Windows 10 is set to be released to the masses at the end of July, based on comments by the chief executive of AMD.

Lisa Su was speaking on an earnings call to discuss AMD's first-quarter financials for 2015 and appeared accidentally to reveal the date in response to a question about the firm's guidance for the second quarter.

"With the Windows 10 launch at the end of July, we are watching the impact of that on the back-to-school season, and expect that it might have a bit of a delay to the normal back-to-school season inventory build-up," she said.

It is unlikely that Su was meant to reveal the date as Microsoft has previously given a date for Windows 10 only as in the "summer". This would make Su's date of late July appear accurate.

Windows 10 will launch in 190 countries and 111 languages. Microsoft may issue more information on the expected launch date at its Build conference next week in San Francisco.

Microsoft has started preparing its user base for the Windows 10 arrival. A recent patch for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 added the ability to notify users when Windows 10 is available.

Windows 10 has already been seen as a marked improvement on the current Windows 8 operating system, by moving away from the tile interface that failed to impress and returning to the more familiar desktop setup known to millions.

Microsoft will hope that this entices people to upgrade or buy new systems, as the ancient Windows XP operating system still boasts a high user base, despite support for the platform ending over a year ago.

V3.co.uk