According to an update to Microsoft's lifecycle policy, the date when OEMs must stop selling PCs with Windows 7 Professional preinstalled is "not yet established."

Redmond published a cutoff date of October 30, 2014 for all versions of Windows 7 but recanted a few days later.

However, if you are in the market for a new computer and don't want Windows 8, you better hurry. Windows 7 Professional PCs will be available through business sales channels through February 15, 2015, at the very earliest.

According to web analytics firm Net Applications, Windows 7 is easily the most wide spread OS with a 47.49 per cent share.

HP recently advertised that it would resume shipping PCs with either the Home or Pro versions of Windows 7.