Microsoft is planning to use pop-up warnings to entice Windows XP users to upgrade. The software maker is ending support of XP on April 8th, and will start distributing notices next week to machines running the 12-year-old operating system. Pop-up warnings will appear on March 8th following the monthly patch cycle of Windows Update, and the notification will include a link to Microsoft’s Windows XP end of support site. The pop-up will continue on the 8th of every month unless Windows XP users check the "don’t show this message again" option.

Microsoft is also releasing a free transfer tool later this week that’s designed to migrate data from an old PC to a new device running Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1. The tool, developed by Laplink, will copy files, music, videos, emails, user profiles, and settings from an old PC to a new one. If a blue taskbar and green Start button hasn’t alerted you to the fact you’re running Windows XP, then Microsoft is also launching a sitefor consumers who are unsure whether they have XP or not. Like Microsoft’s support site, it will also encourage Windows XP users to upgrade to Windows 8.1.