Windows XP users to get free data transfer tools (and nag screens)

It’s only just under a month until Windows XP support ends on the 8th April, and Microsoft is doing everything it can to persuade people to move away from the venerable OS. The latest step is releasing a free data transfer tool to help people migrate from XP to a newer operating system.

Developed in conjunction with Laplink, PCmover Express for Windows XP copies files and settings from XP to a new device running Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. The software will be available later this week from WindowsXP.com.

Those people that want to move apps, as well as settings, can buy PCmover Professional for 60 per cent off.

For those that haven’t upgraded, it’s nag time. Microsoft has said that from 8th March, anyone using Windows XP Home or Professional and using automatic updates via Windows Update, will get nag screens. These say, “Windows XP End of Support is on April 8th, 2014”. The Window then prompts people to click a link for more information. It’s good to see that there’s a checkbox to disable further messages.

Finally, Microsoft has a new website to help people tell which version of Windows they’re using. Just go to AmIRunningXP.com and the website tells you if you’ve got XP or not. This is probably overkill for a lot of people, but it may be useful for the less technically savvy friends and relatives that you might have.

Of course, there are those people running computers that are too old or too slow to be upgraded, or simply people that are happy with Windows XP and don’t want to upgrade. Microsoft isn’t catering for them, simply saying that they must upgrade, but we don’t think that this is necessarily true. While there are risks in running an OS that isn’t being updated you can, at least in the short-term, put in protection. Read how to keep Windows XP secure for more information.