Fare thee well old friend - after six years of faithful service, Windows 7 is being sent to the scrapheap, Digital Spy reports.

Just months after the arrival of Windows 10, Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 7-powered machines will stop being sold in little under a year's time.

That fateful date to add to your diary? October 31, 2016. After that, you're going to have to put up with the tile-based interface of the latest Windows system or jump ship to Mac.

Microsoft broke the news in the latest update to its Windows Lifecycle Fact Sheet page, bringing an end to one of the company's most successful platforms.

While those looking to secure themselves a new Windows 7 machine will have to act relatively quickly, fans of Windows 8 have even less time to play with.

OEMs have been informed that the deadline for selling new Windows 8 machines has been pencilled in for June 30, 2016.