Leslie from OH writes: I still have Windows XP operating system. Lately some websites I visit have asked me to update my browser. I already have Internet Explorer 8. Why don't they recognize it? World Start Newsletter's..answer ..I quote.."Windows XP, which was released in 2001, was declared "end of mainstream support" by Microsoft back in 2009. In April of 2014 it will reach "final end of life", where it will no longer receive critical security updates of any kind. Microsoft has not released Internet Explorer 9 for Windows XP because of this, so you�re left using IE 8, which is a nearly three year old web browser design. The best solution, if you are still using Windows XP, is to consider using an alternate web browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Both are very well regarded and considered by almost all techies as superior to IE8. These web browsers are also updated and feature the latest in security and compatibility with websites that use some of the latest technology." soooooooo..One of my desktops has Windows XP Home edition...so I downloaded Google Chrome...it is fast and awesome....my other two computers have IE 9.0 which I prefer...it is matter of preference...whatever rings your bells!!!.

Thanks, I have been using the "Task Manager" (using alt/cont/del) since Windows 95. I can't recall any longer what I did with Windows 3. whatever, but up until the days of Vista I worked at a company that supplied my computer needs including technical support. Over this period I have used the TM, as owbist, suggests to see what was eating resources, and yes to KILL ! (caps and exclamation). This has to my recall resulted in only the subject running process shutting down, and being quit willing to run the next time I activated it. I am reasonably cautious, indeed that is one aspect of my coming to this forum for advice. I think I understand enough to not follow bogus advice, has there ever been a problem here with people posting advice that is likely to cause harm? I have on occasions had difficult problems, only a year ago with an old Gateway running XP, and received detailed instructions on how to obtain running information and then posting that. I forget now who the generous person was, I think it was not you, obwist. This resulted in the old Gateway running better then within a week I cracked the screen. Still worked but not much fun to read... thus I became an owner of a new Gateway with W8 which has been the subject of my question of late.

Standard Firefox is 32 bit. So unless you have some other program complain like a game or something... Just install the 32bit. If you use the IE64bit sometimes, install both. Think this page will discover and show how many bits you're visiting on... Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

Here's what I tell my users on the other forums, Special note on Java.Old Java versions should be removed after first clearing the Java Cache by following the instructions in: http://www.java.com/...lugin_cache.xml Then remove the old versions by going to Control Panel, Programs and Features and Uninstall all Java programs which are not Java Version 7 update 25 or better. These may call themselves: Java Runtime, Runtime Environment, Runtime, JRE, Java Virtual Machine, Virtual Machine, Java VM, JVM, VM, J2RE, J2SE. Get the latest version from Java.com. They will usually attempt to foist some garbage like the Ask toolbar, Yahoo toolbar or McAfee Security Scan on you as part of the download. Just uncheck the garbage before the download (or install) starts. If you use a 64-bit browser and want the 64-bit version of Java you need to use it to visit java.com. Due to multiple security problems with Java we are now recommending that it not be installed unless you absolutely know you need it. If that is the case then you should go in to Control panels, Java, Security and set the slider to the highest level. Also make sure you have the latest versions of any adobe.com products you use like Shockwave, Flash or Acrobat. Whether you use adobe reader, acrobat or fox-it to read pdf files you need to disable Javascript in the program. There is an exploit out there now that can use it to get on your PC. For Adobe Reader: Start, All Programs, Adobe Reader, Edit, Preferences, Click on Javascript in the left column and uncheck Enable Acrobat Javascript. OK Close program. It's the same for Foxit reader except you uncheck Enable Javascript Actions.