computers and windows 11

[Marie]

I am still working on windows 10, do I need to change to windows 11 for the 2024 tax season?  How does changing affect my previous years returns.  Will I still be able to open old returns?  Always worries me about changing.

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

Just one opinion, mine. Just offering food for thought.

W10 came out in 2015. W11 in 2021. Whatever one thinks of the different versions, or Microsoft itself, it is the boat we are all sailing on. If a device being used for important things cannot run W11, or has not been updated to W11, I would not want my personal data on it. Not having the latest in built in security in the latest OS is one factor. Another is knowing the person using the device is not keeping current is another factor. I am likely an outlier because I ask, but it is how I feel.

I am not fond of changing OS on an existing machine. Instead, I get a new device with the new OS installed (and known to work with the new OS). I did have once where I installed W11 on an existing device, and it was not an issue as the device was only a few years old.

Currently, I have a newer ZenBook dual monitor portable, which is my daily. I also have a surface pro with ARM which I really like for the power and heat savings. It will likely become my daily sometime soon. Even if a network is used, I am a big fan of portables for their enhanced power safety, overall safety (can be put in a safe), and portability. I quit PC gaming decades ago, the only reason these days someone might need a box over a portable, as gaming graphics are best, for a little longer, on a box.

One can also likely argue, quite well, using W10 for tax returns violates the rules about keeping data secure, since W10 was retired last month, unless maybe one is paying for extended support (which makes no sense to me to do, compared to using something current).

[TexTaxToo]

19 minutes ago, Medlin Software, Dennis said:

since W10 was retired last month

Support for Windows 10 continues until October, 2025 (not 2024).  You will likely start getting more pop-up "reminders" that the end of support is coming.

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

TTT, That is what I "get" for not wearing my glasses and/or going from closer to Medicare than selective service registration age memory! Thank you for pointing out my mistake. Even with W10 EOL not here yet, is should be considered "dead" (and an actual machine which does nor or cannot run W11 well should be dead too) a short time after W11 was released, especially for those who are bound by data security requirements.

[mcb39]

6 hours ago, Marie said:

I am still working on windows 10, do I need to change to windows 11 for the 2024 tax season?  How does changing affect my previous years returns.  Will I still be able to open old returns?  Always worries me about changing.

I went and did some research in ATX System Requirements.  The program will run perfectly well until October 14, 2025 on Win 10.  At that time you will lose Windows Security on Win 10.   I am dealing with the same sorry situation and meeting with IT  tomorrow to see which is the best route to travel.  The 2025 Tax Program is being released on Monday, Nov25.

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

As a software dev, it is and was easy to remain compatible with XP forward. IN fact, unless someone needs something limited to a newer OS, or codes in a manner which makes it OD dependent, the same program will work on each OS. The issue for software devs is safety and testing. Meaning I do not have W10 or older anymore, as they are known to be less safe for me to use, so I cannot and will not test on an older OS. IN the case of this group, most/all are subject to the security requirements (the one you had to create a document/policy for), and there is zero chance an insurer or regulatory agency will consider an expired OS to be secure.

I get this sort of issue often, someone saying their X year old box works fine, why update. (What used to be) Common sense says any important data should be used with current software and current hardware. Before SSD's, it was said that 3 years was as long as one could safely assume no drive failure (after about the first 24 hours of use). I have not looked into whether or not this has changed since SSD's went mainstream. In any case, a 5 year cycle of hardware replacement is not unusual, expensive, and makes sense (since your backup hardware will then get to 10 years old).

Anyone without backup hardware should not have date responsibility. Anyone not replacing hardware at least every 5 years, likely the same. For those not networking, one can get a replacement generic box for less than 1k, and if in business, 1k every 5 years is not something to complain about.

Note, in another year or two, my software will lock out those using certain old versions of Windows, and my pro edition already expects a current OS - since the target user should be keeping their OS current. Here., most are tax preparers, charged with keeping the very personal details of their customers absolutely secure. Given a second of thought, I just cannot see any way to consider an old OS as meeting this requirement. Keep it EASY, and stop planning your device changes to the end of an OS life, and make the changes 6 months or so after a new OS comes out.

But, the above is just my experience over 40+ years, and cost you nothing, so it may be worth exactly that to you.

[Abby Normal]

21 hours ago, mcb39 said:

The program will run perfectly well until October 14, 2025

It will still run perfectly well long past October 14, 2025, you just won't get any security updates to Windows 10. Unless you choose to pay for them.

[mcb39]

I bit the bullet today and updated from 10 to 11 on my desktop.  Because of my age and my health; there is no sure answer as to how much longer I will practice.  I do not choose to purchase another new computer this year. Two new Win 11 laptops last year.  Hoping the program installations go smoothly next week and moving forward; and hope that everyone has a successful tax season.

[Randall]

I too don't like to update an existing computer to a new os.  I have been waiting for Win12 but there is no word.  I will probably get a new computer next year whether Win12 comes out or not.  

[mcb39]

25 minutes ago, Randall said:

I too don't like to update an existing computer to a new os.  I have been waiting for Win12 but there is no word.  I will probably get a new computer next year whether Win12 comes out or not.  

The tossup is moving all the existing information to a new computer.  That doesn't always work the way it should.  This is day 3 of the updated OS and everything is running smooth as silk.  I do still have the option of restoring the old system.  Plus I did a complete system backup to an external HD before the update.  I only have 2 small items for IT to tweak so far.  Only personal preferences.

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

42 minutes ago, mcb39 said:

The tossup is moving all the existing information to a new computer.  That doesn't always work the way it should. 

Even if you do not want to upgrade the OS, this issue is the (should not be hidden or ignored) reason to do it every few years, on purpose. Such a change is the only time most will ever prove their backup/restore plans work. I wake up most days to at least one customer who has no backup or has never tested their backup. By the time someone contacts me, it is more than 90% a case of having no usable backup.

Once you go through a device change, or have lived through data loss, one tends to perfect and test their recovery process.

At least once a week, if not daily, I ponder if I can recover from waking up with no machines or data at my fingertips. I have been saying and proving yes for at least a couple of decades. Thus, a computer change is a snap. A little more than a certain brand of phone change, but less than an hour to get to a base start over position, and no more than a few (I forgot to restore that) steps from full recovery.

[b#tax]

Yes it is a dilemma to know when to upgrade to a new system. I have been running my system with M.2 SSD with both raid HDD and online backup. I generally purchase upper tier processing power and with the M.2 NVME SSD I am not experiencing the slow down I have in the past as the system ages. Intel has not helped with the issues with Gen 13 and 14 processors. Makes me hesitant to jump into a system where the processors will need to be patched right off the bat. I still like desktops as they are easier for me to work on, switch out raid drives, add SSD and upgrade memory and easily connect 3 monitors. 

I have come across a Cisco product called Duo that is interesting for MFA application but not sure if it would work for older version of tax software that do not have it natively imbedded in the program.  This is So frustrating for a small practice with myself and 1 seasonal worker. Why does this fall on us to have MFA when big providers like Intuit QuickBooks Desktop does not even have MFA in their software? 

Has anyone come up with a local file manager solution with MFA? I really don't want to move everything online just to comply with the new security rules if possible. 

[mcb39]

5 hours ago, Medlin Software, Dennis said:

Even if you do not want to upgrade the OS, this issue is the (should not be hidden or ignored) reason to do it every few years, on purpose. Such a change is the only time most will ever prove their backup/restore plans work.

I hope that we don't get slapped for getting off the thread.  I still disagree with you Dennis from the standpoint of "If it's not broke, don't fix it" and expense.  Since I have an excellent IT man (client) and a small office like mine cannot afford to buy that many new computers and have perfectly good ones sitting on the shelf.  I got my update on Saturday and feel as though my computer is new.   I even wrote my WISP today and downloaded ATX 24.  Now, to figure out multi-factor authentication and maybe all will be well.

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

"If it's not broke, don't fix it"

I used to believe that to in many aspects. But computers is not one of them. There should always be a current one in use, and a current or recent at the ready (unless you are prepared to go out and get off the shelf in an emergency). We use these things for income, so expensing them should not be a problem. I get this so often, and even though I get "muddy", I still try to share the possibility of being better prepared. What I mean is even today, someone was ripping at me because they want to use our "pro" software with W7, which we do not allow. They claimed they cannot afford a current computer, not even a $300 refurb (and ignored upgrading to W8 then W10, which was free for at least some of the time). If that is true, then they are not really a good choice to have as someone's payroll or accounting provider, since they could disappear at any moment, even a traffic ticket could break them.

I was just pondering the axiom, as this is the first year our jeep did not have the doors and top off, and we barely used it. It is still fun, but we are drifting to the point where not having full airbags, or large mass, seems derelict in terms of seeing our granddaughter grow up. Ties in with finally getting a four wheeled vehicle in my 30's after a couple of decades and a million miles + on two wheels, and for those who remember the 60's or earlier, wearing a lap and shoulder belt becoming common if not the law.

[Randall]

I'm just one person so I only have a stand alone PC.  I still like to get a new computer every several years.  I don't trust the hardware lasting that long.  It's just me.  I also like to purchase two new external hard drives every couple of years for the same reason.  I would hate to try to access them and learn I can't access them.  Maybe I'm paranoid.  

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

"Maybe I'm paranoid."

No, prepared. The cost of keeping prepared is much cheaper than even one rebuild from lack of backups.