Fans of Microsoft's operating system set to be pulled off store shelves in June have started a Save XP Web petition, gathering since signatures from die-hard XP users who want Microsoft to keep selling XP until the next version of Windows is released.

Technology journalist Galen Gruman started a Save XP Web petition, gathering since January more than 100,000 signatures and thousands of comments.

On the petition site's comments section, some users proclaimed they will downgrade from Vista to XP - an option available in the past to businesses, but now open for the first time to consumers who buy Vista Ultimate or Business editions - if they need to buy a new computer after XP goes off the market.

"So what to do? Let Microsoft decide where your personal and enterprise software "lives"? Or send a loud and clear message that you don't want to move?", Glen writes in its blog.

"We're going for the loud-and-clear option. Join us, and tell Microsoft that you want to keep XP available indefinitely. Not for another six months or a year but indefinitely," he added.

Visitors of Glen's blog used the comments section to rail against the very idea that Microsoft has the power to enforce the phase-out from a stable, decent product to one that many consider worse, while profiting from the move. Many threatened to leave Windows for Apple or Linux machines.

Users mainly complain about Vista's hefty hardware requirements, its less-than-peppy performance, occasional incompatibility with other programs and devices and frequent, irritating security pop-up windows.

Microsoft already extended the XP deadline once, but it shows no signs it will do so again. Microsoft is aware of the petition, it said in a statement to The Associated Press, and "will continue to be guided by feedback we hear from partners and customers about what makes sense based on their needs."