Did you know Windows XP will be celebrating it’s 12th birthday next year? And even though it’s served it’s purpose, the time has come for Microsoft to finally put an end to the XP era.
The official date when the software giant will stop releasing XP updates and supporting this outdated operating system, is 8 April 2014.
You will be able to continue working on XP, but your pc will also be 6 times more likely to be infected by a virus. (Read more on this on Memeburn)
But do not despair. Until 15 December 2013, IT will upgrade your office computer to Windows 7 for free – of course this is only possible if it’s is strong and clever enough to handle a new operating system.
An easy way of establishing which operating system you’re currently using, is to consult http://whatsmyos.com/ and the website will do the thinking for you.
If you are indeed still using XP, send an email to help@sun.ac.za to request the upgrade. Remember to include the following information to speed up the process –
– the computer’s asset number, a contact telephone number, the building name and the room number.
An IT technician will contact you as soon as the work station’s specifications have been checked. Older workstations may need additional components for the upgrade and this will be for the account of the department.
IT will upgrade the operating system from Windows XP to Windows 7 free of charge, but you will have to pay for backups of work related data, backup of personal data (music files, video files and movies), as well as (if needed) hardware components necessary for the upgrade to Windows 7
If IT is requested to backup data, the cost for less than 15GB will be R950-00 and more than 15GB will be R1650-00.
Hi Martin,
not a stupid question at all. All new computers have 7 installed, so you’re good to go next year.
Maybe a syupid question, but if I get a new University/Departmental computer early next year, will its operative system not automatically be Windows 7, and therefore installed for free?