It’s time to loosen your cold, dead grip on Windows XP

In just 13 months, Windows XP will be toast. Forever.

Anything is possible, but as of now, nothing suggests that Microsoft will push back its April 8, 2014, endgame for XP. If you haven’t already done so, the time to migrate is nigh.

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Those of you who aren’t impressed by Windows 8 may be waiting to see if Windows “Blue” is going to knock your socks off. My recommendation: Don’t wait. Instead, play it safe with Windows 7 or make the leap with Windows 8. Supposedly “Blue” will be a free upgrade for Windows 8 users anyway.

What’s holding back the XP crowd?

There are any number of reasons folks still cling to Windows XP. For some it has been pure economics. Older systems are chugging away, and you don’t want to waste money you don’t have in your budget.

But it’s time to face facts. Windows XP was released in 2001. You had to know you’d need to upgrade to new systems at some point in the next dozen years — you should’ve planned ahead. From a cost perspective, you’re working with four-generation-old technology and at a security risk that could cost you more money in the long run than new systems will cost you now.

Microsoft will not provide further security updates to Windows XP, so all companies that need to be compliant are going to loosen their grip on these systems. Even though you might be able to get Windows 7 or 8 to run on an older machine that just barely meets (or barely misses) compatibility, keep in mind that just because you can get it to run doesn’t mean you should. Think about the experience you’ll be providing your users. If it’s horrible and slow, you’ll make them less productive, and they’ll hate both the new OS and you for saddling it on an old horse.

Another big complaint is application compatibility. Folks say their apps won’t work with Windows 7 or Windows 8. Here is where they need to do their homework and play with tools created specifically to assist them. For instance, the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) is designed to help you evaluate and mitigate application compatibility. TechNet offers another great place for information on application compatibility.

Many applications you think will suffer compability issues may have upgraded versions. Sure, it’s a pain to upgrade them, especially the homegrown apps, but it’s all part of the application lifecycle. Plus, doing so can open up “opportunities,” as Microsoft’s Stephen Rose has pointed out. Along those lines, check out Microsoft’s Windows 8 Jump Start series on Windows 8 Deployment to see how to make it happen.

Free tools to help you deploy Windows

Speaking of Microsoft’s ACT, it’s important for IT admins to catch up on the new tools used to deploy Windows 7 and 8. Back in the day, we used imaging tools like Ghost (remember that?), which was awesome in 2001. This is no longer the modern method for imaging systems and deploying Windows. You need to start looking at the free tools Microsoft provides, like the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT). All of these tools can be found under the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK). The kit also includes:

• Microsoft ACT, which polls all your systems to determine which apps will work on which machines; it even tells you what will work and what is supported, which may not be the same, as well as when you can use a shim (a mini fake fix to make applications work)
• Deployment tools like Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM), System Preparation, SysPrep, and Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE)
• Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE)
• User State Migration Tool (USMT)
• Volume Activation Management Tool
• Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)

The tools take some time to learn, but they are free. Once you master them, you’ll truly appreciate how far we’ve come from the days of Ghost deployments.

Jump, don’t be pushed, toward Windows 7 or 8

If you’ve ever watched “Wipeout,” you know that if a contestant doesn’t jump across the large rubber balls (aka Big Balls, with good reason) they get pushed. It’s always better to jump than to be pushed, both when it comes to competing in “Wipeout” and supporting Windows systems. Folks, this is happening. XP is a dead OS walking. It takes quite a bit of time to plan and deploy a new client system, and you are already in the “death zone,” to coin a phrase from my dear friend Scott Skinger (founder of TrainSignal).

Personally, I think users are better prepared to handle the move to Windows 7 than to Windows 8. The UI adjustments for Windows 8 will frustrate the masses, as it already has, so allow your users to ease into the new UI on their own time with home systems, laptops, tablets they purchased. If they buy it, the frustration is on their head. If you install it for them at work, all that rage will come back on your head. Windows 7 is a no-brainer. It has the same UI as XP (with an orb as opposed to a button for the Start menu), same navigation, plenty of new bells and whistles, lots of security built-in, and a great OS all around.

But don’t hold off your plans waiting for Windows 9. You’ve already run out of time, and the countdown has begun.

This story, “It’s time to loosen your cold, dead grip on Windows XP,” was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Read more of J. Peter Bruzzese’s Enterprise Windows blog and follow the latest developments in Windows at InfoWorld.com. For the latest business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.