If, like many others, you thought the public availability of Microsoft's Windows 7 Release Candidate was like Christmas come early, you may need to be reminded that the software does eventually expire.
The Release Candidate (RC), made available in May 2009, allowed millions of users to try out a near-final version of Microsoft's latest operating system without charge up until June 1st 2010.
That should mean you have months of free usage remaining - and whilst that's the case, there are a few provisos. Starting next week on February 15th, users running the Windows 7 RC will receive notifications to remind them that their free-to-try software will soon expire.
Following that initial hint, PCs equipped with Windows 7 RC will be automatically shut down every two hours as of March 1st, with Microsoft warning that "during these shutdowns, your work will not be saved". The bi-hourly shutdown will continue to occur through June 1st, the date upon which your desktop wallpaper will be removed and replaced by a message that reads; "This copy of Windows is not genuine".
At this point, the Windows 7 RC will fail to pass genuine validation and will no longer be applicable for the latest security updates or patches.
Users are then likely to be faced by an obvious question; downgrade to Windows XP / Windows Vista, or shell out for a genuine copy of Windows 7? Unfortunately, whichever you choose, it isn't possible to perform an in-place upgrade from the Windows 7 RC, and users will be required to carry out a clean install. Still unsure as to whether or not Windows 7 is for you? Head on over to our multi-part review for a little extra insight.
Are you still running the Windows 7 Release Candidate? If so, head on over to the HEXUS.community forums and let us know if you'll be moving to a genuine copy of Windows 7 or to an alternative operating system.
