On Monday, Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc updated the Windows blog with news that on March 8, 2014, Windows XP customers using the Home or Professional editions will receive an official notification on their desktop screen via Windows Update. This popup will inform them that support for Windows XP will end on April 8, 2014, and will only alert Windows XP customers who have elected to receive updates via Windows Update.
Don't know what version Windows you're running? You're in luck, as Microsoft has also launched AmIRunningXP.com. Immediately, visitors will see if they're running Windows XP or not. If so, the website provides guidance on how to upgrade ahead of the April 8th end of support deadline. There's also now a free tool that will help Windows XP users "move out" of the dying operating system.
According to LeBlanc, the company has partnered with Laplink to create PCmover Express for Windows XP, a free data migration tool. This software will copy files and settings from a Windows XP PC to a new device running Windows 7, Windows 8 and 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," LeBlanc writes.
PCmover Express will be made available in English later this week at WindowsXP.com. Versions in French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish are coming later in March, followed by versions in Korean, Chinese, Russian and Brazilian Portuguese. Can't wait that long? Users can access Laplink's tool in other languages as well via Microsoft's Download Center.
LeBlanc also points to a tool for transferring applications from their old computer called PCmover Professional. This version of Laplink's migration tool costs $59.95 USD.
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