Microsoft will start selling a stripped-down version of Windows in South Korea this week which doesn't include its media player or instant message software.

The stripped down version of Windows XP is required so Microsoft can fulfill promises made to Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC). The KFTC ruled in December that Microsoft must pay $34m and provide a version of XP without certain features. The ruling is not dissimilar to the European Commission case, but Microsoft has described it as even more severe.

Microsoft appealed the decision in March but lost.

The first complaint about Microsoft came from Korean portal Daum, but Microsoft paid it $30m to go away in November 2005.

Microsoft is still waiting to hear the verdict of its appeal against the European Commission anti-trust decision. ®