After 30 of June, there are no more shrink-wrapped or OEM licenses will be available for retailers, computer makers, and others to order. (Vendors can continue to sell by June 30 any XP licenses they ordered from Microsoft, but when they run out of those, they can’t get more to sell.)  InforWorld had lauched an event to help save Windows XP and get 70,000 signatures, but although they get million of signatures also will not affect Microsoft to change their decision.

Now there is a way to have Microsoft Windows XP Professional is by “downgrade” from Microsoft Vista Ultimate or Microsoft Vista Business. If you are addicted with Windows XP and you want additional upgrades or full packages, you have to stock up before the deadline. Retailers also can order their Windows XP shrink-wrapped box until July 1 only. At the same times, user who own an installation CD and want to own another license for second computer can buy XP licenses online from Microsoft website but not after that date.

Nowadays, people who already bought Microsoft Windows Vista has two choice to get Windows XP. One is buy FPP (Full Packages Product) XP license and install it over vista.

The other is to “downgrade” to Windows XP Professional with a Windows XP installation CD. Essentially, Microsoft lets you use your new Vista license for an XP Pro install. You have such “downgrade rights“, however, only if you bought Vista Business or Vista Ultimate. Unfortunately, you cant run Windows XP and Windows Vista at the same time which means if you install Windows XP then you cannot use the same CD Key to install Windows Vista in the same PC.

Also note that any version of Windows preinstalled on a PC is licensed only for that computer and cannot be transferred to a different machine, so you cannot use such “old” licenses on new PCs, even if you no longer use the old hardware. But you can use your old XP discs under the “downgrade rights” conditions above.

[Via InforWorld]