Microsoft Corp. reminded adamant Windows XP users that they only have two more years before the company suspends all security updates and hotfixes. Windows XP will only get updates until April 8, 2014 and Microsoft reminded those die-hard XP users that it's about time to let go and upgrade to Windows 7.

Microsoft launched the popular Windows XP operating software in 2001 and since then the hardy OS has been plugging along despite its age. Microsoft stopped selling retail copies of Windows XP in 2008 but there are still millions of users around the world that still use the aging system. According to StatCounter over a third of PCs in use today still run XP and it was only last October 2011 that Windows 7 overtook XP in terms of global usage. Many XP users reside in developing countries but there are still a few businesses and even large enterprises that still use Windows XP. In the U.S. about 22% of all computers still run Windows XP. Research firm Gartner estimates that there are about 72 million users using the business version of XP.

Microsoft is about to put an end to XP because when April 8, 2014 rolls around, Microsoft will stop supporting XP and Office 2003. In a blog post on Monday, Microsoft spokeswoman Stella Chernyak said corporate users should stop holding on this relic and transfer their business to Windows 7 and Office 2010.

"Windows XP and Office 2003 were great software releases for their time, but the technology environment has shifted. Technology continues to evolve and so do people's needs and expectations. Modern users demand technologies that fit their personal workstyle and allow them to stay productive anywhere anytime, while businesses have an ever increasing need to protect data and ensure security, compliance and manageability. It is in a company's - and its employees' - best interest to take advantage of the modern Windows and Office software that is designed with these needs in mind," wrote Chernyak in the blog.

Chernyak also warns users who want to wait until Microsoft releases Windows 8 before upgrading that they should change operating systems as soon as possible.

"We don't recommend waiting. Not only is it important for companies to complete deployment before support runs out, but they should also be aware that by upgrading to Windows 7 and Office 2010 today they can gain substantial results today while laying the foundation for future versions of these products. And with over 525 million Windows 7 licenses sold since its release, many customers are already taking advantage of everything Windows 7 has to offer."