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XFER Blog

XFER Blog

XFER has been serving the Livonia area since 1994, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

Upgrades Are Necessary as Microsoft Retires Two Heavy Hitters

Upgrades Are Necessary as Microsoft Retires Two Heavy Hitters

Windows might be the most popular operating system out there, but it’s not perfect. This is why your systems receive patches and security updates as they are released. The problem, however, is that these updates don’t last forever, and one of the most popular Windows systems out there will lose access to support on January 14th, 2020. Are you going to update now, or are you going to risk your systems going without critical updates?

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The Time Has Come for SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2

The Time Has Come for SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2

Software solutions don’t last forever. While patches and security updates can stave off the inevitable for quite some time, it’s impossible to maintain a specific solution forever. Support is eventually cut off, and businesses are left exposed if they haven’t taken the time to prepare. In the case of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2, you are running out of time.

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Planning for Failing Technology Keeps You in Business

Planning for Failing Technology Keeps You in Business

It is interesting to see how different businesses deal with legacy computing systems. On one hand, these systems have been critical in getting your company to where they are today. On the other, they are getting old, and newer technology will almost assuredly improve aspects of your business, including security, software functionality, and computing efficiency. For this reason, companies that have a dedicated strategy in place to routinely upgrade their core technologies tend to run into fewer technology-related problems.

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Save the Date: Microsoft Products End of Life

Save the Date: Microsoft Products End of Life

There are one of two reactions every person gets when they get a save-the-date card in the mail. They either are excited for an event or they realize that the event is going to cost them money. For today’s blog, we give you our version of save the date as some of the most widely used Microsoft products in recent memory are coming up on their end of support date, and for some businesses, this save-the-date might be bad news.

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Security Concerns Have Led To New Voting Machines In Virginia

Security Concerns Have Led To New Voting Machines In Virginia

Regardless of your feelings on the matter, the 2016 United States presidential election was an extremely divisive one--in no small part, due to the suspicion that the outcome of the election may have been significantly influenced by hacked voting machines. This uncertainty has led to some states making strides to ensure that their technology will no longer be responsible for such doubts.

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What You Need to Know About Upgrading to Windows 10

What You Need to Know About Upgrading to Windows 10

It’s been over two years since Microsoft stopped providing Windows XP with security updates and patches. The Windows operating system was known as one of the most popular Windows operating systems ever. Both businesses and consumers were affected by this major update, being forced to migrate to more recent operating systems in order to stay secure. Thankfully, an upgrade to Windows 10 isn’t nearly as difficult as one from XP to Windows 7, largely because of the hardware costs involved.

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Some Microsoft Users are Getting Windows 10 Upgrades Against Their Will

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Windows 10 might be the latest operating system from Microsoft, but despite its great new business-friendly features, many are still hesitant to upgrade. For those who don’t want Windows 10, there are reports of unwanted (and unexpected) Windows 10 updates. Now, here’s the big question: would you want your business’s software upgraded without your consent?

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Tip of the Week: How to Know When Your Technology Needs to Be Replaced

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Your business takes advantage of several different types of technology every day, but there comes a time when your tech needs to either be upgraded or replaced with better tools. This is part of the natural order of things; no technology solution can (or should) last forever, but if you don’t catch issues before they become major problems, you could be putting your data at the risk of hardware failure, software hiccups, or even hacking attacks.

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Windows 10 On Pace to Be the Most Popular OS By 2017

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With Windows 10 making leaps and bounds in the business environment, Microsoft has created another commercial success for both consumer use and workplace productivity. In recent weeks, Windows 10’s adoption has slowed significantly, but in a few years it’s expected to surpass other Windows operating systems in terms of usability.

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Think Strategically When Upgrading Your Workstations

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With technology growing faster than most businesses can keep up with, organizations have to continuously upgrade their solutions in order to maintain a semblance of modernity. The only issue with this is that many businesses can’t keep up, simply because they don’t have a team that’s dedicated to this important task. What technology upgrades should be made a top priority, and why?

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3 Common Reasons Business Owners Cite for Not Upgrading

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Cutting corners comes with the territory of doing business. While it makes sense to be conservative with items like breakroom amenities and super-soft toilet paper, trying to save money in regards to your employee’s technology may actually turn out to cost more than it saves. For business owners trying to save money, the latest technology solutions are worth the extra expense.

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Is Legacy Technology Preventing Your Business from Growing?

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Can you remember the last time you did your company a solid and updated all of its hardware and software solutions? If your organization is still using machines from several years ago, it could be holding it back from reaching its full potential. We’ll say it again, think hard about when you last updated your technology, and we really, really hope that you aren’t still running Windows XP or machines from last century.

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Microsoft Salutes the US Navy for Sticking with Windows XP

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Have you already arranged for your upgrade to Windows 10 on July 29th? If so, good for you. You’ve made a decision that, last year, several Windows XP users went without. However, those who went without upgrading to a more recent operating system are now feeling the effects of having to purchase custom support from Microsoft following Windows XP’s expiration; including the United States Navy.

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Tip of the Week: 3 Options to Consider Before Trashing Your Old Technology

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It’s often the case that people excitedly upgrade to new technology without giving much thought about what to do with their old tech. In an upgrade situation like this, you’ve got a few options for dealing with your old technology that are good for the environment, socially responsible, and may even provide you with some cash.

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It’s Bizarro World at Microsoft as Use of XP Grows and Windows 8 Declines!

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Windows XP is a product that has consistently performed well for Microsoft and it continues to see growth, even though it's not supposed to. With its support ending this past April, Windows XP was supposed to never be heard from again. Instead, XP is refusing to go quietly into the night by posting positive usage numbers for June 2014.

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Microsoft Pushes Back Windows 8.1 Update Deadline

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Microsoft stated weeks ago that they would no longer support Windows 8.1, unless the operating system was updated to Windows 8.1 Update by May 13th. But one day before the deadline, Microsoft announced they have pushed the deadline back substantially. This update is crucial if you desire to continue receiving patches and updates from the company. Which you should!

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You Better Upgrade Windows 8.1...or Else!

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Well, that didn't take long. Eight months ago Microsoft released Windows 8.1 and now they're sounding the alarm that users better comply and install the latest updates or lose security support from Microsoft. What makes this news peculiar is that it took 12 years for Microsoft to reach the same verdict with its popular Windows XP operating system. What gives, Microsoft?

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Signs Your Technology Might Be Older Than You

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When we think of technology in terms of age, we often look at how long the machine has lasted for. Some machines from the mid-90's are still running, which makes them almost twenty years old. In terms of human life, that's not a very long time, but if you look at it in terms of quality working conditions, you'll find that these computers are kind of like dogs and cats. They may only be several years old, but in terms of actual age, their lifespan makes them much older than you realize.

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Over a Quarter of World’s PCs Run Windows XP!

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In the business world, it's common knowledge that Microsoft is ending support for its popular operating system Windows XP on April 8. However, with recent data showing that 29% of the world's computers are still running Windows XP, it appears that the rest of the world is slow to act upon Microsoft's expiration date.

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Windows XP Becomes a Business Liability on April 8!

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If you're still running your business or home PC on Windows XP, then it's vital that you upgrade to a newer OS. Yes, your decade-old Windows XP system may be working just fine, and therefore, you may not feel the urgency to upgrade, but you will feel the heat when Microsoft stops supporting its popular OS--in just a few short days!

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