Windows Vista and Windows 7: Improvements over XP

Image representing Windows as depicted in Crun...

Image via CrunchBase

According to many industry professionals, Windows XP is still the most widely used operating system in the world. The Apple’s Mac iOS versions, Ubuntu and Linux all combined do not even approach the ​percentage of the market share held by Windows XP alone. Even newer versions of Windows like Visa and Windows 7 have yet to make a serious dent in the number of XP loyalists among PC owners.

This is especially surprising considering the number of improvements that both Vista and Window 7 have made over XP. For instance, the redesigned desktop seen in Vista and 7 is much improved over the traditional layout used by XP. Those icons that remain largely unused such as the ”My Computer” and ”My Network Places” icons no longer appear by default, resulting in a much cleaner appearance. Windows XP’s desktop looks hopelessly cluttered by comparison.

One of the biggest upgrades brought about over XP, first by Vista and then by 7, is the newfound ease in home networking. Sharing files, folders and peripherals is astonishingly easy compared to the bulky processes required by Windows XP. Of course, those problems still become obvious when confronted with a need to network between PCs running different versions of Windows. Those running Vista and 7 cooperate perfectly fine, but adding an XP-running machine into the mix can be rather challenging. Windows 7 also introduces a new feature called the Device Stage; networking between attached devices like your smartphone or MP3 player in order to transfer music, pictures and other files is now a breeze.

 

Filed Under: General, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

Windows Automatic Updates: What are They and How Do They Work

Microsoft offers a very convenient service in their automatic updates. The system will automatically check your computer for viruses and other malicious security threats. You can get these automatic updates by going to the Windows Update Website.

Using the automatic updates means that you don’t have to go searching for any updates or worry about missing anything. Once you go and schedule your updates, windows will automatically download recent updates for you according to what you set your schedule to be.

There are a few different reasons why people use this feature. First of all, it is very convenient. You don’t have to remember to do anything, and you don’t have to look through a bunch of updates and decide which ones you need and which ones you don’t.

The system is also very reliable. Every time you go on the internet it will search for updates, it will then download and then install anything that is necessary according to the schedule you set up.  Since you don’t have to go through the process of finding updates and downloading them, you also don’t have to go through the process of waiting for them to download. You can go about your business, and windows will take care of it for you behind the scenes.  If you shut down in the middle of a download, it will continue the next time to log on to the internet.

This is a good way to make sure you always have the newest security features, It will look for critical updates that should be installed right away so there is not time for you to become vulnerable.

Filed Under: Internet, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

Windows XP Support: When Will it End

Microsoft is slowly ending their support of Windows XP. While they are still providing support for some versions, there are other versions that are no longer supported at all. Since Windows XP was first released in 2001 there have been 3 significant updates. These updates were leased in what Microsoft called Service Packs.

As of July 13th 2010 Microsoft stopped supporting any users who were running anything before Service Pack 3. This means that those who are using XP with Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 will no longer receive any kind of software updates. These updates often included fixes in security that could help keep your computer safe, including virus protection, spyware, and other malicious attacks. Updates may also include drivers and other fixes for your computer to help with the reliability of your operating system.

Even if you don’t have the latest service pack installed on your computer, your operating system will still run, you just won’t receive any updates. If you are not ready to update to Windows 7, your best course of action may be to make sure your version of XP is running with the latest service pack.

To find out what version of Windows you are running go to the Start menu. Type “winver” in the box and then press Enter. The window that comes up will give you the information about what version you are currently running. It should tell you the version of Windows, and also what edition is installed. If you are running a service pack it will also let you know which one is installed.  You will also want to check to see if you are running a 32-bit version or a 64-bit version.

Once you have all this information you can make sure your computer stays updated.

Filed Under: Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

Windows XP: The Drawbacks

Many computer users have stuck with Windows XP for years. They refused to use Vista when it came out, and now they are putting off upgrading to Windows 7 for as long as possible. Even with all the great things that people love about Windows XP, it still has its drawbacks.

One of its drawbacks is the indexing service. Even though most indexers tend to be slow, it is more of a problem with XP because the service is part of the operating system. The upside is that you can disable it so you don’t have to deal with it. It takes up a lot of room on your hard drive and it can slow down the entire computer.

Windows Product Activation. This is a potential invasion of privacy. This is a procedure used by Microsoft to make sure their licence agreement is being followed. There are several flaws in this system and it was actually cracked just a few years after XP was initially released. People were uploading XP to the internet and then sharing the activation key.

The last disadvantage is that the hibernation mode does not always work. Hibernation is the process of copying all of the systems you run onto your hard drive. This in theory should make booting up a much quicker process, but it does not always work. Windows XP has several hardware issues that keep the hardware from performing this task correctly. The way around this is to just shut your computer down normally and then take the time to boot up normally as well.

Filed Under: Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

It is Worth it To Keep Windows XP?

Windows XP was originally release in 2001. It is currently the longest lasting Windows operating system they have ever released. Since its original debut, there have been three upgrades with major improvement and changes. Even with the release of two new operating systems since then, it can still be found on computers everywhere. There are many happy Windows XP users who are putting off upgrading for as long as they possibly can.

So, with the release of Windows 7, and the depleting sources of support for Windows XP, is it worth to keep using it, or is it time to upgrade to the newer better version of Windows?  With this question comes a few different considerations. For businesses, Windows XP is not a very good choice for long term use. Not only is there going to be a lack of support, any new computers they may purchase for the business in the future, will only have a Windows 7 license.

In addition, since the technology behind XP is so old, it will not be able to support a lot of the new technology that is now the norm for most computer users. The biggest concern being the amount of memory needed and used. If you don’t have the memory, your computer will not perform well.

If you are a home user of Windows XP and are not experiencing any problems, there is no real reason to make any changes as this point. When you are ready to buy a new computer, you will automatically have an upgraded operating system. But for now, if you are happy with what you are able to do, and your experience is what you want it to be, just keep using what you have.

Filed Under: Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , ,

Windows XP: Tips for Easy Use

Every operating system has its own way of working. If you have Windows XP on your computer and are looking for some shortcuts or user friendly tips and tricks, take a look at these. Some of these tricks are not new, but it can never hurt to have a little refresher for things you may have forgotten about.

  • Keyboard shortcuts. Instead of using your mouse for some general tasks you can use your keyboard. To start a program using the keyboard you can find the program from the start menu that you want to set. Right click on it and click on properties. You can then go to the shortcut box and then choose the letter your want on your keyboard to open it.
  • Menus. You can use your keyboard open menus. When you hit the ALT key it will underline the letter you need to key on meny in order to open it up. Once the menu is opened it will have an underlined letter in each of the menu items. All you need to do it key in the underlined letter to open up that particular menu item.
  • Manipulate your windows. You can easily open windows, close windows, and minimize and maximize windows with just a few keyboard tricks. To minimize a window hit the Alt button, the spacebar, and the N. To maximize hit the same thing but change the N for the X. To close a window press the Alt button and the F4 key. You can also switch to the last window that was open on your screen by hitting the Alt key and the tab key.

For those users who like to keep their fingers on the keyboard, these tricks will come in handy. If you like using the mouse then you can just keep using it as you normally would for the same results.

Filed Under: Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Differences Between Windows XP Home and Business Editions

If you have been around computers at all you know that Windows XP is an operating system developed by Microsoft. You may also know that there are a few different versions of it. The most commonly used versions are the Home Edition and the Professional Edition. The two versions have several similarities, but there are also a few key differences.

The first difference is the most obvious. The home edition was designed for users at home or for small businesses. The professional edition was designed for use in an office or corporation that has some kind of centralized administrator. The login page for both editions look similar, but the home edition is a basic login with not authentication needed. The login page for the professional edition can be changed so that domain authentication is needed.

The home edition automatically assigns all users to the owners group giving them full control of the computer. There is a restricted users group available, but a user needs to be assigned to it. With the professional version all users need to be assigned to a group. Each group has different permissions depending on the level, with some users having only administrative rights.

The last difference is that the home versioin will only support a computer with one CPU. The professional version will support a dual processor. There is also a server edition of professional that supports several processors.

Even with these differences, the fact that both versions have the same basic platform is what makes it so easy to use. The previous versions of Windows required different drivers making them more difficult to use. Windows XP is also extremely stable since it is based on the previous version of Windows specifically NT and 2000. There are also other stability provisions implemented such as a Microsoft driver approval. This means that a driver has been checked for stability by Microsoft.

Filed Under: Computers, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , , ,

Should Users Stay With XP or Upgrade?

Windows XP logo

Image via Wikipedia

With the release of Windows 7, many users are wondering if they should stay with what they have or if they should upgrade to the newest version. Before spending the money to upgrade there are a few things you should keep in mind.

According to Microsoft, they are planning to support XP until 2014. If you think about it, that is probably longer than the computer you are currently using will last. In order to upgrade to a new operating system you may need to also purchase new software, some new hardware, and it may even mean buying a new computer.

Since there is no way to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 you will have to erase your hard drive before installing it. This means that once you install it you will have to reinstall all the information you had on your computer including all the programs and all the data. If you have been using XP for years, this could be more work and more of a risk than it is worth. You will also need to find out if your computer can even run Windows 7. Microsoft has a download you can use to find out if your system can handle it. If you use this download, it runs on your system and will then let you know if you can run Windows 7.

If you are happy with what your computer is capable with Windows XP and are not having any problems, there is really no reason to upgrade at this time. You can look into Windows 7 to see what it can do as opposed to what XP can do. From here you make a decision, but unless you feel like you absolutely have to have the latest and greatest thing out there, you will probably be fine with Windows XP  until it is time to upgrade your whole computer.

Filed Under: Computers, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , , , ,

Microsoft Pushing XP Users to Switch

Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows XP with updates unless you have downloaded the Windows XP SP3. If you visit the Microsoft web page, you will be inundated with information to upgrade to Windows 7. If you have not downloaded SP3 but have previously downloaded the SP2 package, you probably do not have to download SP3.

The SP3 updates should have been updated automatically through the SP2 package. Many people refuse to upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows XP. Die hard Windows XP fans are holding out for as long as they can. Microsoft continues to put forth a great deal of effort to get people to switch. Most of the efforts appear unsuccessful and they have added a tremendous amount of information on the benefits of Windows 7.

Support for the Windows XP SP2 service pack ended July 2010. When you visit the Windows XP product page, you are given 10 reasons to update to Windows 7. Microsoft claims that you may “fall in love all over again” when you discover how wonderful Windows 7 is. You will also see a big red box that announces that you may not receive security updates if your are using older versions of Windows. Under the warning, you will see plugs for Windows 7 and how it will keep your PC safe.

Apparently, millions of people are not ready to switch and do not intend to switch any time soon. It will take Microsoft a long time and a great deal of effort to get people to switch. Even though Windows 7 promises new features and updates, it just does not seem attractive to many people. Microsoft claims it developed Windows 7 based on feedback from customers. They claim it is easier to use and will give you a new and exciting experience.

Filed Under: Internet Tagged With:

Mcafee AntiVirus

Mcafee is by far one of the most popular anti-virus and computer security programs available. Most computers that are sold come with a free subscription for the Mcafee computer security program. The free subscription is usually for one year; however, there are many computers that are sold with a free three-year subscription. If you have purchased a new computer, the information will be included with the software package. If you have a free subscription, there should be a code you will use to activate the subscription.

If your subscription has expired, you will be able to renew your subscription online at the renewal price. If you do not have an anti-virus or computer security program, you can purchase the Mcafee Total Protection package for under $70. This is the best value that Mcafee offers and it will cover up to three computers.

If you only want an anti-virus program, the Mcafee anti-virus sells for under $50 for a one-year subscription. If you decide you need the Total Care package, you can always upgrade at any time.

Mcafee also offers a free trial for all of the products they offer. As with any free trial, you want to make sure you cancel before the trial period expires. Mcafee provides the most comprehensive computer protection software with a number of different options. You can buy the components individually or in cost saving packages.

Protecting your information and your computer requires protection programs that are constantly updated. Mcafee is one of the top rated providers of security programs and through a subscription, you will be sure you are receiving the latest anti-virus updates. The update process occurs when you are online and does not interrupt anything that you are doing while on the Internet. Choosing an anti-virus program is an important decision and you will want to review several options before making a final decision.

Filed Under: Internet, Microsoft Windows Tagged With: , , , , ,
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