Sep 9, 2010 06:44 GMT  ·  By

After years when Windows XP remained the most popular choice for a PC operating system, it seems that the OS is finally nearing the end of its life, with even Dell now revealing that it will stop offering it as an option on its computers, the deadline being October 22.

As Microsoft is preparing to phase out development of the Windows XP operating system, makers of PCs have to also give up on it, regardless of how popular it is.

Dell has, apparently, decided it was time for it to take active measures in order to meet Microsoft's deadline, which is October 22.

After that date, the PC supplier will no longer ship systems loaded with Windows XP Home or Windows XP professional.

Such a move should speed up customers' transition to Windows 7, leaving it to them to simply run applications in Windows XP mode if they so require.

October 22 is the last day on which qualified customers will be shipped their orders, though driver support will continue to be provided until December 2012.

As such, the company will stop offering XP orders starting this month, so that all purchasers may receive their devices before the aforementioned date.

“Per Microsoft guidelines regarding Windows XP, system vendors like Dell will no longer be able to ship systems with XP Professional and XP Home after October 22, 2010,” states a company blog post.

“This means that we will stop offering XP as an option for customers starting this month in preparation for next month's deadline. One other important thing to note is that Dell plans to continue Windows XP driver support until December 2012,” the post adds.

After the deadline expires, Dell's Custom Factory Integration service will be the only means by which Windows XP systems will be available to qualified customers.