Yesterday was the first anniversary of the release of Windows 7. In the past year, Windows 7 sold 240 million copies. It is the fastest selling operating system ever, and the current number of Windows users worldwide has reached 1.2 billion. Of the 1.2 billion Windows users, or that Windows can have 1.2 billion users today, Windows XP has made a huge contribution. However, starting from yesterday, OEM OEMs will not be able to pre-install Windows XP on new machines. Netbooks are the last type of device that Microsoft allows to pre-install Windows XP, but as early as April 2008, Microsoft clearly stated that starting from October 22nd, 2010, newly-produced netbooks will not be able to be pre-installed with XP. This means that ordinary consumers cannot buy PCs preinstalled with Windows XP on the market.
Although the new machine can no longer be pre-installed XP, but this does not mean the end of the XP era. Microsoft still allows Windows users to downgrade the system to XP. Although no specific deadline is mentioned, it is analyzed that it is still feasible to downgrade XP by 2015. In addition, SP3 is the last service pack for Windows XP and its support deadline is April 8, 2014. Prior to this, Microsoft will continue to provide upgrades for Windows XP SP3, that is, before April 8, 2014, Microsoft will continue to release security patches for SP3.