July 2, 2013

You have been identified as possibly having 1 or more Windows XP Machines.

What does this mean for you? 

Actually you are not required to do anything but we feel it is our duty and obligation to let you know what the risks are to you and your business.

Windows XP Support is coming to an end by Microsoft on April 8, 2014.

This does not mean Sterling Rose will not continue to support it.    It means Microsoft will stop releasing security updates and software fixes related to Windows XP as well as new programs and updates might not work with Windows XP.

So what if we stay with XP?

There’s a seemingly valid contention that sticking with XP after Microsoft’s end of life for the OS isn’t a big deal. Most large companies have applications and custom code from the COBOL days, and no doomsday scenarios are playing out, so why should XP be any different?

While this logic is sound, XP remains one of the major targets for exploits, primarily due to market share. Just as infamous bank robber Willy Sutton quipped that he robbed banks “because that’s where the money is,” malware and targeted exploits will go after systems with a large installed base. Surely new exploits will be found after Microsoft ends support, and users will have to rely on Microsoft extending support yet again, or a third party layering protections atop Microsoft’s code

What if I want to upgrade?

Now is a great time to upgrade.   While we feel Windows 8 is not right due to its drastic user interface changes especially removal of the Start Menu and Windows 8.1 not making things much better. Windows 7 is a great choice and has been around and some large companies are just beginning Windows 7 deployments.  This means you can upgrade to an operating system that is very well supported and will continue to be for a while at least till the year 2020.

What is it going to cost?

That’s a great question.   There is the new hardware cost which is minimal.    But the reason we send out this letter months in advance are to give you time to budget replacement as there could be software that might need to be upgraded as well.     We realize that it is not just the cost of the PC but the labor, data transfer, and any associated software costs that add up to the total cost.

If you would like to discuss this further and would like to start planning do not hesitate to reach out to us to setup a meeting.

When your computer is idle for a specified length of time, it automatically goes into standby mode. It uses less power, and your applications or programs are usable faster when you go into operating mode. Some people contend it’s greener to shut down the computer when it’s not in use. Technically, it is, but we don’t think it makes that much of a difference. Further, we can make a good case for leaving it in standby mode overnight.

Why leave it in standby mode? In many cases, you can set your operating system, anti-virus program and other programs to download and install updates overnight or run system scans. In some cases, this all happens seamlessly, and your computer is ready for action when you summon it to duty. In other cases, you may need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect, but that usually takes a lot less time than going through the entire process.  You can shorten the reboot time by closing down all applications before you go into standby mode. Once you’re back and running, your computer will perform better with fewer applications open.

So, if you’re asking our opinion about standing by or shutting down, we think you’re better off on standby. But you’re also fine with shutting down.

As for rebooting, we’re strongly in favor of doing it on a regular basis. It’s a good idea to shut down programs or applications on computers and devices when they’re not in use. Regular reboots shut down the programs or apps and any extra baggage they may have picked up as part of their normal operation. When you reboot, they’ll start fresh, and your computer or device will run better.

Any questions or concerns about having your system run better? Contact us by phone – 973-433-6676 – or email.

This article was published in Technology Update, the monthly newsletter from Sterling Rose LLC.

SOHO business users and home users are always tempted by low prices when it comes to buying a computer. That low price – the $399 special – may truly be a bargain, but you can negate any cost-saving benefits if you don’t set up your system properly, especially in an office with two or more units and in any location with a network. We can help you get off to a running start by covering a few out-of-the-box basics.

Depending on who built your computer and where you bought it, the new computer could be several months old. While the manufacturer loads OS software, depending on the available version they had and how long the computer sat on a retailer’s shelf, there’s no telling how out-of-date your OS might be.

So, the first thing to do after getting your computer out of the box and online is to check for OS updates. Microsoft has now made this easier for most Windows 7 users. Until recently, installing SP 1 (Service Pack 1 – a comprehensive upgrade) was optional. If you exercised the option, you had to install all the updates required before you could download SP 1. A lot that had to do with corporate IT managers wanting complete control over their large data systems and networks, but it was not good for SOHO and home users.

You can now do all the updates for the OS and the Windows Internet Explorer web browser when you set up your computer, but that’s only part of what you really should be doing.

A lot of SOHO users are tempted to buy the Home Premium version of Windows 7 because it’s cheaper. After they get up and running, they realize that the Professional version of the OS is better. With Windows’ Anytime Upgrade, you can get the more powerful OS, and you don’t need to backup and reinstall all of your other software as part of the process.

However, the upgrade has a lot of options, and installing it requires a lot of time and monitoring to make sure you select the right options at the right time. If you don’t make the correct choices for how you use your computer, you won’t get the full value of your investment in the computer and the software you’ll be using.

How can we help you?

By having us do your setup – especially if you are adding new computers and other hardware such as printers or upgrading your router for your Wi-Fi network – we can head off compatibility issues and help you select the options that best match your technology system and the way your office functions.

We start by taking an inventory of your IT system and how you use each piece of equipment and mobile devices. Then we review the capabilities of the new OS and the requirements for any programs you will run to make sure you understand any compatibility issues that may crop up. Before we do any work, you may need to decide whether to upgrade any hardware or software in your office, which parts of the new OS to install or whether to forgo installing the new OS.

Unless you have a compelling issue to resolve, your decision will be the result of a cost/benefit analysis that we’ll guide you through. If you decide to go ahead, we’ll escort you through the installation of all hardware and software to maximize the system-performance level you selected. This is critical with the OS installation to make sure you have all the updates properly loaded and that you select the correct options. The process takes about an hour for an OS installation, but it can take a lot longer if you need to restart your computer unnecessarily.

We don’t want to scare off anybody from software and system upgrades. We want to make sure you fully understand all the cause-and-effect possibilities that will result from your decision. Many people are intimidated by technology changes, and that can reduce their productivity. But when you make a carefully considered decision, you can quickly increase your ROI. Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us to see about a better bargain ROI.

This article was published in Technology Update, the monthly newsletter from Sterling Rose LLC.