Microsoft has extended the shelf life for its Windows XP software by five months.

The decision means that the six-year-old operating system will now be available until 30 June 2008 before it is taken off the shelves to make way for Vista.

A statement on Microsoft's website said that because of customer feedback it now realised that the original decision to make XP available for only a year after the Vista launch was a “little ambitious.”

The software giant added the additional few months would help customers “that needed more time to make the switch to Vista.”

The XP date change applies to retailers and other manufacturers who sell Microsoft products. However, there is good news for those wishing to purchase a new PC with the XP software installed.

Mike Nash, corporate vice president of Windows product management, said: “Our plan was and continues to be that our system builder partners will be able to offer Windows XP until 30 Jan, 2009.”

Windows Vista, had a staged release between November 2006 and late January 2007 and since then Microsoft had sold more than 60 million licences for the new operating system.

However, in April this year, after PC maker Dell has switched almost all its computers to Vista, it was forced by customers to re-start sales of computers with XP installed.

Microsoft has also extended the availability of the cut-down version of XP, called Starter Edition, until 30 June 2010 as a result of increased demand for the software to run on low-powered devices made specifically for the developing world.

A representative for PC World told Computeractive that the extended shelf life was a “Sensible measure given the success of Windows XP as an operating system and a clear example of Microsoft acting as a customer focused organisation.”

However he said the retail store would consider to focus on Vista. "It offers the most secure and feature-rich option for customers.”