Support for Windows Vista officially ended on 11th April 2017.
If your computer is still running Windows Vista your computer is most likely 6 or more years old and more than likely to have a hard disc drive about to die!!!
But even if you have upgraded the HDD (Hard Disk) in the last few years, there are a number of compelling reasons for you to buy a new Windows 10 (or Windows 7 Pro) computer.
Security Vulnerability
If you continue to use Windows Vista now that support for Vista has ended, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Internet Explorer 9 is no longer supported, so if your Windows Vista PC is connected to the Internet and you use Internet Explorer 9 to surf the web, you might be exposing your PC to additional threats. Also, as more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, you can expect to encounter more apps and devices that do not work with Windows Vista.
Anti Virus (Microsoft Security Essentials) Not supported or Updated
Microsoft has also stopped providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows Vista. If you already have Microsoft Security Essentials installed, you’ll continue to receive antimalware signature updates for a limited time. However, please note that Microsoft Security Essentials (or any other antivirus software) will have limited effectiveness on PCs that do not have the latest security updates. This means that PCs running Windows Vista will not be secure and will still be at risk for virus and malware.
Windows Vista was never a great operating system, slow, buggy and as secure as a sponge. But all bad things must come to an end and it is time to do the humane thing and put it and you out of your collective misery.
If your computer has never been upgraded, the Hard Disk Drives (HDD) will be older than 4 years and has a 50% chance of failing, most likely without warning. This could result in a complete loss of data so we strongly suggest immediately making a backup of the computers data before it is to late.
How do I know if I’m running Windows Vista?
To find out if you’re running Windows Vista, follow these steps:
- Click the Start Start button icon button, and then type winver in the search box.D
- Double-click winver in the list of results to open the About Windows dialog box, where you’ll see the version of Windows that your PC is running.
How to Transfer your Data and Programs to Windows 7 or Windows 10
Restoring data from your backup to a new computer running the latest operating system (Windows 10) is relatively easy, transferring the programs is not (unless you have the original programs on CD)
You can continue to use Office 2007 as support for Office 2007 also ends this year (October 2017), whereas Office 2010 will be supported until 2020 and will still work on Windows 10. If you cannot find the original discs and the licence key, you will need to have someone (such as The IT Guys) recover the key from your Vista PC.
Upgrading a Vista PC or Replace?
Forget about upgrading a PC or Laptop that is 5 or 6 years old. With the cost of Windows 7 Pro or Windows 10 starting at $160, it is not worth the effort.
Even the most basic new computer is going to 5 to 10 times faster and more reliable that a 6 year old PC and small desktop replacements with Windows 10 can be picked up at OfficeWorks for as little as $400.
Lenovo Desktop Tower PC H30-05 can be purchased for only $397 and includes 4GB Ram and a 500GB HDD.
The IT Guys can transfer your old data and most programs for $198 inc GST. After purchasing your new desktop bring the old and new PC’s to our office and given 1 -2 business days we will transfer all your data, emails and any compatible programs.
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