Founder, TCL and Tsinghua Tongfang have announced they will pre-install legal versions of Microsoft's Windows XP operating system into their new computer products.

Windows XP will be installed on five models of Founder's computers, including the Excellence series, S series and Shangqi series. TCL's SHE and S2 series and Tsinghua Tongfang's Zhen'ai T series and Chaoyang series will also include the legal versions of Windows XP.

It is unclear if Microsoft has offered preferential prices to these manufacturers, but with Linux on the rise in China Microsoft must scramble to retain its market leadership.

The companies will begin shipping the computers before the summer.