Girl band Bardot launched XP in Australia

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has also launched the Windows XP in New York on Thursday, with Sting playing a free concert in the city's Bryant Park.

Steve Ballmer, the company's chief executive, who was in the UK for the launch, featured in a special cameo role in the video.

"Breaking a world record and launching the software product of the year - what a buzz," he said.

Guinness World Records' senior research Jerramy Fine added: "Michael Jackson may take seven years to bring out an album - but congratulations to Microsoft Windows XP and Electric Soft Parade who've proved technology can help bring talent to life in record-breaking time."

The system is accompanied by the catch-phrase Yes You Can, after it was changed from Learn To Fly in the wake of the US attacks.

Billionaire Gates will be in New York for the XP launch

"There is a huge sense of excitement within Microsoft about the entertainment possibilities Windows XP will open up to PC users." said Chris Lewis, Microsoft's home and retail director.

"And what better way to communicate that power than to break a world record."

Brighton-based The Electric Soft Parade is made up of four members, including brothers Alex and Tom White.

Their demo tape was picked up by radio station XFM and they were quickly signed to independent label db Records.

The single is out on 29 October.

'Impressed'

Drummer Alex, 20, said it was an "amazing buzz" going for the world record.

Girl group Bardot, the Australian equivalent of Popstars winners Hear'Say, launched XP in Sydney.

Microsoft is hoping its XP operating system will revolutionise PC use in the digital age, building on the success of Windows 2000 by enhancing reliability, security and performance.

One of the first customers in line to buy the �79.99 system at Oxford Circus was Preeth Krishnan, 26, a consultant from west London.

"I had read all about it and tried the trial version, which I downloaded from the internet, and thought it was very good," he said.

Simon Bear, 24, from north London, who works in advertising, came to try out the system and said he was impressed and would return to buy it.