Reasons to Upgrade Windows XP

Answer 1

Microsoft’s Windows XP was widely hailed as one of its best operating systems. XP was generally quite stable and offered good performance and security features. However, as times have passed, Microsoft has authored two more operating systems -- Windows Vista and Windows 7. If you are still using Windows XP, you should consider upgrading to a newer version of Windows.

One reason for upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista or Windows 7 is because of driver support. Drivers are the small pieces of software and coding that allow your hardware to communicate and function with the operating system. As newer pieces of hardware come out, more and more companies are choosing not to write drivers for Windows XP, which means that these components will not work with your system. This limits your upgrade options and your ability to add peripherals like new printers or scanners.

You may also want to upgrade from Windows XP to another operating system in order to run newer software. Like the driver issue, many companies are not writing software to work with Windows XP anymore, instead choosing to support the newer Windows operating systems like Vista and Windows 7. Also, many software companies are writing programs to take advantage of 64-bit computing, which Windows XP does not support. Of course you will need computer hardware that can support 64-bit processing, but you still need a 64- bit operating system.

While Windows XP was relatively secure, Microsoft has added extra layers of security in its latest operating systems. For one, they have included User Account Controls (UAC) a feature that prompts the user to confirm or deny the running of any program. This feature can prevent malicious software and viruses from installing themselves onto your computer or from accessing the internet. Also, the newer versions of Windows have extra security patches that you cannot get with Windows XP. Microsoft has discontinued security support for Windows XP, meaning that they will not fix any more security flaws with the system should any arise.

Finally consider upgrading from Windows XP to Vista or Windows 7 because their user interfaces look better. Both are based on Microsoft’s AERO design, which is sleek and modern, having transparent windows and other features that make navigating the computer much easier.