How to keep Windows XP after June 30 | Computers

By KayBrenner
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Our most beloved operating system is packing its bags for the big switch off. At the end of June 2008, Microsoft will stop offering support for Windows XP.

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?

Getting Support for Windows XP Problems

There is some hope that Windows will continue to offer support for the numerous technical issues that users face everyday with XP, until 2014. However, support may just be the bare minimum and difficult to get hold of.

You may want to purchase a premium tech support service to get around this problem or purchase software to keep your registry in tact. Or you can search on tech forums as there is a good chance if you have a problem that other users will also have the same problem far easier than asking Microsoft for support

Options for XP on New PC

As for buying XP on a new PC despite the bosses at Microsoft quite categorically stating that you won't be able to do so after 30th June in reality you will. So they lied but it's actually done us XP lovers a favor so we're not going to complain.

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 way of getting XP on a new machine is through downgrade rights. If the PC manufacturer has obtained downgrade rights from Microsoft, they will be to sell you a PC that originally had Vista but was downgraded to XP 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 is Still Hanging On

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 errors expert who restores slow PCs, saving you from the hassles of struggling with a sick computer. To learn how to avoid computer problems, download a free PC Fix

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