Microsoft has allowed HP an extension to its existing rights to continue selling the aging Windows XP OS on the company's business desktops, workstations, and notebooks in place of Windows 7.

Microsoft will allow PC OEMs to structure similar downgrade OS SKUs for Win 7 Professional once available, said HP.

Microsoft only allows Windows XP Pro or Windows XP Tablet to be bundled with new PCs as restore media which the company refers to as an XP downgrade.

The Windows 7 Professional to XP Pro downgrade OS will also discontinue on April 30th 2010, said HP.

Microsoft may also grant more extensions to other manufacturers including Acer and Dell.

Electronics Microsoft