Thanks everyone. A mixed bag of feedback, but mostly stick with XP and keep programs updated and run antispyware and antivirus programs. I do those already. I browse on Firefox and Chrome - never IE. Thanks Pipsy for your perspective. I hear it - and will keep it in mind. But given those that feel caution is sufficient for now, and my real constriction to switch systems this spring, I will probably continue with all cautions. Here are some follow up questions from everybody's posts: 1 - Unplugging external drive when not in use. I have a problem because my Synology NAS is always in use - as is one of my two external hard drives. First, I have lots of video stored on both that the family accesses to transfer to our Tivo's to watch on the television. That needs to be plugged in. I also have my desktop and my daughter's Mac esktop set to back up to the NAS weekly. Owbist - can you (or others) tell me what kind of vulnerability I'm exposing myself too? 2 - Can somebody provide a link and explanation of the ESET online scan? That's one new to me. 3 - I tried NoScript on my firefox and disabled it. Azinoh and the XP security article I mention below, both recommended it. But when I tried it, it was really interfering with a lot of things I was doing. That's been awhile so I dont' remember specifics, but it was just a big pain. Can somebody tell me more about the protection it offers - and are there settings to address how often it popped up and interfered with things? 4 - I do keep flash and java updated. I know many disable java, unfortunately one of the streaming stock programs I run depends on it. 5 - For my work laptop running Windows 7, I had a BSOD from conflicts with Avast. It was a known issue and was recommended to use MSE instead. If MSE isn't that good, should I risk trying Avast again? if there was a conflict in August/September, is it likely fixed since then? anybody know about this? 6 - In another post on this topic, somebody recommended this site/information: http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/securing-xp-pcs-after-microsoft-drops-support/ This site is certainily suggesting to stop with XP - but offers some safety measures if you continue. One was setting up IE so that it can't connect to the internet (but will connect to the homenetwork). "Disable Web browsing: After support ends next April, consider reconfiguring Windows XP to block its access to the Internet. (Remember: You’ll no longer need IE or Windows Update for system updates from Microsoft.) To do so, open IE, go to Tools/Internet Options, and then click on Connections. Click the LAN settings button (see Figure 1) and then check the “Use a proxy server …” box (see Figure 2). Next, enter 127.0.0.1 into the Address box. Finally, check the “Bypass proxy server for local addresses” box." Until this week, I had not encountered proxy servers. I stumbled on it bc. in updating my husband's Windows 7 computer, somehow both chrome and FF got reset to use a proxy server and they weren't connecting to the internet. Using Chrome's troubleshooting info, I was able to disable using proxy server. But now that I've seen the setting, I could set up proxy server for just IE. My question is, will this prevent me from accessing the internet using FF and Chrome (I don't think so but want to be sure)? Is there any reason to do this if I'm the only one in the family with an XP computer and I don't go on IE? Lastly, why do I need to keep IE if I'm not getting Windows updates? is it also for other microsoft updates that I could use (like Word)? Thank you. Lynn.

usually what has been said is that you can shut everything but explorer and systray. The reason many times it tells you to install in safe mode is because in safe mode all those "running Processes" are not yet running like they are in normal start up mode so therefore you do not have to do all the shut down of the running stuff. I generally just make sure there are no obvious programs running, I shut my browsers, close all email applications, if it says to shut down specific programs I do that, if it says disconnect from internet I do that. The rest I leave alone. I would guess everyone has their own method.

actually it usually varies from printer to printer and from manufacturer. It is pretty normal that they give you a direction sheet to follow so if that is for sure what that one says then that should be how they want you to do it. But I have no way of knowing for sure. Do you happen to have the instruction guide? Sometimes on the actual cd when you first put it in there are some guides that you can read that tell you step by step how to proceed, you might try the cd and see if you see any how to directions. Just to make sure nothing gets messed up on your pc it would be a good idea for you to make are real simple restore point so if something should go awry you can just go right back to that place in time before you added the printer. To do that in xp click on start> all programs> accessories> system tools> system restore> create a restore point, name it something like prior to printer install then follow the instructions for a quick restore point to be created, that is all there is to it. Now if something messes up with the install of the printer you just follow those directions again and choose to restore your pc to a previous time and from that list pick the one you created with the name you choose and follow the directions for your pc to go right back to how it was before you started any of this. it will tell you to reboot the pc in that process. Anyway hope some of that helped and good luck.

I was going to state that you can make it appear almost like XP, so it is much easier. My sister that is VERY computer illiterate went from ME to Vista!! After about an hour on the phone, we got it set up to just about the way it looked before. I didn't have her take off the authorization pop ups tho...I wanted her to make sure she knew what she was doing! If she can get through that, I believe ANYONE can!! My first Vista was at the office and that was a year ago last month. I go between my office puter, and laptop both on Vista to my main desktop that is XP. I honestly don't understand what all the griping is about! There isn't really that much different! Except for that pop up...and you can take that off. The biggest difference on it is My Pictures...there are some wonderful bonus' in that tho! I guess I have been very lucky too, as I have had no problems with any drivers! And at the office I have ALL ages of printers/scanners.