Applies to: People who have friends who use Windows Vista. Or if you use Windows Vista yourself.
Hello!
This is the first (and not the last) time I will mention Windows Vista this year.
Please pass this article on to your friends if they are using Windows Vista (Copy and paste this page into an email).
A (brief) history of Windows Vista
Launched in January 2007, Windows Vista was released 5 years after Windows XP (which I liked) was introduced to the world. It was replaced (not soon enough) in 2009 by Windows 7 (which I liked), then came Windows 8/8.1 (which I didn’t like) and most recently Windows 10 (which I like). I see a pattern of Like / dislike appearing here…
In January 2009 an estimated 20.61% of people used Windows Vista. In 2017 it is 1.06%.*
What is happening in April 2017?
In April 2017 Microsoft will no longer provide security updates (or any updates) to Windows Vista users.
This means that from April it will be unsafe to use Windows Vista on the internet. This is true even if you have extra security such as anti-virus and firewalls installed.
What should you do if you have Vista?
If you have Windows Vista installed we would recommend you look at upgrading your operating system. Windows 10 is the latest from Microsoft and a local computer shop should be able to tell you if you can upgrade your current computer or not.
If you can’t upgrade your current computer, you can continue to use it, but not on the internet.
Don’t forget, if you are going to update your computer (to Windows 7, 10, anything else) to do a backup of any important files to an external device (USB Hard drive / Pen Stick). This means if something goes wrong with the update you have a copy of important photos / documents etc…
As ever we can help you with advice on upgrading, or if you are helping a friend out we will do our best to help you help them, just pop any questions below or on The Clubroom
I leave you with this quote from The Big Bang Theory
Sheldon Cooper: “My new computer came with Windows 7. Windows 7 is much more user friendly than Windows Vista. I don’t like that.”
Mike 🙂
* Based on Internet Users. https://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=0 “The internet-usage market share”
Image: Used with permission from Microsoft. And taken from Wikipedia.
April 12, 2017 at 10:18 am
Update: Firefox will drop support for XP and Vista soon…
Read more: https://blog.mozilla.org/futurereleases/2016/12/23/firefox-support-for-xp-and-vista/
Google Chrome has already dropped support.
March 29, 2017 at 7:48 am
1) I know Windows 10 upgrade was free for a year initially, but there are still adverts for free installation. Are any of these safe?
2) With respect to Windows Live email, there is an orange triangle with an exclamation mark inside next to the padlock icon on the address bar. I’ve tried clicking on this, but can’t make head or tail of the instructions for the remedy. Help!
March 29, 2017 at 10:14 am
Hi Barbara
Thanks for getting in touch.
I’m afraid Windows 10 wasn’t a free upgrade from Windows Vista. The current RRP of Windows 10 is £77 (on Amazon). The only place you can get Windows 10 for free still is via this link (any other place might not be safe) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade (but it needs a Windows 7 or 8 licence key)
There are other ways to get it for free here https://www.howtogeek.com/272201/all-the-ways-you-can-still-get-windows-10-for-free/ but I wouldn’t suggest any of them.
It would be worth talking to a local computer shop to see if they have a Licence key (maybe for W7?) they could sell you? Then you could upgrade that way? I don’t know if this is within the rules though sorry.
It’s also worth checking if your computer can run Windows 10, generally a Vista computer can, but it’s not guaranteed, again a local computer shop should be able to help with this. But here are the system requirements http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/windows-10-system-requirements-windows-10-compatibility (scroll down to “WINDOWS 10 MINIMUM SPECS”).
I’m really sorry I can’t help with the W10 upgrade.
Windows Live email, it sounds like you are checking your email at https://www.outlook.com and it sounds like the padlock might be telling you something is loaded over an insecure (not-encrypted) connection? I wonder if you could tell me a little more about what the warning message says please?
It could just be because Firefox is running on Windows Vista and it doesn’t fully support some modern encryption (secure website connection) way of sending the webpage?
Many thanks
Mike 🙂
March 13, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Please help this dinosaur!
I have a Windows Vista Laptop which is 9 years old and functioning well.
Firefox have recently sent me an email saying that they will no longer be offering updates and security.
I am loathe to purchase a new laptop. I have AVG security, will this suffice?
March 13, 2017 at 5:48 pm
Hi Brenda
Thanks for the question.
It looks like you might have left this note using Windows XP? But my note here applies to both Windows XP and Windows Vista.
Both Windows XP (since April 2014) And Windows Vista (from April 2017) are no longer supported by Microsoft. It is our view that no amount of firewall or anti-virus protection will cover you using either of these operating systems on the internet. You can still use the machine but just not connected to the internet.
This is because there are no security updates from Microsoft for your operating system. I’m sorry to say we don’t think AVG alone is enough to protect you online with Windows XP/Vista. It would to best to speak to a local computer shop and see if you can upgrade your laptop to a new operating system, I would suggest Windows 10 if your machine can run it, but if it runs Vista now then it should run Windows 7 which is supported until 2020.
Hope this answers your question if you would like more help or advice just drop me a note.
Thank you
Mike 🙂
January 28, 2017 at 3:13 pm
Hello Mike The video only showed how to move a few pictures-easy enough.But on my Vista laptop I have literally a mountain of photos taken on past cruises about 9 (last one in 2010). No more though as I will be 92 in April. These are the only things that I want to keep as well as the bought and free programmes relating to the icons thatI have on the Laptop,so you can see my predicament, how do I transfer photos in bulk?. Or,is this possible?. I hope you have an answer that I can do. Thank You Arthur Mc Parland
January 30, 2017 at 9:36 am
Hello
You should be able to select lots of photos in one go, go to your photos folder and press CTRL+A this should select all the photos and folders you have, then you can drag and drop these to your Pen drive…
Depending on how many you have they might not all fit.
If there are too many to fit let me know as we might be able to find another way to transfer them.
Paid software… You will need the installation disk for any software you have paid for and you should be able to install it on your new computer… Free ones you should be able to re-download and install.
If you have a list of these I might be able to help you find them all.
Sorry I don’t think I have been too clear here, but please let me know your thoughts and I am sure we can get things sorted for you.
Thanks
Mike