Microsoft is to add a further six months to the retail life of its XP operating system.

Vendors will now be able to offer XP as an option with new computers to July 31st 2009.

Sales of XP were cut off to original equipment manufacturers earlier this year, but some vendors were allowed to include copies as "downgrade" options or as a package with computers running Windows Vista.

The original cut off date had been set as January 31st 2009, while netbook manufacturers allowed to offer XP to 2010, as the smaller machines are said to not cope as well with the demands of the Vista operating system.

Announcing the decision to stop selling XP as of June this year, Microsoft said its commitment to innovation meant tough choices had to be made.

It said support for XP will be provided to 2014 and pointed out that Windows Vista is the fastest-selling operating system in the firm's history.ADNFCR-1220-ID-18812247-ADNFCR
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