Jim Allchin used to give the world free service packs and browsers.

Now he's giving away a Fender American Stratocaster -- worth $850 -- to build up his list of online friends.

Since he left Microsoft as president of the company's platforms group in 2007, Allchin has built a new career as a blues musician, drawing on his Southern roots to compose and release two albums.

To boost his following, he's holding a contest offering the Stratocaster and a guitar lesson via Skype to people who fill out a form on his website and follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his email list or like him on Facebook -- where he has about 3,500 fans.

The contest runs until Feb. 24, after which Allchin may turn his attention to the new preview version of Windows 8 which is appearing on Feb. 29.

Unfortunately he's not offering up his custom Windows XP axe: