Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Microsoft is extending Windows XP support!…in China that is

Mike Epstein
By
windows xp still os for business eastern europe laptop
Edhar/Shutterstock

Microsoft may have ended its support for Windows XP this week, but the OS will continue to receive patches in China. Microsoft will collaborate with Lenovo and Tencent Holdings in an effort to provide support for Windows XP to Chinese users, according to Reuters.

The vast majority of Chinese PC users, roughly 200 million, or 70 percent, are running Windows XP, according to data from Zhongguancun Online. One of the main issues that keeps PC owners in China from upgrading to a more current OS like Windows 8 could be price. A copy of Windows 8 retails for at least $140, or 888 yuan, in China.

Recommended Videos

“For domestic users who continue to use Windows XP before upgrading to a new operating system, we have made it a priority to provide safety protections,” Microsoft told Reuters in an email.

Related

In addition to providing updates, Chinese Windows XP users will also benefit from a pair of 24-hour hotlines. Another partner, Qihoo 360 Technology Co, will assist PC users in China with moves to newer versions of Windows, though it’s unclear whether that includes data migration services.

Chinese consumers aren’t the only ones clutching to Windows XP. Banks and governments that have avoided upgrading, now face potential security issues with their networks. The United Kingdom has reached a deal with Redmond, where it will pay roughly 5.6 million British pounds for an extra year of XP support for the computers used by the nation’s government employees.

This poll indicates that more people would rather stick with Windows XP than move onto Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. For those of you who don’t plan on switching to another OS, we suggest you check out our guide to protecting your data on the newly unsupported Windows XP.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Epstein
Mike Epstein
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Michael is a New York-based tech and culture reporter, and a graduate of Northwestwern University’s Medill School of…
How to find your Windows 11 product key
Windows 11 on a tablet.

Your Windows 11 product key is an important piece of information for your PC. One can think of this long batch of characters as the golden ticket to your Windows 11 experience. And not only does a product key give you access to the full breadth of your PC’s features, but it’s also a digital gatekeeper that won’t let you in if you didn’t properly pay for Windows 11.

Read more
How to remove a login password on Windows 11
A padlock surrounded by keys.

Your password is the first line of defense for your Windows 11 PC, as it protects your files and your important information from being accessed by unauthorized users. But there are some instances where you might want to remove a login password in Windows.

One such instance is when you’re sharing a PC with someone and don’t necessarily have anything that’s private on your system. Though we don’t recommend it, removing the password can also mean faster logins to your PC.

Read more
Windows 11 tips and tricks: 8 hidden settings you need to try
Windows 11 on a tablet.

Windows 11 has been around for quite a while now. The operating system isn't as new as when it first came out in 2021, but many people are still updating it for the first time from Windows 10. Yet whether you're new to Windows 11 or have been using it since launch, there are a few things that you still might want to tweak to get a better experience. Microsoft doesn't have all these settings upfront, but we're here to surface them for you.
Move the Taskbar and Start Menu to the left

One of the biggest differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 is the location of the Taskbar and Start Menu. On Windows 10, the Taskbar and Start Menu are positioned to the left of the screen. Windows 11, though, changes that by moving both to the center. If this annoys you, then you can easily change it back.

Read more