Windows XP gets yet another reprieve

Microsoft has confirmed that it will continue to supply major PC manufacturers with Windows XP media for "downgrades" beyond the previous deadline of 31st January, 2009. The move, which reflects the continued popularity of Windows XP and continued resistance to Windows Vista, means that users buying certain Windows Vista systems from large manufacturers can receive a copy of Windows XP along with the system, up until 31st July, 2009.

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Downgrade rights are intended to be limited to businesses, and thus apply only to Vista Ultimate and Vista Business. These systems can be downgraded only to Windows XP Professional. Smaller "system builders" are also excluded from the extension.

While Microsoft will continue distributing media for a longer period, the user' right to downgrade, as documented in the Licence Terms or End-User Licence Agreement (EULA), has no expiry date, according to Microsoft, as long as an authorised copy of Windows XP is used for the downgrade.

Users who downgrade are permitted to shift back to Windows Vista when they are ready, according to Microsoft documentation.

A Microsoft representative said in a statement: "As more customers make the move to Windows Vista, we want to make sure that they are making that transition with confidence and that it is as smooth as possible. Providing downgrade media for a few more months is part of that commitment."

Downgrade rights are nothing new. Business editions of Windows XP - Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition - themselves come with downgrade rights to Windows 2000 Professional.

The availability of Windows XP Professional directly from system manufacturers or retailers ended on 30 June, 2008, although retailers can continue selling the software until they run out of stock.

Since 30 June, system manufacturers have continued to sell machines running Windows XP, but only by selling it as a "factory-downgraded" Windows Vista system. In some cases users are required to pay a fee for the "factory downgrade". Such systems do not seem to be directly affected by the official end of availability of XP via large OEMs: even before 30 June, manufacturers such as Dell and HP had said they would continue selling "factory-downgraded" systems (at the customer's request) well beyond the initial deadline.

There are other exceptions as well. Officially, Microsoft intends to keep on making XP Home Edition available for mini-notebooks or "Netbooks" as well as for low cost desktop PCs or "Nettops" until 30 June 2010, or a year after the availability of the next version of its operating system, whichever comes later. Since Windows 7, Vista's successor, isn't expected to appear until January 2010, XP is likely to remain in existence for netbooks and nettops until at least 2011. Microsoft is also promising to provide updates to plug security-critical holes in Windows XP until at least 2014.

(Matthew Broersma)

(jbe)