Microsoft to end support for Windows XP on April 9

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Microsoft Corp Japan will end support for its popular Windows XP software on April 9. The company will no longer provide anti-virus software support for XP such as monthly security patches and system updates.

XP was launched in Japan to great fanfare in 2001 and has been a big success in Japan.

Although Microsoft made the announcement a year ago, many companies have still not upgraded their Windows operating systems. According to a local research institute, when Microsoft made the announcement last April, about 33% (or approximately 77 million computers) of all computers in Japan were using Windows XP. Of those, 40% were in business use. Currently, Microsoft estimates that roughly 20% of all PCs in Japan still use XP. Company officials say that businesses have been hesitant to upgrade to avoid the cost of replacing computers.

According to a survey conducted by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry last October, about 37% of local governments’ PCs won’t be updated by the April 9 deadline. Local governments say it will take at least a few months to shift to newer PCs as much of their administrative work depends on XP software including residential and taxation data.

In the meantime, Microsoft is holding seminars to help companies shift to newer PCs while it offers an option to postpone payment for the cost of upgrading until after April.

As for individuals, although it is much easier for them to update their PCs cost-wise, they do not seem to see any advantage in it other than stronger security, said Microsoft. However, the company warns that an upgrade is crucial as most of them use mainly web browsers and emails which are vulnerable to recent cyberattacks.

Microsoft strongly recommends anyone with a computer using XP to first download Windows Upgrade Assistant to check whether your PC is applicable for Windows 8.1. If applicable, you just need to follow the procedures on Windows Tutorial on their homepage. If not, you are required to purchase a new Windows 8.1 PC.