Windows Xp

[Big Bas]

I have Windows Xp Microsoft will end support shortly
I am not a techbuff
In simple language what is my best and easiest option
or
shall I just ignore and wait for problems to surface?

[heathfield]

There must be millions of people worldwide using XP, and they're perfectly happy with it. Any problems and there will always be an answer, or someone on the web, who can help you out.

[Graham-W]

How often have you had to go to Microsoft for support?
Is your system normally stable?
Do you have decent anti-malware/virus software running?

If your answers are never, yes and yes carry on as you are.
You always have "System Restore" to fall back on if you have any real problems.

[SlackAlice]

Provided your Windows XP is fully up to date and includes SP3, you can continue for a while as you are. You must however have adequate Anti Virus software and a backup plan which at a minimum must include your Documents, Music and Photo's.

However, XP is getting old and any further security holes will not get patched, so put it in the back of your mind that eventually you will have to get up to date with a new O/S.

[Buenchico]

'Support' for XP consists almost entirely of loads of updates which are often for things which people don't use anyway. I've had Microsoft updates turned off on this XP computer for several years anyway (with no problems at all), so the withdrawal of so-called support will mean nothing to me anyway.

As with any operating system though, ensure that you back up all important data. If you use an external hard drive or USB memory stick for that back up, DON'T leave it attached to your computer when you're not backing up files as anything that attacks the files on your computer (such as the dreaded Cryptolocker) could attack your back-up drive as well.

[bibblebub]

if you are the sort of person who has driven the same car for 30 years and sees no reason to buy a new one then carry on with XP

[bibblebub]

Just to give an opposite experience, I have been using W8.1 since the day it was released (and similarly for W8 before that) and it doesn't cause me any problems. It's not the bete noire that some people have opined.