Microsoft Offers Free Data Transfer Tools Ahead Of Windows XP Deadline

Microsoft will make a free data transfer tool available to Windows XP users as part of its efforts to encourage those still running the 12 year old operating system to make the jump to Windows 8 before support ends on 8 April.

The company has partnered with Laplink to create PCmover Express for Windows XP, which will copy files such as music, video, email and user profiles from an old machine to a new one, which will be made available in English later this week via Microsoft’s Download Center.

It will eventually be made available in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Russian and Portuguese, and those wishing to transfer applications will be able to take advantage of a special price for Laplink’s PCmover professional.

Windows XP migration

Windows XP users who have opted to receive Windows Updates will receive an on-screen notification on 8 March, informing them that they have just one month to upgrade before support ends, and this notification will reoccur on the eighth day of every month unless switched off.

And just in case users are unaware of which version they are currently running, they can visit amirunningxp.com to be told whether they are running Windows XP or not in an alarmingly large font.

It is estimated that a third of the world’s desktop PCs currently run Windows XP, meaning that the estimated cost for businesses upgrading to Windows 7 or 8 is not insignificant, and it is likely that many machines will not be updated at all. TechWeekEurope columnist Wayne Rash has also found that migrating from Windows XP to Windows 8 is far from easy, even if you want to.

Following a backlash from users, Microsoft has promised to provide a basic level of cyber security protection until July 2015, while a number of major Chinese IT firms have promised to allow their customers to continue to safely use the system beyond the 8 April deadline.

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