China has banned Windows 8 Operating System (OS), the latest product of Microsoft Corporation. This issue of banning Microsoft product is blow to the U.S. technology company which has long been plagued by sales woes in the country.

The Central Government Procurement Center (CGPC) issued the ban to all government agencies not to install Windows 8 to all government computers.

There was no further explanation why China government issued banning of the Microsoft’s latest Operating System but give only a short statement referring to the energy-saving reasons that is posted on its website last week.

According to the official news agency “Xinhua,” the banning issue was to ensure computer security measure knowing that Microsoft has ended support for previous version of the Windows product. Windows XP operating system was most common operating system installed in China.

China has been a long time problem in terms of the product market for Microsoft. Former CEO Steve Ballmer admitted that China is one of the countries having smallest revenue in 2011 for the Microsoft Company. The said report is pointing to the issue of piracy in the country.

Last month, the Microsoft Company has ended their support for their older product the 13-year-old Windows XP in order to adopt the newer version of Windows operating system and to ensure full protection from viruses and hackers.

The decision of banning Windows 8 in the country can hamper Microsoft in pushing of the newest operating system to replace XP.