Windows XP "End of Support"

Note: This article has been retired. It covered a topic that was current in 2014, and since the subject is no longer relevant for most businesses, it is no longer linked from the Resource Center. This article was last updated and made current in September 2017, and will not be further updated.

Introduction

You're still using Windows XP? That's why you clicked on this, right? Well, you may or may not have heard that Microsoft support for Windows XP ended on April 8, 2014.

The most common questions about this are: Do I have to upgrade? And how do I upgrade?

No, you do not have to upgrade. Your computer will continue to work as it always did. That said, you should have upgraded by now anyway, for many reasons. The end of support increases the urgency of the need.

Keep reading for more information. Or, jump to How can I upgrade?.

Background and Basics

What is Windows?

Microsoft Windows is the software that runs virtually all desktop and laptop computers other than the Mac family of computers made by Apple. Windows is what boots up your computer, handles the logon process, puts the icons on your desktop, handles printing, and enables your programs (web browser, e-mail, spreadsheets) to run. Every few years, Microsoft has come out with a completely new version of Windows, which often has a very different look and feel, as well as updated technical capabilities.

What is Windows XP?

Windows XP is the version of Windows that Microsoft released back in 2001. It was far better than any previous version, improving usability and stability without being too different in its look and feel. And it got even better as Microsoft released add-ons over the years to support new standards (such as Wi-Fi) and enable new features (like the firewall). The first new version after Windows XP was Windows Vista, released in 2007, and it was so different and had so many problems that its reputation was permanently damaged, so people kept using Windows XP, even going out of their way to get it on new computers. Although Windows 7, released in 2009, turned out to be quite popular, it was still more like Windows Vista than Windows XP, and millions of people kept what was familiar to them.

What does it mean for Windows XP to be "supported" by Microsoft?

In short, it means Microsoft develops, tests, and provides free software packages through the Windows Update website to fix problems and bugs found in Windows XP. This is important because of the fact the Internet is still rife with pirates and thieves looking to exploit flaws in the Windows program code to capture your password to your bank's website, install malicious software that sends out e-mail advertisements by the millions from your computer, or otherwise hijack your computer to try to get money out of you or bombard you with ads. So long as Microsoft still supports a given piece of software, then any time such a flaw is discovered, Microsoft will rewrite the portions of the software as needed to fix it, test it thoroughly, and then publish the fix, which you can download using the Windows Update function on your computer.

As of April 2014, though, Microsoft will not publish fixes to security bugs found in Windows XP any more. This may not matter; in one sense, Windows XP is so old and tested that it seems unlikely any new significant security flaws remain. But, if one is found and the criminals try to exploit it, you may be at risk of anything from a minor annoyance to loss of data or money if you continue using unsupported and vulnerable software and visit the wrong website at the wrong time.

After this article was originally published, and following the end of support, Microsoft published a security alert on April 26, 2014, affecting all versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, all the way back to version 6 from 2001! Since Internet Explorer is essentially a component of the Windows operating system, this meant Windows XP was affected. A few days later, Microsoft graciously released software fixes that will work on Windows XP. Here is the bulletin, if you're interested. So much for the maturity of the operating system speaking to its security. It was one thing for Microsoft to release a fix for Windows XP a few weeks after end of support, but as of now, years later, you should not expect that to happen anymore.

In addition, as the years go by, more and more current versions of programs, websites, and online ("cloud") services no longer run on Windows XP. For example, Google Chrome, the popular web browser, dropped support for Windows XP (and Windows Vista as well) as of version 50, released in 2016. Microsoft itself has left Windows XP behind with its most popular application programs—the last three versions of Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Office since the 2013 version, will not install on Windows XP.

So, if you're productive with older application software, and do not connect to the Internet or browse the web only casually with nothing to lose if your computer gets infected, then you should be fine with Windows XP. Otherwise, consider upgrading.

How can I upgrade?

The best way to upgrade from Windows XP is to make a fresh start with a new computer, especially since your existing computer is probably many years old. You could, theoretically, choose to purchase a Windows 10 upgrade to install on your existing computer, but upgrading is an arduous task. First, your computer has to have the minimum memory and hard drive space required for Windows 10. Since technical specifications improve continually with new computers, your old computer may very well not be able to run Windows 10 at all. Even if it can, you can't just put a Windows 10 disc in your computer and install it. You have to back up all your programs and data, wipe everything, install Windows 10, and then reinstall your programs and data. And, you might find some very old programs that could run on Windows XP will not run on Windows 10.

If you get a new computer, you can take your time figuring out how to transfer programs from your Windows XP computer, or how to install something else more current and compatible with modern computers that can meet your needs. And if you can't, at the very least you can still run just that program on your Windows XP computer while doing everything else on your new computer.