Surviving and Thriving Through Windows XP Migrations

TECH GUIDE Surviving and Thriving Through Windows XP Migrations

THE LOOMING END OF XP

The end is nigh for Windows XP, the workhorse operating system that cleansed the IT industry’s palate of Windows 2000 and ME and kept users hunkered down during the three-year struggle that was Windows Vista. The plucky XP, with its stable NT pedigree and home and professional versions, was released in October 2001 and went on to become Microsoft’s second most popular OS of all time, peaking at 400 million users by the end of 2005.

For many users, it is hard to imagine Windows before XP. The OS introduced a number of features considered Windows staples today, such as task panes, tiled and filmstrip views, document category searches, customizable InfoTips, built-in CD burning, AutoPlay and Simple File-Sharing.

Windows XP, like all good things, must come to an end. Microsoft last year made clear it would no longer support XP beyond the summer of 2014. The official end-of-life was April 8, though Microsoft extended security updates through July. In the 13 years since it debuted, much has changed in the IT world. Hardware is cheaper, devices are smaller, operating systems are faster and mobile devices are more powerful than ever.

What once seemed like a far-off prospect is now a problem for businesses reliant on XP. Microsoft touts the XP migration is a DIY exercise, but an XP upgrade is not for the faint of heart. Most businesses will turn to a professional IT partner to see the process through, particularly when it comes to deciding which device and software combinations best meet their needs.

To capture the opportunity, IT solution providers need a balanced, organized approach to Windows XP migration to mitigate downtime and data loss. Partners need to be prepared to not only set up the systems, but train SMB clients. If handled correctly, the Windows XP migration offers a strong opportunity to improve processes, upgrade systems and add services to take the customer into the next decade and beyond.

800.569.0155 INTRONIS.COM COMPLETE DATA PROTECTION 1 THE MICROSOFT OS LANDSCAPE

One contributing factor to the hand-wringing around Windows XP migration is procrastination. While vast numbers of SMB users ignored typical hardware and software upgrade cycles to remain bunkered in an XP environment, IT vendors have moved on.

Microsoft has rolled out two flagship operating systems since XP: the wildly popular Windows 7 and the radically altered Windows 8. The latter is a nod to today’s mobile-centric state of devices, evident in the evolved state of hardware available to business IT buyers as compared to the wares most common in XP’s earliest days.

Despite that, a surprising number of organizations remain unprepared. Data from Stat Counter, NetMarketshare and Microsoft indicate between a quarter and a third of PCs in operation still run Windows XP. More concerning is how ill-prepared most organizations still are to embark on an OS upgrade project, which Microsoft estimates will take the average business between 18 and 30 months.

The reluctance to upgrade can be attributed to cost. According to TechAisle, 47 percent of small businesses say lack of budget is the main reason they have not replaced their PCs. This mentality may lead some to consider sticking with XP even after Microsoft abandons its security support.

The reality is that this end-of-life scenario puts businesses using XP at significant risk. Gartner analysts in January sounded the alarm that cybercriminals may be saving exploits that target XP, waiting until the security support system is turned off and then launching them into the wild.

Compounding the problem: Criminals use the security updates for supported OSes, such as Windows 7 and Windows 8, as a blueprint to engineer exploits for unsupported systems like XP. Many government and industry regulations prohibit the use of unsupported software for just this reason, making XP migration a compliance issue in addition to a security issue. The health care industry’s HIPAA rule, for example, requires periodic and timely security updates, which can no longer be assured with XP.

April 8 also brought to an end most efforts by app developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to build solutions for Windows XP, or issue updates for existing apps. That solution lock-in could be costly for businesses dependent on technology to evolve with the market and competitive landscape.

The message from trusted advisors, therefore, should be simple: Upgrading from Windows XP secures the business, improves system stability and performance, reduces legacy support costs for aging IT wares, and bolsters market and competitive position. The TechAisle report also found that replacing older PCs to update Windows and Office products could save SMBs an average $427 per PC on repairs and other servicing.

800.569.0155 INTRONIS.COM COMPLETE DATA PROTECTION 2 SELECTING THE UPGRADE PATH

Even before project planning begins, the prudent first step in any significant IT event is safeguarding client data in preparation for the move. Diligent backup — a prerequisite to any professional-grade OS migration — will hold the client’s critical information in a secure and stable environment offsite despite the XP migration going beyond Microsoft’s announced end-of-life date.

Choices abound in the BCDR space, so it is important for the solution provider to opt for backup services that can not only support the move away from XP, but can be seen as an adjunct to the partner’s service – one that will grow and add value to the relationship long after the migration is done.

Elements to look for include secure, reliable technical underpinnings with support for local and cloud- based data backup. The service should understand the specialized needs of IT solution providers: white- label software and brandability by the partner; integration with the popular remote monitoring and management (RMM) platforms and IT business automation tools; backup management and reporting tools; and a vendor-partner program with technical and sales training, domestic customer support and dedicated account management.

With those backup elements in place, most SMB organizations will be ready to take the leap. At this point, the biggest consideration will be the new target OS. The choices are limited to the familiar, highly stable and well-tested Windows 7 and the newer Windows 8, with its less familiar tile-based GUI, touch- screen capabilities and mobile-device focus. Both provide a significant and noticeable performance improvement and position the organization for secure, stable IT operations.

While it may come to personal preference, hardware support and basic system requirements should guide the decision. The minimum requirements for Windows 7 and Windows 8 are nearly identical: 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor, 1-GB RAM for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit, 16-GB hard drive for 32-bit or 20 GB for 64-bit, and a DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver. All 32-bit versions support up to 32 processor cores, while 64 bit versions support up to 256. Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate allow two physical processors for best performance; Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic and Home Premium recognize one physical processor.

The main differences for businesses will be in peripherals that allow greater use of Windows 8’s unique features, most notably its touch-screen capabilities.

800.569.0155 INTRONIS.COM COMPLETE DATA PROTECTION 3 Another key consideration: the supported upgrade paths. Microsoft provides Upgrade Assistant tools on its support site to test device compatibility and guide the transfer process. There is no supported upgrade path between Windows XP and Windows 7. With the available upgrade tools, users can move to Windows 8 only from XP or Vista in a tool-supported way that preserves programs, files and settings.

This raises the possibility of performing a dual-stage upgrade from XP to Vista, and then from Vista to Windows 8. Be advised: This method is complex and supports 32-bit versions at both the source and the destination. The better option is a “custom” or “clean” installation, which does not save any programs, files, or settings.

THE MIGRATION

Once the customer’s hardware requirements have been determined, an appropriate new operating system had been decided on, and critical data has been backed up, the XP migration is ready to be set in motion.

XP to Windows 7 Assuming the client has opted against a 32-bit-only transfer through Windows Vista to Windows 7, the partner should prepare for a transition that will take two to three hours per machine. Bear in mind: No files or third-party applications will survive this “clean” install.

The XP-to-7 migration begins with a download of Microsoft’s Windows Easy Transfer tool. Running Windows Easy Transfer on the source machine will provide a list of all third-party apps installed – helpful since the partner will need to reinstall all of those apps manually after migration. Check to see all installation discs and activation keys are on hand before proceeding.

Windows Easy Transfer provides a simple way to move files, settings and user accounts from the source machine to an external hard drive, where they can be retrieved once the migration is complete. The File and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP is not compatible with Windows 7, and files will be lost once the upgrade completes.

Next, download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which will test the source machine’s hardware and alert the partner to any compatibility problems. This portion of Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor is a valuable tool for cataloging and reporting upgrades in which the client may want to invest prior to migration.

When that is done, install the operating system itself. Choose the “Custom (Advanced)” option and be sure the machine is connected to the Internet. Antivirus software must be disabled so the process can run uninterrupted and the system can receive online updates.

When the Windows 7 installation is complete, use Windows Easy Transfer to retrieve saved files and settings from the external hard drive. It is important to do this before reinstalling programs to ensure the file and settings paths remain unbroken. Once the files are restored, reinstall all third-party applications. The XP to Windows 7 migration is complete.

800.569.0155 INTRONIS.COM COMPLETE DATA PROTECTION 4 XP to Windows 8 Moving from XP to Windows 8 is simpler in theory, since the upgrade path is supported. The Windows 8 Upgrade Advisor download will test the system for compatibility; if the source machine passes, the migration will progress by following the prompts during OS installation.

The reality, however, is that the vast majority of Windows XP to Windows 8 upgrades will be done in conjunction with the deployment of hardware. Microsoft recommends PCmover Express for Windows XP, developed in cooperation with Laplink, which can smooth the process of transferring files, settings, user accounts and applications from an XP-based machine to one running Windows 8.

PCmover Express is available for download from Microsoft’s Download Center.

AFTER-MIGRATION OPPORTUNITIES

Windows XP’s well-documented end of life puts solution providers to the test, but the scramble to keep clients systems safe, secure and stable holds tremendous opportunity for partners to engage with clients about their PC needs and valuable ancillary services, like backup and recovery, to protect their newly refreshed or updated infrastructure.

The benefits of Windows XP’s sunset are being seen. According to International Data Corp., major vendors Hewlett- Packard Co., Dell Inc. and Lenovo see rising PC sales after years of decline, mostly attributable to upgrades from XP devices to modern equipment that can handle Windows 7 and 8.

The two-year-old Windows 8 and new Windows 8.1 hold less than 11 percent of the operating system install base, according to Microsoft. There are more PCs running Windows Vista than running Windows 8.1, a shocking revelation. There remains much opportunity for the channel – particularly in the SMB space, where money has been tight, and hardware and software updates have languished since the recession five years ago.

With what seems like an IT headache, Microsoft has opened a narrow window of opportunity to talk to customers about their IT strategy and the business outcomes it supports.

Upgrading clients from Windows XP does more than just promote the sale of boxes. Many clients may opt for desktop virtualization in response to the XP conundrum; others may find cloud-based productivity suites, such as Microsoft’s Office 365, fit the bill in a post-XP environment.

Savvy partners should use the migration to drive conversations that increase security and productivity software, networking gear and managed services sales, as well as robust backup, continuity and disaster recovery services.

For more information on the implications of Windows XP support expiration, see the Intronis Windows XP Expiration Technology Overview.

800.569.0155 INTRONIS.COM COMPLETE DATA PROTECTION 5 ABOUT INTRONIS

Intronis Cloud Backup and Recovery is a world-class cloud backup solution for the IT channel. Intronis provides the industry’s easiest-to-use secure data solution for offsite and local backup, which generates a monthly recurring revenue stream to add to your business. Intronis offers the best, deepest Exchange and SQL backup on the market; supports virtualized environments with native VMware backup; and is integrated with major solutions in the MSP ecosystem. Partners receive expert customer support from our U.S.-based team. The solution has been field tested by thousands of MSPs, and the company has been recognized as a “Best Channel Vendor” by Business Solutions magazine, and one of the “Top 100 Cloud Computing Vendors” and “Top 20 Coolest Cloud Storage Vendors” by CRN two years in a row. Intronis was also named “Best Revenue Generator” seven times and “Best Customer Support” three times by members of ASCII. www.intronis.com.

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800.569.0155 INTRONIS.COM COMPLETE DATA PROTECTION 6