Electronics

[Pecky]

---

@SilleeMee wrote:

I would never use an old electronic device where all of my personal information is kept. Shopping, banking or anything to do with my money, my medical records or my personal identification info would be out there for the world to steal. It's just not safe if you don't have an up-to-date system to protect your info...especially in this day and age.

---

@SilleeMee  I totally agree.  You are too vulnerable using an outdated system with no protection. 

[Spurt]

---

@Snowpuppy wrote:

Checking in from the Stone  Age. 😆

I have an HP laptop running Win 7 Vista. I only keep it because it has MS Office Professional installed so no monthly fee. There are times I need Word, Excel or PowerPoint. They still work fine.

I have lost MS support. Like it ever mattered. It's running a lower version of Firefox for the browser. I can read email and browse the web with no issues. 

I also dont have a google account. Just a dumb phone. I manage to still live and work. 🙂

---

@Snowpuppy 

What you say is certainly true, but you will be susceptible to malware and viruses and no security updates, that's important......

[Spurt]

---

@Tori3569 wrote:

Just to clarify, one can use any version of an operating system they want, including older versions of windows.  The issue is that Microsoft no longer updates features, security and can't resolve issues if one calls them.  If you're careful about security and don't click on links, etc. it will still work for a long time.  

---

@Tori3569 @Snowpuppy @drizzellla 

These are the many ways your systems can be infected with viruses and malware.....

Common Infection Methods:

EMAIL & MESSAGING

.

Opening malicious attachments or clicking on links in phishing emails, text messages, or social media posts can infect your computer. 

MALICIOUS WEBSITES

.

Visiting compromised websites or sites that serve malicious ads can lead to automatic malware downloads, known as drive by downloads

INFECTED FILES & DOWNLOADS

.

Malware can be hidden in various files, including software, videos, or images, especially if they are downloaded from unofficial sources or peer-to-peer networks. 

COMPROMISED SOFTWARE BUNDLES

.

Malware can be bundled with other legitimate software, which then installs the malicious code when the user installs the main program. 

INFECTED EXTERNAL DRIVES

.

Plugging an infected USB drive or other removable media into your computer can also introduce malware to your system. 

SOFTWARE VULNERABILITIES 

.

Hackers can exploit security loopholes (vulnerabilities) in your operating system or applications to install malware without your direct action. 

How Malware Spreads

• Once a computer is infected, viruses can spread by embedding themselves in other executable files or programs. 
• They can then spread across networks, via shared files, through infected email attachments, or by infecting external drives. 

[Kaiti126]

I had the same issue with my computer and I want to caution you so that you don't go through what I did. 

Three years ago, I purchased a Dell laptop that had Windows 10. Last year, I kept getting Window Updates each month to install Windows 11 since Windows 10 was expiring. Windows Tech Support told me that my device was compatible to install Windows 11 but Dell Tech Support cautioned me against it so guess who I listened too? Yep, I listened to the Windows folks and I ended up destroying my 3-year-old newly purchased $1,019 computer!

Like you, Windows 11 would not install even after several attempts and several fixes which I had to send it to Dell to replace the hard drive that cost me several hundred dollars more for the effort. So I decided to leave it as is to Windows 10 but the issue with that is that when Windows 10 expired, I stopped getting Windows Updates which left me very vulnerable to hacks & attacks even with a very good security program installed. 

Which then make my security program corrupt too because it relies on updated Windows 10 drivers & files. Which then corrupted my Microsoft Office and so on. And on top of which, since Windows no longer "serviced" my device with up-to-date window updates, hackers came out of the woodwork and placed viruses that completely destroyed my device.

So lessoned learned. Bottom line, if you have sensitive information on your computer that you don't want someone to hack into or plant a virus, your only option now is to buy a new PC with windows 11 and make sure that it is one that can convert to the next version because these computer manufacturers are ripping people off these days with no longer making it possible for the easily switch of yesteryear computers. Now they want us spending money for new computers every two years or so! Major rip off!

[gadgetgal613]

I don't underestand why you had to send it into Dell?  Was it under warranty?  

[Nuttmeg]

---

@Kaiti126 wrote:

I had the same issue with my computer and I want to caution you so that you don't go through what I did. 

Three years ago, I purchased a Dell laptop that had Windows 10. Last year, I kept getting Window Updates each month to install Windows 11 since Windows 10 was expiring. Windows Tech Support told me that my device was compatible to install Windows 11 but Dell Tech Support cautioned me against it so guess who I listened too? Yep, I listened to the Windows folks and I ended up destroying my 3-year-old newly purchased $1,019 computer!

Like you, Windows 11 would not install even after several attempts and several fixes which I had to send it to Dell to replace the hard drive that cost me several hundred dollars more for the effort. So I decided to leave it as is to Windows 10 but the issue with that is that when Windows 10 expired, I stopped getting Windows Updates which left me very vulnerable to hacks & attacks even with a very good security program installed. 

Which then make my security program corrupt too because it relies on updated Windows 10 drivers & files. Which then corrupted my Microsoft Office and so on. And on top of which, since Windows no longer "serviced" my device with up-to-date window updates, hackers came out of the woodwork and placed viruses that completely destroyed my device.

So lessoned learned. Bottom line, if you have sensitive information on your computer that you don't want someone to hack into or plant a virus, your only option now is to buy a new PC with windows 11 and make sure that it is one that can convert to the next version because these computer manufacturers are ripping people off these days with no longer making it possible for the easily switch of yesteryear computers. Now they want us spending money for new computers every two years or so! Major rip off!

---

Microsoft will allow customers to get a one year extension of Microsoft Windows updates for a fee.

Please contact Microsoft  and ask  about this extension.