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When it comes down to either replacing a battery or an entire laptop, the most viable option may not be what you expect, says Rick Maybury
I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop, bought new in March 2007 and running on Windows XP. Recently I started getting warnings to the effect that I should replace the rechargeable battery. I mentioned this to a local computer expert who said that the age of the computer, the cost of a replacement battery and the fact that Microsoft will cease support of XP in April all add up to it simply not being worth the expense. Have I been well advised?
L.M.O’Brian, by email
Those statements are all true but I would argue with the conclusion. Providing XP and your laptop are behaving themselves, and you have up to date security software installed, it can go on for years, even without a new battery like dell F339N battery , Dell J022M Battery , Dell Adamo XPS Battery , Dell Adamo XPS P02S Battery , canon NB-11L battery , canon IXUS 125HS battery , canon PowerShot A1200 battery , canon PowerShot A4000 battery , FUJIFILM NP-W126 Battery , FUJIFILM FinePix HS30EXR Battery , FUJIFILM FinePix HS33EXR Battery , FUJIFILM X-Pro1 Battery , powered by the mains charger. Genuine Dell batteries can be expensive but there are plenty of compatible types available at a fraction of the cost. Whilst they may not last as long as an original battery, you should get a year or two out of one, which is more than enough time to shop around for a replacement computer, rather than rush into buying something that you later regret. You will be able to transfer your files and data, get to grips with the new operating system at your leisure, and your old machine will be on standby to act as a backup if something goes wrong.
The risk of using XP once Microsoft stop issuing updates is very real.
For XP there will be only some limited continuing protection with updates for Security Essentials and other manufacturers' anti-malware packages for a little while longer. These do not fix security problems in XP itself.
Microsoft will issue essential security fixes only for Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. These may allow malware producers to identify a similar weakness in XP. They will then attack that weakness in the knowledge that there is an lucrative insecure user base still on XP.
There is malware which encrypts all the user's files so they are no longer accessible. They then demand you pay a fee to unlock them again. If you have to use a credit card to do that - then your credit card details may be misused.
Alternatively "key logger" malware will steal details of your usernames, passwords, credit cards and banking account. They will then be sold to fraudsters to plunder.
An XP PC should only be used as a stand-alone PC - never connected to a network or the internet. Even then - transferring data with a CD or external memory device can introduce malware.
I can only assume you work for Dell or sell PCs for a living. You forgot to say that the XP user could be struck by lightning too or run over by a bus.........!
Whilst what you say is a possibility - the possibility of it happening to an XP user is probably less than to an W7 or 8 user.
Just because MS will not issue any more security updates does not mean that XP immediately becomes an open door for hackers as you strongly suggest.
All existing anti virus and malware software will continue to work on XP - as will their updates. The vast majority of people who fall prey to hackers DO NOT use these software packages anyway.
As XP has been around for years most of the potential security weaknesses have been identified and plugged by MS updates. XP is probably harder to hack into than MS's subsequent products.
I would far rather take the advice of the gentleman on Radio 4 the other morning..............................................