Microsoft said quarterly profit rose 24 per cent on robust sales of Windows but tempered expectations of a sales rise when its Xbox 360 console debuts in a month.
Net income reached $3.14 billion compared with $2.53 billion a year earlier.
But Shares of the world's largest software maker fell 1.5 per cent in after-hours trading after it set a current-quarter revenue target below Wall Street expectations.
Microsoft forecast revenue in the December-ending quarter of $11.9 billion to $12 billion.
Microsoft will unveil the Xbox 360 on November 22nd. Chief financial officer Chris Liddell said Microsoft aimed for more of a "gradual ramp" of Xbox sales to avoid running out of machines early after the launch.
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said the company's growth prospects remained strong as it prepared for its other product launches, which include new database software and new versions of Windows and Office.