Not only are they providing a new tool to make sure your data gets off Windows XP to a new install of Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 but you will also see reminders from the company that support for XP is expiring on 08 April 2014.
According to a new post by Brandon LeBlanc on the Windows Experience blog these tools are intended to remind customers that this deadline is quickly approaching and make that transition as straight forward as possible.
Of course, the biggest concern when upgrading any operating system is personal files and settings. No one wants to lose all of that digital information because it usually contains vast chunks of our lives such as pictures, videos and documents that we have collected over the years.
Well Microsoft is ready to help ease that process with a free transfer tool:
To help customers on Windows XP prepare to move to a new PC, we are announcing a free transfer tool that will be available beginning this month. We have partnered with Laplink to provide Windows XP users with a free data migration tool called PCmover Express for Windows XP which copies your files and settings from your Windows XP PC to a new device running Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. This tool will copy your files, music, videos, email and user profiles and settings from your old PC to your new device, transferring across your home or work network, and even enables Windows XP users to customize exactly what they want to bring over to their new device.
The PCmover Express software will be available to download later this week at WindowsXP.com.
If you want to also move your applications from that old Windows XP machine then you will need PCmover Professional which is also developed by Laplink. You can find more details on PCmover Professional at its homepage. Laplink is offering that program at a special discounted price of $23.95, 60% off its normal cost, for Windows XP users exclusively.
The other tool Microsoft is going to use to continue to give Windows XP users a heads-up that the end of support is approaching for the 13 year old OS is a warning on their system:
On March 8th, 2014, Windows XP customers using the Home or Professional editions who have elected to receive updates via Windows Update will receive an official notification on their desktop screen via Windows Update informing them that support for Windows XP will end on April 8th, 2014. . The notification will include a link to our Windows XP End of Support website where Windows XP users can find all the information they need on the end of support for Windows XP and what it means and how they can stay protected against security risks and viruses after April 8th. The notification will reoccur on the 8th of every month unless disabled by the user.
The clock is ticking – are you ready to move?
Check out today’s Keeping an Eye on Tech Newsletter (Edition #8) for additional resources to help with the transition from Windows XP to a more modern OS.
Source: New Windows XP data transfer tool and end of support notifications (Windows Experience Blog )
