Microsoft said that it will halt retail and OEM sales of Windows XP on October 22. This time it is serious. No more extensions. It’s done. Get over it and switch to Windows 7.

If you still want a retail or OEM version of Windows XP, you may want to get that software rather soon, as Microsoft said that it will remove the operating system from retail on October 22. By then, the operating system will have been on sale for a record 9 years and 2 months – or a total of 104 months (the software was launched in August 2001.)

I do assume that Microsoft sticks to its word this time (Windows XP was originally supposed to be phased out in late 2007, but it is still available and simply refused to die. Now we hear that October 22 will be the final date, which is, by the way, also the final date for Windows Vista OEM sales (and I doubt that anyone will request an extension). If you remember October 22 2009 was the day of the first availability of Windows 7.

If you still run Windows XP, Microsoft says that it will provide support until April 8, 2014, provided you run the latest service pack and keep the software up to date (as far as those updates are available.) Windows Vista support, by the way, will end in April 2014 as well.

Microsoft said that the extensions of XP sales were due to the “renaissance” the OS experienced on netbooks, but Windows 7 is now installed on more than 80% of netbooks, which means there is no need for XP anymore. It is also interesting to note that Windows 7 has become the operating system Microsoft hoped for, as it is selling 3 times as fast as Vista and has passed Vista already in market share. Windows XP is still the world’s most popular operating system with a market share somewhere between 50% and 60%, depending on which market research firm you ask.

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