The future of Windows XP
The future is here and it's better than ever. Windows Vista is Microsoft's latest operating system with proven benefits over past versions of Windows. Better security, improved productivity—and that's just the beginning.Maybe you're one of the people who haven't tried Windows Vista yet. See the experience in action with the Mojave Experiment where we exposed users to a whole new experience. Studies prove that people love what Windows Vista has to offer, so why not upgrade and see the benefits of Windows Vista today?
An overwhelming majority of Windows Vista customers like it better than their last operating system. Perhaps that's why more than 140 million copies of Windows Vista have already sold, making it the fastest selling operating system in Microsoft history.
Move to Windows Vista with confidence today. The Windows Vista Compatibility Center and the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine whether your hardware and applications are compatible and help you find solutions to problems you might encounter.
We know you love Windows XP and you’re in good company. Hundreds of millions of Windows XP users are fans of the operating system, and many depend on Windows XP to run legacy applications and hardware not yet compatible with Windows Vista. Even though we’re retiring Windows XP, we won’t leave you hanging. Our Microsoft Support Lifecycle explains it all.
You can still buy new PCs and use Windows XP. Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate have downgrade rights that let you return your operating system to Windows XP. We plan to provide support for Windows XP until 2014.
Did you know?
 | Windows Vista now supports 77,000 printers, cameras, speakers, and other devices. In all, over 2.3 million devices are compatible with Windows Vista. |
| Over 2,700 software programs are now certified to work on Windows Vista, including 98 of the top 100 consumer applications. The Windows Vista Compatibility Center alone lists close to 1,000 applications for small businesses that are compatible with Windows Vista—and more are added every day. |
| According to an independent survey, 62% of small businesses said Windows Vista saves them time, and 70% said that it makes them more productive. |
We know there have been lots of questions—and some confusion—about what to do if you still need Windows XP. This page and the FAQs below will help you answer those questions.
Top questions we hear about Windows XP
Why do you have to stop selling Windows XP?
We love that you love Windows XP. We've seen your passion on our website, in e-mails, and through independent online petition drives. Our engineers work hard to build innovative software that empowers our customers, so we're happy we made a difference.
The lifespan of every Microsoft product is carefully mapped from launch to retirement. Windows XP is no exception. We do this to ensure you always get the most out of your PC experience. Read about Windows lifecycle policy.
And another reminder; we're not "pulling the plug" on Windows XP. Although Windows XP won't be sold in stores, Microsoft and its partners will continue to offer technical support for Windows XP for months and years to come. In fact, Microsoft plans to support Windows XP until April 2014.
We're proud of Windows XP, a product that has empowered and entertained hundreds of millions of people in the last eight years. But technology doesn't stand still. And neither can we.
Can I still buy Windows XP now? I'm confused. Some places have it, some don't.
We understand your confusion. On June 30, Microsoft stopped distributing Windows XP as a stand-alone product shrink-wrapped in the store. We'll also stop sending it to Dell, HP, Lenovo and all the other major PC manufacturers who would sell PCs that exclusively run Windows XP.
All and all, Windows XP isn't going to disappear overnight. If you need Windows XP, you can still get it through what we call "downgrade rights" that downgrade a new PC with Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows XP.
Also, you may see devices called Netbooks or ultra-low cost PCs (ULCPC) running Windows XP Home. We intend to sell Windows XP Home for these machines with limited hardware capabilities to run until June 2010. (Read about the ULCPC program on Microsoft Presspass.)
You may even still see copies of the software, or computers pre-loaded with it, as stores and PC makers work through their inventory. Smaller, local PC makers—known in the industry as "system builders"—can continue to sell PCs with Windows XP until January 2009.
I've heard I can get Windows XP through something called "downgrade rights." What are those exactly?
If your business relies on Windows XP, there's still a way to get it. When you buy Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate, you're automatically entitled to return to Windows XP Professional via what we call "downgrade rights."
Downgrade rights do not expire. As more customers make the move to Windows Vista, we want to make sure they’re transitioning smoothly and with confidence. Part of that commitment involves providing downgrade media to OEMs to make the process easier for customers that need to downgrade. Programs like Windows Vista Small Business Assurance ensure our commitment to small business.
If you're interested in learning more about downgrade rights, contact your preferred PC manufacturer.
My business relies on Windows XP. What'll happen if I have technical problems?
We understand some of our customers aren't ready to upgrade their PCs to Windows Vista. Although Windows XP will disappear from stores, we'll continue to offer Extended Support for the operating system until April 2014. For more details, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
Your PC manufacturer can also provide technical support for your PC. Please contact them for more information.
I've heard about two types of Windows XP support—"mainstream" and "extended." What's the difference?
Mainstream Support delivers complimentary and paid support, free security updates, and bug fixes to all Windows customers who purchase a retail copy of Windows XP (i.e., a shrink-wrapped, not pre-installed copy). Mainstream Support for Windows XP will continue through April 2009.
Extended Support delivers free security updates to all Windows customers. Customers can also pay for support on a per incident basis. Extended Support for Windows XP will continue until April 2014. New bug fixes require the Extended Hotfix Support program.
Read more in the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ.
General questions about downgrades
Which versions of Windows Vista have downgrade rights?
Only PCs with Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate pre-installed come with downgrade rights to Windows XP Professional. No other versions of Windows Vista come with downgrade rights.
Why do only Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate have downgrade rights?
We believe a new PC with Windows Vista will provide the best experience, deliver the best results from today's hardware, and work well with the vast majority of hardware and software solutions available today. At the same time, we know that our business customers often use older applications and hardware and may need more time to conduct testing as they prepare to upgrade to newer technologies. That is why we offer downgrade rights through our volume license programs and with Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows Vista Business. Microsoft wants to be sure anyone who needs Windows XP can still obtain it, and they can with these versions of Windows Vista.
What is the general downgrade process?
We try to make downgrading as easy as possible for our customers that need to use Windows XP. The best way is to ask the manufacturer of your PC. They can tell you if your PC will downgrade to Windows XP, supply you with the media to downgrade, and guide you through the process.
How to downgrade if you need to
How should I downgrade?
If you know that you want to downgrade, please contact your computer’s manufacturer. We call this company your Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Only owners of PCs with Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate are eligible to downgrade.
Why should I contact my OEM instead of Microsoft?
There two major reasons to contact your OEM.
Your OEM can supply you with downgrade media (physical CDs) that matches the license on your version of Windows Vista. This will help make the downgrade process problem-free.
Your OEM can help you find Windows XP drivers for your hardware. Not every new PC has been tested for use with Windows XP and your OEM is the one who can advise you on possible compatibility problems and help you resolve issues.
How do I contact my OEM?
To find contact information for your OEM, please visit the Computer Manufacturers' Contact Information page.
What happens if my OEM has no media available or I already have Windows XP installation disc; do I still need to call my OEM?
We recommend that customers always contact their OEM because of potential hardware issues and to make sure that they are using genuine media with a matching license.
However, you may not be able to receive downgrade media promptly, contact your OEM in a timely fashion, or maybe you already have media on hand. In that case, you can still exercise the downgrade rights that come with Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate.
There are certain issues when confronting the downgrade on your own. You will be responsible for providing your own Windows XP Professional installation disc and product key. Both of these must be valid for use on the target machine. For example, you may have a Windows XP disc that is specific to a different piece of hardware. In that case, the downgrade will not be successful and you will need to take specific actions (see below) to resolve the problem.
I had problems with my downgrade, who do I call?
In all cases, we recommend that you first call your OEM to obtain both downgrade media and hardware-specific support for your situation. However, there will be times when you will need to contact Microsoft, generally in regards to product activation.
However, you may not be able to receive downgrade media promptly, contact your OEM in a timely fashion, or maybe you already have media on hand. In that case, you can still exercise the downgrade rights that come with Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate.
One of the most common issues for customers is mistakenly using a copy of Windows XP that is already in use on another PC. If this is the case, then product activation and the downgrade will fail. If your OEM is unable to assist you, they will refer you to a Microsoft representative who can help guide you through the downgrade process where your OEM has left off.
