Microsoft has again revised Windows XP’s date with destiny. The kill date for Vista’s predecessor was originally set for June 30 this year, then pushed out to January 31 next year.

Now, the operating sytem will die another day. Again. The new date for XP to shuffle off this mortal coil is June 30, 2009, Microsoft announced Saturday New Zealand time.

Windows XP’s enduring popularity saw its original June 30, 2008 deadline tweaked. After that date, XP disappeared from retail shelves around New Zealand, and around the world, and PC makers stopped offering XP as an option on new PCs.

But home buyers could still get the “old” version of Windows through a loop hole: those who choose the more expensive Ultimate edition of Vista also bought the right to “downgrade” to Windows XP.

And larger businesses on volume license plans were allowed to keep buy XP until January 31, 2009.

Now, Microsoft has announced the January 31 cut-off will only apply to “system builders” or smaller PC assemblers.

Global brands like Dell and HP will be allowed to offer Windows XP right through until June 30 next year – by which time Windows Vista’s successor, Windows 7 will be just months away (the alpha version of Windows 7 will be released October 27).

See also: Keallhauled: I use Vista and I’m okay