time will issue a patch to remove the weakness, however with an unsupported OS, these will never get patched, and the weakness will therefore remain exploitable.

 

There is no doubt that Malware writers "reserved" a number of these ZDEs to use on XP once support was removed, because they knew it would give them permanent access onto XP machines, and they also knew that there are still a large number of people who are reluctant to let go of an OS that they are familiar with.

 

So, all that said, the risk of you contracting an infection if you continue using XP is a significant one, just how significant will depend very much on your browsing habits.

 

 

 

 

 

 


  • 0

#7
donetao

donetao

    Banned

  • Banned
  • PipPipPip
  • 753 posts

There is no doubt that Malware writers "reserved" a number of these ZDEs to use on XP once support was removed, because they knew it would give them permanent access onto XP machines, and they also knew that there are still a large number of people who are reluctant to let go of an OS that they are familiar with.

 

So, all that said, the risk of you contracting an infection if you continue using XP is a significant one, just how significant will depend very much on your browsing habits.

 

This is all very true and very good information. Safe browsing habits and a good anti virus and malware program are a must. No longer safe to just have a anti-virus program. You also need a malware program like malwarebytes or Ad-Ware running in real time.

I use MSE and Malwarebytes Pro.I use WOT on all my browsers. I stay away from any and all Down Load Managers A little common sense on the internet and you will be just fine. If your a big fan of Facebook, then you probably will get infected sooner or later.


  • 0

#8
jds63

jds63

    Member 1K

  • Member
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 1,100 posts

Using an unsupported OS is a danger because it is no longer patched, because of this it doesn't matter a bit how many AV programs you have installed, or how up to date you keep everything else, because your computer can still be exploited.

 

Malware writers often use what is called a "zero day exploit" as a means of getting into your system. A ZDE is a weakness in an OS that has not been seen before, and is therefore exploitable.

 

With a supported OS, Microsoft will investigate these ZDEs when they appear, and within a relatively short time will issue a patch to remove the weakness, however with an unsupported OS, these will never get patched, and the weakness will therefore remain exploitable.

 

There is no doubt that Malware writers "reserved" a number of these ZDEs to use on XP once support was removed, because they knew it would give them permanent access onto XP machines, and they also knew that there are still a large number of people who are reluctant to let go of an OS that they are familiar with.

 

So, all that said, the risk of you contracting an infection if you continue using XP is a significant one, just how significant will depend very much on your browsing habits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice explanation !!!

 

 

Hey Donetao :spoton:


  • 0

#9
aaaa44

aaaa44

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 151 posts

Ok, I'm ready to spend.  Why should I avoid Windows 8?  Should I get Windows 7?  Should I buy a new version of Office too?  I only use Word.  So should I just buy the newest version of Word if using the 2000 version is dangerous?  Who has the best prices for Windows and Word?  Thanks.


  • 0

#10
Gary R

Gary R

    Trusted Helper

  • Malware Removal
  • 445 posts

The other thing to remember about XP, is that it has a very open architecture, and is therefore more prone to attack than more recent OSs, which have a certain amount of security built into them.

 

Malware was very much in its infancy when XP was created, and infections were few and far between, so security really wasn't considered in XPs design. It was more important to make it "accessible" to as many different program structures as possible, so that just about anything could run on it. This of course made it immensely popular, and it's probably the main reason people still want to continue using it.

 

However, whilst its "accessibility" made it great for people to use, it also made it a nightmare to secure, and when Malware became more prevalent, it was no surprise that XP probably became the most targetted of all OSs.

 

I've been helping people with Malware problems for almost 10 years now, and although pretty much all OSs are exploitable, and no OS is anywhere near 100% secure, XP is still without doubt one of the most easily, and most widely exploited OSs there has been.

 

My advice to anyone that still has an XP machine, is to update to a newer, more secure, and supported OS. Where that is not possible, and you need XP to run some sofware that is not compatible with more modern OSs, then I recommend that you don't use your XP machine to connect to the internet.


  • 0






Similar Topics

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

As Featured On:

Microsoft Yahoo BBC MSN PC Magazine Washington Post HP