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Windows XP End-Of-Sales...
Microsoft announced that it would discontinue selling Windows XP through its sales channels. In industry terms this is called "End-Of-Sales" (EOS). The last day Microsoft Authorised OEM Distributors could purchase Windows XP from Microsoft was officially announced as January 31, 2009. [For major PC manufacturers, the EOS date was June 30, 2008]. OEM Distributors could continue to sell Windows XP to their system builder customers subsequent to January 31, 2009, while they worked through their "existing inventory". In practice, ongoing inventory was available through most of 2009.

At present (early 2010), Windows XP Professional remains available exclusively through the Embedded Systems channel, specifically for specialised computing equipment for which Windows 7 is unsuitable due to hardware or software limitations. General business and consumer PCs do not qualify in this category, and must be supplied with a Windows 7 licence. However, users may elect to install Windows XP Professional on new PC systems if they already own a Windows XP Professional licence and installation media.

Downgrade Rights to Windows XP (or Windows Vista)

Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate include downgrade rights that enable users to purchase a new PC with a Windows 7 licence, but install Windows XP or Windows Vista instead. Windows 7 can be installed later if desired.

>>> See our detailed Microsoft Windows 7 Downgrade Rights page.