Are You Planning to Upgrade to Windows 10? Take Our Poll!
We first ran this poll on 02 JUNE 2015 – well over a moth ago. Now as the big day approaches, we’d like to ask you the same question again: Are you planning to upgrade to Windows 10?
As most of you know, Microsoft is offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 for all Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 users. In order to get the upgrade free you must get it before July 29, 2016 – one year from the official release date now slated for July 29, 2015.
Now is your chance to sound off and tell the world if you’re going to upgrade to Windows 10 or not. If you’re using Windows XP or Windows Vista, Windows 10 will not be a free upgrade; Windows 10 Home version will cost $120 for XP user and Vista users who want to upgrade. Windows XP and Windows Vista users who do plan to upgrade should take the time to be sure their computers can handle Windows 10. Also if you’re using Windows XP or Vista, you should consider that your hardware is getting old and for a couple hundred dollars more you can get a new computer with Windows 10 pre-installed.
[polldaddy poll=8908673]
I have Win 7. If I upgrade, it won’t be ’til 2016. It’s not something I’m excited about or looking forward to, but just another nuisance that eventually the industry will leave us no choice but to comply. I’ve been using Win7 for a few years and I STILL long for the ability to go back to XP and Outlook Express.
I read a couple of weeks ago that Updates for Win10 might be restricted to Automatic Updates only. That would scare me to death, and could be a dealbreaker for me. Can you shed some light on that?
I so agree with you. I have never liked a Windows program better than XP and Outlook Express. I really don’t want to upgrade as I have Windows 7 on both my P.C. and Laptop. I am an older person so I may just keep the programs I have. I’ve read where so many things will be lost (games, iTunes, etc.) and I don’t want to have to redo everything. I kept XP until I no longer felt safe using it.
Donna, you cannot upgrade XP to Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 – that’s not an option. You would have to buy Windows 7, 8, or 10 and do a clean installed. There are some people who will tell you that you can move to Windows 7, 8 or 10 from XP and keep all your programs using special programs like PC Mover, but you must keep in mind the programs you’re using on Windows XP that do not work on 7, 8, or 10 will not work no matter what – no matter what you use to transfer your programs. For instance, you can use PC Mover and transfer cables to move programs from XP to 7, 8 or 10, but Outlook Express will not transfer and will not work
I agree with you both; Murial and Donna. I’m an older senior lady also who has a Vista now with a free update for Window’s 7. But wouldn’t use it because I wanted Outlook Express as my email. I will be getting a new Window’s 10 computer when Vista is no longer supported… and will ask Cloudeight to install an email I can use email stationery with! Why Microsoft doesn’t understand this, or is it they just don’t want to acknowledge the fact the people want to be creative in their emails… I’ll never understand! Give the people what they want Microsoft! Oh for the XP with upgrades that the people want would be a miracle. Think it’s only the bottom line for Microsoft!
I will be upgrading. I am hoping it will be a better O/S than windows 8
I won’t upgrade to 10 on my Windows 7 but I will upgrade to 10 on my 8.1. Looking forward to that.
I’m somewhat hesitant to upgrade! A couple of weeks ago I did down load Window 8.1 and somehow it screwed up my printer. It took me over a week to get it to start printing again, so frustrating! I’m almost afraid to try downloading Windows 10!
Yes, I am taking the free upgrade. I figure I might as well get it while it’s free as there is no choice in the long run. Windows 7 will be obsolete too.. I am thinking of getting a Mac down the line tho. I am really tired of having to change OS’s every couple of years! I loved xp and windows 7 is good too. What can you do?
Windows 10 will probably be the last numbered/named version of Windows. Microsoft probably will offers upgrades from now on – who knows if they’ll all be free or not. Time will tell.
Windows 7 will continue to receive extended support until sometime in 2020. Hope that helps.
Yes, I will be upgrading……….more than likely to Linux. After having supported Microsoft for over two decades I’m simply sick and tired of their method of doing business and turning their back on the people that put them there to begin with. My history with Microsoft began with the early versions of MS-DOS and went through each OS since that time. I could wax on but there’s no point.
I have several computers but only 1 with windows I use Linux on all my computers and have for several years
no lock ups no reinstalls no anti-virus to buy no pop ups free software what else can I say I’m a Linux fan
I may upgrade my win machine and try 10 but it will have to be 100% better than previous versions or
NO more windows for me
Linux is vulnerable to viruses and trojans – it’s just not an attractive target. If you were a malwcious software maker would you waste your time on Linux used by a few million or Windows used by over a billion. Why waste time writing viruses for linux. Many linux-based servers have been crippled by viruses though so if you think linux is immune you need to do your homework.
I have a windows 7 machine and I nave never seen a popup. I guess those with infected Windows machines would see popups, so maybe you need to check your Windows computer for viruses.
Don’t you ever wonder why you don’t see Linux-based smart phones? Linux is free – you’d think cell phone makers would be jumping at it – so where are the linux smartphones?
Linus is a form of unix -unix is very old. Linux has been around a long time but Android – a relatively new operating system has tens of millions more uses than linux -why do you think that is?
Personally, I’d like to do as I have always done. Let the release mature a few months at other peoples expense. I have no more XP, but only Win 7.1 on my non-primary PC’s. But I tested them all with the MS Upgrade to Wim 8.1 Check program, and all should be upgradable to to Win 10. All are legal copies. I bought, on sale, a three Win 7 licenses for $117 some time back just so I could upgrade from Win XP to Win 7 without much hassle.
People told me, and I believed them at first, that there was no way to upgrade directly from XP to Win 7, but I used the Laplink PC Mover Program. Yes, “expensive”, but saved me days from having to reinstall all those programs all over again.
This is information is only partially correct. You can use Laplink to move XP stuff to Windows 7 but you can’t move outlook express and programs which are incompatible with Windows 7 won’t run – this can result in a mess if you used Outlook Express on XP for email and/or have a lot of incompatible programs. We sure don’t recommend Laplink to move from XP to Windows 7 (or Windows 10)
As it stands presently, Windows 10 will be released July 29, 2015. During the interim, all those who are eligible for the upgrade may see an icon appear, which at the individuals discretion may click on it for the install from Microsoft. If they so chose to wait, there is a way to get rid of it. This is for another day! Personally, I am going to wait a bit because I want to do a clean install. Thus far, everything I have read and looked at points to Microsoft just may have finally got something right, but, the jury is out for now; only time will tell.
I don’t think most people would have to do a clean install – the clean install days of Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP and even Windows Vista have changed. Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 are built on Windows 7 – regardless that the “face” has changed and features re-arranged. Everything that runs on Windows 7 will run on Windows 10. I don’t think the advantages of a clean install would outweigh the disadvantages of reinstalling everything – it’s a personal choice.
Most people should choose “Reserve a copy of Windows 10” at this point, anyway.
Many many thanks, TC. Copy that, will do! All the very best. 🙂 P.S. I am so very thankful that we are never to young to learn…
I had someone from Cloudeight set up my email, Windows Live 2012, because the one with Windows 8.1 wasn’t working well. Will my Windows Live Mail work with the new Windows 10 upgrade? Haven’t read anything about that.
YES. Anything that works on Windows 7 and / or Windows 8 will work on Windows 10.
I am concerned that some of my software that works with 7 might not work with 10, like MS word 2010
Anything that runs on Windows 7 and/or Windows 8 will run on Windows 10 (according to Microsoft). We have been using Windows 10 for months and we have not found anything that runs on Windows 7 that won’t work on Windows 10.
I will upgrade to the new Windows OS which was X, then because it was the first Windows OS with a Latin number
it became Window IX, then the Latin number was changed to 10.
I assist many family members, friends and Seniors with computer problems, thanks to TC & EB over the past years, therefore Windows 10 is a want and a need, and I like to keep in step with the advancement in computer and other technology.
I would like to know more about Windows 10 and what I can expect from it. More choices? easier to research?
Faster?
I would like to know what I can expect in the way of changes and the ease of using.
Lots of info about that on this site and others, including Microsoft. take some time to do some reading.
I just cannot afford to upgrade. If I find that things become difficult, I am sure my technician will help and advise.
From what I have heard and experienced, advice from a “technician” would be very scary indeed.
Techs have agendas. Many have not taken the time to try Windows 10 – hence they’ll be inclined to tell you to stick with what you have. Do your own research and make your own choice.
Windows 10 is free if you have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.
I am still using XP so it’s not an option for me.
Windows 10 is free if you have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.
I bought a new computer, immediately upgraded to 8, and DETESTED it. After a few days of nothing but frustration, and an inability to do even the simplest of things, I returned the computer, then rebought one with 7, and was completely satisfied. Everything I’ve seen about 10 looks like it is just a somewhat improved version of 8. Better, but still the same principles. I really dislike what Microsoft is doing and will only make the switch when I buy a new computer, which hopefully should be a few years from now. I currently have 7, like it, and I’m sticking with it.
I may update my 8.1 (because I detest it and hope 10 will be better), but will wait on 7 because I like it!
I have a Win 7 and Win 8.1 pc. I plan to upgrade both to Win 10, as I feel the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. I also have a Win XP with Emsisoft protection for everyday use. Emsisoft has been very effective, and I’ve been fortunate thus far in avoiding any malware or virus issues. I continue to use the Win XP because of software incompatibilites using the software with the Win 8.1 I know sooner or later I’ll have to give up on Win XP, but until that time, things have worked well for me.
I have 2 towers running XP. Neither are connected to the net as I use them strictly for non net related projects and task. virus or malware threats solved. 🙂
I’m a grey haired, balding, and sometimes cantankerous old buzzard and of the opinion that Microsoft made some BAD choices but I’m going to give them another chance. Hope that 10 is as good as Thundercloud claims it will be, or I’ll ask Darcy to use the stick on him. That’s a warning TC.
I may depending on the feedback I see from those who do upgrade. I have read that you may not be able to shut off automatic updates. If that is the case I hope Microsoft dosen’t have future ‘bad’ updates. If they can’t provide reliable updates and I can’t select which ones I want, I won’t be upgrading.
I’m upgrading to 10 hoping that 10 fixes the mess Microsoft made with Vista, 7, and 8! I seriously have missed XP. Installing Classic Shell (as you suggested) made things better and using MS Outlook for email to replace Outlook Express has worked, though it’s not nearly as clean and simple, AND I had to pay $$$ for it!
Microsoft has already upset me with 10 because they are taking away the media player! Now I’m going to have to find something to replace it. I don’t care much for VLC and recently read that JetAudio Basic is supposed to be a good media player. Hoping you have some alternatives for us.
TC and Darcy, what would we all do without you? You have gotten us through so much through the past 20 years! You’re our computer angels!
I plan on upgrading to 10, I have windows 7. The one thing that is bothering me, will all programs and e-mail follow me. I upgraded from windows xp. I bought a new Computer and had to save all my programs and e-mail contacts. It to took me weeks to get what I wanted.
Thanks
Avey
I have Windows 7 Professional and am very happy with it (not saying it is all good, nothing will ever compare to XP) so I don’t want to upgrade to Windows 10 but I don’t know how to get rid of their Icon in my tray, as their only options is to download or reserve for later use. Don’t want either choice so what do I do with this icon? Joyce
you can uninstall the associated update or simply use taskbar properties to hide the icon.
I’m very hesitant to upgrade from 7 to 10 as I have had so many bad experiences with Windows updates that were not good. I don’t want to upgrade and have updates for windows forced on me. I think I will wait till 10 has been around for a while so they can hopefully iron the kinks out of it. I rely on my computer for so much, and don’t want/can’t afford for Microsoft to mess me up.
I have Windows 7 and miss so much my XP version. TC and Darcy, please write an article on this new Windows 10 vs. Win. 7, Win8, etc. I also read in techno media somewhere that Windows 10 will have as email program Outlook.com (have no idea what Outlook.com is) but if it is anything like Outlook Express I’m for it. I have Windows Live and can’t get used to it. I think AGE has something to do with it. I REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!
Outlook.com is what Microsoft would love you to use. It’s Outlook email on line (in the cloud). That means you have to go to that site (Outlook.com) to do any email (read, write, send, and store). I have Outlook installed on my computer, and much prefer to keep it that way.
I ‘sometimes’ use Outlook.com for email–but I never go to the actual ‘site’. I have an email program on my computer (Thunderbird) and I have it set to automatically download all of my email (Gmail, Outlook.com, & my ISP email as well).
Like TC, I much prefer Gmail–it seems to get almost all of the Spam–so far, I’ve never gotten any Spam mail downloaded at all–it’s in my Spam folder at Gmail. Like most of the other online email sites, you can always choose to have your mail automatically downloaded into whatever Email program you want on your computer. So, it’s just up to you–choose whichever one you want.
Does not matter. The mail GUI is on your PC, but you mail is still virtual.
huh?
I forgot to add (in my post below)–I really like Thunderbird and DreamMail programs because both of them let you add pretty backgrounds, etc (almost like XP and Vista). A friend of mine has Outlook & she ‘makes’ stationery, which is ok if you are really good at ‘codes’. I’m not, lol–so I do it the easier way. I can use a ‘sparkly’ background or one that is ‘animated’ . That’s what I loved about XP. And yes–you can use any Email address with both of these programs. It doesn’t matter if you have a Gmail address, or any other email address.
My computer has Vista and I bought it in August of 2008.
I have been having my computer slowly die since December 2014 so praying that it will hold out until the new Windows 10 comes out.
Heard good things about it but now hearing not so good things.
I truly hope that Windows 10 will be a good one.
As the time approaches to decide to upgrade to Windows 10 from 7, it would really be great if TC could give us a simple outline of the “pros and cons” of Windows 10, and whether the “automatic updates” from Windows would be all that bad. In other words, if TC was me, would he upgrade?
I have windows 7 and am very happy with it. Plan on keeping it until they won’t update or anything with it. Think and hope that will be a long time.
Windows 7 will continue to be supported until 2020.
Yes, Windows 7 will be supported into 2020.
I will switch to Windows 10, but not until others have used it and I read their concerns, complaints, etc. I never was one to jump immediately to something just because it’s the’newest trend.’ Currently I am using Windows 7.
I will leave well enough alone on my Windows 7 and not do any upgrade to Windows 10 as per the advice of my Computer Tech. Don’t want to mess up my good Computer and will wait until it is absolutely necessary to purchase a new Computer in the future with Windows 10.
Dont always trust computer techs – sometimes they don’t know a new operating system and don’t want to learn so they can’t fix new operating system. He’s just looking out for number one. We’ve been using Windows 10 for many months – it’s great. Windows 7 is great too. Don’t listen to naysayers…most have an agenda. Make the decision based on valid information and your needs…and don’t always trust computer “techs”.
I have Windows 7. I am not sure if I will upgrade at least right away.
Presently using Windows 7 and am happy with it. I have reserved a copy of 10 but am having second thoughts about it. What will the email program be like?
Email program is simplistic. It’s an email app similar to the limited mail apps on smart phones. It’s basically the same one as on Windows 8. However, Windows 7 has no email program at all – so whatever email program you’re using on Win 7 you can use on Win 10.
I am happy with my Windows 7 OS and will wait until I buy a new computer with Windows 10 installed. In the meantime I will hope that my current OS hangs in there until then.
Windows 7 users have that option…Windows 8 users would be crazy not to upgrade. Windows 8 was and is a piece of work and MS knows it. Windows 7 is a great operating system and it will be supported until 2020 by Microsoft.
I don’t see anywhere to vote here. Only to leave comments.
We have had over 900 votes. I don’t know why you can’t see the poll….
Have Win 8.1+ With Windows Live Mail
Will this still work on Win 10, and be able to transfer all my contacts and existing saved mails across
with no fuss.
Have reserved win 10, but hopefully can download later when more details/ comments appear.
Any program which currently works with Windows 7 and/or Windows 8 will work with Windows 10. Windows Live Mail works on both; it will work on Windows 10.
I read somewhere, probably on How to Geek, that Windows will not be issuing any product Key #’s with this upgrade. That means if something goes wrong and we get a message to input our Windows Key number to ascertain if we are running a legitimate copy of Windows…we won’t be able to do that. It’s been years since I was asked to do something like that but I assume it can still happen…and who knows what might prompt that message to display. How do we get around this issue or has Windows made it a non-issue with this upgrade because so many will be taking advantage of this opportunity? Would we be able to somehow prove to Windows our copies are legit?
That’s not exactly true. If you are upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8, of course you don’t need a key as it’s considered and upgrade to your current version of Windows – much like Service Packs used to be – although more extensive. If you are using Vista or XP you’d have to buy a registration key for $120. Not many will but Windows 10 is not a keyless operating system. Those Windows 7 / Windows 8 users who procrastinate for over a year will have to buy a product key as well.
If something goes wrong you can use System Refresh, System Reset, System Restore, or your image backup – none of these require a key.
Finally you wouldn’t have Windows 10 installed if your copy was not legit. Those using pirated copies of Windows will be denied the upgrade – so anyone with the upgrade has already passed MS scrutiny.
But just say, worst case scenario, that your computer “dies” and for some strange reason your external hard drive bites the dust at the same time (maybe lightening or something?) and you have to use an actual install disk that came with your system (I have windows 8.1 dell disk and have also made a recovery file on a thumb drive), once that was installed would you then have to buy windows 10 or will there be some sort of key attached? Or would you have to download it again like a service pack (and would it be free?). Will there be an option to make a new recovery file once windows 10 is running on your system?
We have had similar situations with other Windows systems – for instance a product key wouldn’t work. We have called Microsoft several times and we were always impressed with the service we received. In all cases, after we explained the situation, MS gave us an activation key. Your scenario is improbable, but you would still have the option of calling Microsoft – we’re betting they’d help you in this situation.
I quickly reserved a copy of Win 10 for upgrade from my Win 7, believing I could keep almost everything that I have. But the more I read, the more I regretted my decision, then had to find a way to cancel my reservation. MS does not make that easy, even after they tell you how it can be done by using the window that comes up from the icon in the tray. You have to bring down a second menu from the 3 horizontal bars in the top left of the window, and then find the link that takes you to the page where cancellation is offered. They will pretend to be sad and ask you if you made a mistake, but you can cancel.
I happen to like Media Player–I have a beautiful random geometric generator set as the skin. But if I had to get another free media player, I would reset my Irfanview (FREE) Image Editor to also play sound and movies. (Irfanview.com). I also worry that Silverlight might not be there to stream Netflix. Anybody know?
My win 7 computer is only 3 years old and I will be 77 in a few months. This Lenovo computer may last longer than I do, so I’m not planning to upgrade, unless I have to buy a new computer.
You do not have to cancel your reservation – you still have to decide to install it, it’s just not going to install itself. It’s totally up to you if you don’t want to upgrade, but I think not upgrading because of Windows Media Player is probably not a good reason. Windows Media Player is and always has been a tempermental and limited media player (for instance try playing cell phone videos with it). There are better (free) media players. But if you really like it and you like Windows 7 there’s no reason you have to upgrade. Windows 7 will be supported by Microsoft until 2020 – that’s 5 years away.
I have windows 8.1 and I guess I’m in the minority as I don’t have an issue with it, could care less about a start button, etc. My BIG worry is that I use satellite internet (live very rural) and not being able to install windows updates at my leisure (after midnight when data is free) is a huge deal breaker for me. Oftentimes there are large updates that would totally eat up my allowable data for the month and I can’t afford to buy more just for a silly update that I used to be able to do on my time. So, seems microsoft giveth and microsoft taketh away. 🙁 Do you think they will come up with an update (ha ha) that will add the choice back in the future? I’ve found one web page showing how to shut off auto updates but think it turns itself back on eventually. And, I know I can use the metered setting but that then screws up my OneDrive settings. Can’t win.
There is a big push going on to get fast Internet out to the rural areas. Google is one of the companies pushing to get high-speed internet out to the most rural areas. The times are a changin.
I look at the “recommendations” over at Windows Update at what they are, and if not needed they are not downloaded. Drivers …no way! Now if Microsoft turns it into a advertisement campaign like they did with this windows 10 icon that is put on are task bar and stays., people are going to even have less trust over there than what they do now. Theses things are going to be out like grains of sand on the beach. As you said, we can download Windows 10 from anywhere. Why do you need to save you copy? You are better off waiting a month or ,way longer and letting Microsoft keep working the bugs out after it hits the population. Everybody’s machine is different. Then Cloudeight can help you smooth it out if need be later. I’m trigger happy right now to…smiles. Just wait a little while. Hopefully you will get what you want and I think will be glad you waited awhile….
I have 2 Win 7 desktops, pro & home which will for now stay as 7. The Win 8.1 laptop will be updated & a copy has been reserved. As far as auto updates, every operating system has probably had problems but are not as widely advertised as Microsoft. Any modern operating system has to be an improvement over the WANG dos system my former company started with 30 + years ago.
I have Windows 8.1 and am planning to upgrade to Windows 10 — the sooner the better. However, if Windows 10 isn’t as good or better than Windows XP was, I am giving up on Windows and am going to get a Mac computer. Just detest Windows 8 — it is too controlling and it seems I’m always having to outwit it in some way or another. I will lose Windows Mail and will get Darcy’s help to reinstall it once again. No way do I want to use Outlook and be at the mercy of the Cloud. Hurry up July 29!
This kind of comment makes me smile. You think moving from XP to Windows 10 is big change? Wait until you move from Windows to Apple – speaking of learning curve. Apple has a cadre of fanatic fans who would pay $100 for a piece of wood with the Apple logo on it. Apple computers are computers and as such they are not perfect no matter what the Apple fanatics would have you believe. Apple makes great computers, no doubt. But the learning curve moving from Windows to Apple is quite steep.
Is Windows 10 better than XP? Probably not. But I’m betting years from now, Windows 10 and Windows XP will be spoken of when discussing the best Windows ever. It’s that good.
Seems to me that Microsoft will concentrate their resources on getting Win10 right, perhaps to detriment of support on Win7/9/8.1, so that is why I am keen to move. However from experience of my previous upgrade to Win8.1, for me the main issue is not only what Microsoft offers in Win10 and its reliability, but how quickly the other vendors of software I use release Win10 compatible software versions, and when reliable drivers become available for all the third party equipment I have in my PCs (for example video cards are impossible to change on laptops) and the equipment I have attached to my PCs (printers, scanners, webcams, card readers, …). My current plan is to do the upgrade to a spare disk so I can quickly revert if the upgrade makes my PC un-usable.
I think Microsoft as enough resources to develop Windows 10 and still provide support to Windows 7 users. Windows 8 users – unless they’re really in love with Windows 8 – would really benefit by upgrading. Not sure where you got Windows 9 but as far as we know there wasn’t any. I think Windows 7 users who choose not to upgrade will find that Microsoft will provide support to them until 2020 as promised. Windows 8 users will be supported, but would be making a mistake (I think) if they didn’t upgrade to Windows 10.
If you upgrade, have a great time with the new Windows. I don’t grudge you.
No Windows Media Player? You’ve got to be kidding me.
I’ve got Windows XP on all three of my computers, weak antivirus, and have had no problems with viruses. When I tried Windows 7, however, there were fatal problems within three weeks, not to mention incompatibility.
No, I don’t plan to upgrade.
Surprise surprise, I don’t have to buy new Windows. I can keep my Outlook Express and leave all the other bloated software behind.
If anything ever goes wrong, I can buy a used laptop for $100 and dump XP on it and restore my data and I’m ready to go.
I honestly don’t understand the chicken littles out there who say Windows XP is unsafe. Think about it; XP’s code base is probably 10 times smaller than Windows 10 will be. Which is easier to hit with a virus do you think?
I’m a medical transcriptionist, handling medical records all day. I love to see the experts shake!
Well Andrew, let us tell you something. We’ve been around since Windows 3.1. And we can remember when Microsoft fumbled around with Windows 3.1 and then introduced Windows 95 – highly successful but not not highly reliable. Then came Windows 98 followed by Windows 98SE. Windows 98 SE was a huge improvement over all previous versions of Windows. And, back in 2001 when Windows XP was introduced, there were millions like you who were adamant about not giving up Windows 98SE for Windows XP. Windows XP was as different from Windows 98 as Windows 10 is from Windows XP.
A couple of years after the introduction of Windows XP there were still millions clinging to Windows 98, cursing Microsoft for ruining Windows with Widows XP. Many of those using Windows 98 users, unaware that their old operating systems had been compromised, had their machines turned into malware or spam propagating zombies and played a huge role in spreading spam and malware across the internet can causing quite a problem. They, like you, though their machines were humming along just fine and thumbed their noses at Windows XP users. In those days, viruses, worms and Trojans were rampant – a lot of them being spread by Windows 98SE users (and Windows 95 users) who flat-out refused to upgrade to Windows XP. There was no way without packet sniffers and a lot of computer knowledge they would have ever known their old Windows computers had been exploited and were being used as massive botnet spreading spam and all kinds of malevolent software across the Web.
Your information about Windows Media Player and the so-called “Code base” (where in the heck did you read that term) are totally incorrect. Windows Media Player is in Windows 10 and works great – and Windows 10 “code base” is small, compact and secure. In fact, its so-called “code base” is small enough to run on smart phones and tablets. So it’s not 1x smaller, let alone 10x smaller.
And which is easier to “hit with a virus”? It really doesn’t matter, What matters is … which is easier to exploit? And the answer is Windows XP, and the question is, how do you know your XP computer has not been exploited and turned into a zombie and made part of a spam-spreading, malware-propagating botnet? How do you know it won’t be. You think your “weak” antivirus is going to protect you?
Misinformation is one of the most dangerous things when it comes to staying safe on the Internet. Using an outdated operating system not only affects you it can affect millions of others who share the internet with you.