Old XP System
Many of you have held onto your older XP system, waiting for Windows 7, before you bought a new PC. You may be planning to move your documents (including pictures, music and e-mail) to your new PC. There are “utilities” available to help you move this stuff.
But what do you do with the old XP system? Let’s look at the options:
1. Keep the Old XP system.
You could refurbish, by cleaning up old system, possibly adding memory, etc. Then keep the XP system as another workstation in another room.
A lot of my customers ask if they need Windows 7. My answer is generally no. If XP is working, then why pay $$hundreds for a new operating system. But, if they want a new computer, because they believe that their PC is too old to effectively upgrade, then buying one with Windows 7 makes sense. Window 7 is stable already, not like Vista was in it's first few months on the market. The key word here is want. This is usually because, they want the bigger screen, faster computer, etc. In many cases, it might actually be cost effective to refurbish, but they don't want to!
Advantages:
Backup from your old XP PC, in the event the new system fails, have your old data available, in case something did not transfer properly.
Extra PC, if somebody else needs one, you got it! Personally, I have 3 PC’s running in my home, my office, my wife’s office and a laptop in the kitchen! When my grandkids are here, I can still get to one of them!
Old Programs: If an old program does not work on Windows 7, you can still use it on your old XP system. This is the case with Quickbooks before 2008. I have Quickbooks 2004, which works for what I do, so I don't want to spend up to $300 to replace Quickbooks.
Disadvantages:
Router: If you are running more than one computer, and want to share the internet, You need a router, if you do not have one already. Having a router would allow you to use mutiple PC's with one internet connection (even wireless!)
Refurbish: If your old PC is sluggish, you may need a "tune-up, or add memory. This can typically be done for $100 or less.
Space Requirements: You would need to find another place to put a computer. In most homes, there is somewhere... isn't there?
2nd Monitor If you were planning to use your old monitor with your new PC, then you would need a 2nd monitor. But, you might just get a bigger one for the new Windows 7 system! IT would help to see internet movies! Yes, there are some good movies on the internet!
2. Donate old XP system to charity.
This would allow you a tax write-off. Somebody else could get a computer that could not otherwise afford one. Before you do this, you would need to clean off the old data! Cleaning off Old Data
3. Give older system to friend or relative.
This is commonly done, as the older system has a lot of life left. If you give it to one of your kids, maybe you can get more time on your PC, and it may get infected less! You may need to clean off data, maybe not, depending on where the PC will be!
4. Dispose of the older PC.
Most cities or counties have a recycling program for old computers. Definitely, get rid of old data! Cleaning off Old Data
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me: Norm@cnaw.biz
