|
|
|
Keeping an older computer going is not always the best thing to do
Eventually, there comes a time when it becomes impractical to try and extend a computer’s lifespan any longer. This may be because the hardware is becoming unreliable, and spares are difficult or expensive to buy, or simply because it can’t perform the tasks demanded of it.
Software doesn’t wear out, but it does become obsolete, and that includes the operating system itself. When this happens your PC may still work well, but if there are no updates for your operating system (because the manufacturer has stopped supporting it) you won’t get the benefits of new features and there could be potential security risks.
In this article we are going to explain when the time has come to bite the bullet and buy (or build) a new PC.
When should you ditch your PC?
Although it’s impossible to put a figure on how long a PC should last, anything over five years old should be looked at with a very critical eye.
It’s quite easy to upgrade hardware, but eventually it might not be worth bothering, not necessarily because of the cost, but because of outdated software on the PC.
Even if the PC’s hardware is still capable of doing the tasks asked of it, there will come a time when Microsoft ceases to support the operating system and no further updates or technical support will be available, even if you bought a full retail version from a shop. Microsoft’s normal policy is to provide updates for its operating systems for five years from the date of introduction.
When support ends, any new security problems that are discovered will not be fixed, making the old operating system increasingly attractive as a target for hackers.
This is already the case for Windows 98 and Windows 2000 and Vista is next in line, with no support due after April 2012.
Anyone still running PCs with these operating systems should seriously consider upgrading in the near future. Windows XP still has a couple of years left before security updates stop, because Microsoft extended the normal support period.
At the very least, PCs with obsolete operating systems should not be connected to the internet and certainly not be used for tasks involving confidential data such as online banking or shopping.
The latest version of Internet Explorer (version 9) will not run on these operating systems (or even Windows XP) and it is just asking for trouble to continue using them in this way.
Article tags
Related articles
Upgrading parts of your computer, such as hard disks, graphics cards and memory, is easy as long as you research exactly what you need
It’s not just your computer that can benefit from an upgrade. Spending a few pounds can transform your network, making it faster and extending its range
Q.Why are some of the keys on my keyboard doing strange...
Q.Is my phone’s Bluetooth any use?
Q.Can I switch boot drives so that I can work on older...
Make a profit from your unused gadgets
Run Windows and Ubuntu on the same computer
Hide private folders
Save up to 40% on the price
Exclusive subscriber website
Our price won't be beaten
Unless the keys are sticking, the fault probably lies with a bug. The good news is that it is possible to overcome this problem and get back to normal typing
|
|
|
|
|
Computeractive Excel (2010) Online tutorialPrice: £19.99 |
Computeractive Word (2010) Online TutorialPrice: £19.99 |
Computeractive Powerpoint (2010) Online TutorialPrice: £19.99 |
Angry BirdsPrice: £9.99 |
Back Issue CD-Rom 14 (2011)Price: £15.99 |
no choice
Some people have no choice and cant afford to upgrade .
Posted by Brian lever, 28 Oct 2011
Microsoft support
So from the security updates point of view there doesn't seem to be much point switching from XP o/s to Windows 7 Home o/s
Posted by GrahamB, 31 Oct 2011
Ditch M$!!
As you imply, the security issues are all OS based, so do the sensible thing and switch to a linux distribution, it's FREE in cost and in concept. Then you can run, say, XP with SP3 in virtual box if you really want to keep any of those insecure M$ applications. For an old and relatively under resourced machine (for Vista or W7)M$ Old machine, Xubuntu is fast and secure, and light on system resources.
Posted by billy boy, 20 Nov 2011
Using Ubuntu
I'd agree with billy boy that linux can often give an old pc a new lease of life. My 6 year old MSI notebook is quite nippy with Ubuntu. Some experimentation with distribution is a good idea. As billy boy points out xubuntu is a better performance on older hardware. My notebook runs 11.10, which is maybe a bit new for it; it's not as fast as it was. If it gets really bad, i'll go back to the last long term support LTS version
Posted by Tim Smith - Computeractive, 21 Nov 2011
I agree on some points..
It depends on what you do with your pc, there are many people who have no need to buy a new pc. Windows 7 may have a pretty new interface with a few new security features but under the bonnet its still a Windows operating system. If you are running a 3rd party browser and mail client and lets say an open source office suite then your security problems have reduced by a big margin. I hate all the hype of upgrading, i am running 7 just now as i just finished building my new pc, but is 7 really much of an advancement from XP SP3,,i was asked by a mate to name 3 "killer" reasons to upgrade to 7. I am still trying to think of an answer. An older version of Windows isn't a bad thing just because MS say it is. Their business depends on it..
Posted by Stuart, 12 Jan 2012