![]() In some cases, this may be true, at least for the short term. Too many individuals or small businesses will claim that they can't afford the upgrade(s). I will always encourage someone in this situation to upgrade to a newer version of the package, or replace it with a more recent alternative. That aside, when it comes to older applications that are past their prime, let alone EOL, presuming I know something about the package, I will provide whatever support I can - with the proviso, up front before I touch anything, that the issue(s) may be beyond what can be done with an old package on a newer OS, so I can't make any promises or guarantees. for DOS. working on their old XP machine. I had someone ask me the other day if I'd be able to get their old copy of. I've set a few up on DOSBox so we can run 64-bit Windows on all of our workstations and keep these dinosaurs who want to use extinct software happy. Users don't want to hear that, they want to use what they've been using since before I was born. I haven't really found any good replacement software, but i suspect an excel spreadsheet could get the job done. Some engineers at my office have some old 16-bit DOS programs for simple calculations that they want to use. It worked on Windows 7 32 bit machines, not 64 bit machines though. Last job, the company had a DOS base software with a copyright date of 1983 on it. Generally, I do what I can to keep it running, but always give the disclaimer that one day I won't be able to keep it running so please start looking for a replacement now. I'm not an MSP so my situation is different, but I do try to support some old software for my users. Someone coming from Office 2000 or 2003 should feel right at home. If I were you, I'd try to push this user towards LibreOffice or OpenOffice. I had a lot of respect for them, and they maintain a lot of high-profile, high-dollar businesses in the area.ĭo you support whatever your clients want and rake in money by happily letting them make bad choices? Do you only support clients that make good choices, and work to help keep them on track and successful? They provided us with a list of recommended actions (which almost perfectly aligned with the goals I had been pushing for with management) and apologized that they couldn't work with us. ![]() Their business model didn't include supporting an IT Department with so many deficiencies. The new MSP actually declined to work with us. I needed to be rid of the mediocre support and "planning team" that had helped get the business into shambles, so I went shopping for a new MSP. Getting management to do anything was a struggle, and the existing MSP was delighted to support a failing system as it meant more hours for their techs and more money in their pockets. I was in the middle of trying to realign the business IT infrastructure after it had been neglected for years. Software (Office 2003 in AutoCAD versions from 2009).Servers (two running unsupported versions of Microsoft Server, 6 that were current).Desktops (98% current, a couple old XP workstations in remote areas).Infrastructure (Cat5e cables, ancient 3COM & Netgear switches, one modern Cisco managed switch).The "best" MSP procedure I've been through (as a client) involved their sales guy tying in a technician to review our network, software, practices, and policies. Problem is, at some point, they're going to blame you for their problems - even if they created them. Every business needs support, even the ones that choose to run antiquated and unsafe software. Good luck overcoming the above: that's entirely Microsoft's fault for not listening to the PC desktop users but going off on the all things must run on a cell phone tangent of theirs. So as a Microsoft Gold Partner you need to provide them with a compelling reason to move to the new version of Office. Seriously when your users can perform an Office task literally in their sleep and then comes Microsoft changing things for the sake of change you may better understand the latest versions of Office made for a cell phone rather than a business desktop PC. More cost just to have the latest version that brings absolutely ZERO in increased productivity and all kinds of costs and risks. Then you get to custom macros or other automated customization that may not work in the newer version of Office. ![]() Wait, I have to pay to re-train my users and they are on the clock doing NOTHING productive while in training? So you are a wizard at actually using Office 2000 and can explain each and every feature Microsoft made more difficult to use or removed in later versions of Cell Phone Office? (Aka '10 '16 and that label is from the limited it sucks color choices alone.) At the end of the day it saves money to keep using a program that does the job, save the re-training costs, and GASP! save the software license cost of the needless upgrade that's just going to cause your company's power users trouble and expense. ![]()
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