Come April 8, Microsoft will stop its support of Windows XP. If you have not upgraded to a later version of Windows or bought a new computer you should brace up for serious trouble, from virus attacks to total system failure with no solutions.

Use the week ahead to transfer your files to a newer version of Windows if you have a lot of personal data on your XP machine. Migrating your stuff safely is normally a formidable task. Here are some tools to make it easy for you.

Realising that many people are still on the almost 13-year-old operating system, Microsoft has arranged to give away for free to Windows XP users a program to transfer their files, settings and user profiles to new Windows PC. The program, PCmover Express by LapLink, will only work if you are transferring files from a Windows XP computer to another one running Windows 7, 8 or 8.1. You will need to download this program on both your XP machine and your new PC. Both have to be connected to the Internet too. After that you can sit back and relax as the program does the work for you.

But this program will not be able to transfer your applications. If you buy PCmover Professional for about $24 (Rs 1,450 approximately) you will be able to transfer compatible software too. PCmover Express is available at www.microsoft.com/ windows/en-us/xp/ transfer-your-data.aspx. PCmover Professional can be got at a special discount for XP users from www.laplink.com /pcmoverexpressxpeol.

If you were upgrading an existing computer to Windows 7 I would recommend a different method. First download Windows Upgrade Advisor from http://go.microsoft. com/fwlink/?LinkId=160680. This will scan your PC for potential issues with your hardware, devices, and installed programs, and recommend what you should do before you upgrade. Make sure your USB devices, printers, external hard disks, and scanners that you regularly use are connected to the computer and switched on.

Now get Microsoft’s own data migration tool known as Windows Easy Transfer. This will transfer your files and settings to an external hard disk or USB flash drive. Windows Easy Transfer is available at http://windows.microsoft. com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-easy-transfer. Download the program for Windows XP.

Do not use the File and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP to move your files. This is not compatible with Windows 7. Windows Easy Transfer does not move your programs, only your files and settings. Windows Easy Transfer will provide you with a list of programs that you are currently using with Windows XP. You will need to reinstall them later.

The next step is to install Windows 7. Connect your PC to the Internet so that you can get updates during the installation. Choose the Custom installation option when you run the Windows 7 setup file. This is sometimes called a ‘clean’ installation because it does not transfer your older files or settings. It can take up to several hours so be patient. It is not necessary to format your hard drive to install Windows 7. After the installation is complete move your old files and settings back to Windows 7. Browse your external hard drive or USB drive and go to ‘Windows Easy Transfer--Items from old computer’ and double click the file.

Once your files and settings are back on your computer, you can reinstall your programs and check for new or updated drivers.

If you are moving to a Mac then use Windows Migration Assistant. Install the tool on your Windows XP computer from http://support. apple.com/kb/DL1557. This will copy your personal files and settings to your Mac. It transfers files over the network, so just make sure your Windows XP system and Mac are on the same WiFi network.

There are other ways to transfer your data to an updated Windows computer. If you have backed up your personal data to a cloud storage service like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive you will be able to access them from any computer, smartphone, tablet or anything with a web browser. Windows 8.1 integrates OneDrive so you will be able to access your data without installing anything. Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive are also available for the Mac. Dropbox even runs on Ubuntu.

You should have ideally created backups of your files and important data. If you have done this you can easily migrate by restoring files from the backup. Cobian Backup 11 is excellent for this. Go to www.cobian.se/cobianbackup.htm.

The time is up for Windows XP. It has become an old and insecure operating system. Get a new computer or move to Windows 7 or 8.1.

Send in your computer- related problems to askdoss@abpmail.com with bits&bytes as the subject line