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Windows 7 RC Shutdown Starts Next Month

by - source: Tom's Hardware US

The clock is ticking!

Users still toying with the Release Candidate (build 7100) of Windows 7--unleashed back in May 2009—will begin to see bi-hourly shutdowns beginning March 1. This means that Microsoft's free pre-release will suggest that users upgrade to a retail version, and then automatically shut down the PC every two hours. Let's face it: although the ride was fun, it's now time to pay the cab fare.

Of course, there will be many users trying to hold on until the very last second. That's ok—the software police won't drag you away in handcuffs. Instead, Microsoft will make the Windows 7 experience even more unpleasant (as if shutting down every two hours wasn't bad enough).

According to Ars Technica, June 1 will trigger a "non-genuine experience," thus revoking your Windows 7 license to drive, and removing your favorite wallpaper by replacing the backdrop with the message "This copy of Windows is not genuine" plastered at the lower right corner of the desktop.

Users of the Windows 7 RC will begin to see a kindly reminder starting February 15, letting you know on a daily basis that it's time to pull out the big bucks for the retail version. For consumers who still want to catch a free ride on the Windows 7 express, it's unofficially recommended to locate and install the Windows 7 RTM (build 7600) which was unleashed unto RC users in October 2009.

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buckcm 02/02/2010 1:32 AM
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-5+

I can say it has been a huge difference from XP Pro 64 bit to 7 Ultimate 64 bit in speed and the interface.

kyeana 02/02/2010 1:52 AM
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matt87_50 02/02/2010 1:55 AM
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-8+

lol, still be more bareable than using a Mac!

from XP to win7? TOTALLY worth it. I'm saving up for some hardware so I can get the oem version.

Pei-chen 02/02/2010 1:59 AM
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By bi-hourly, do you mean twice an hour or every two hour? :)

LATTEH 02/02/2010 2:00 AM
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D: i guess i have to go back to XP because i don't have the money to pay for the Win7 os i need 50 more dollars....

Raishi 02/02/2010 2:25 AM
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pei-chen :
By bi-hourly, do you mean twice an hour or every two hour?



Every two hours.

p1n3apqlexpr3ss 02/02/2010 2:34 AM
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There goes my chance or trying out w7... will have to wait to get new pc and get it then..

volks1470 02/02/2010 3:12 AM
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damn, I didn't know it was that soon! Although I think this the first time I will pay a copy of windows because I think it's worth it :)

velocityg4 02/02/2010 5:02 AM
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Dang that sucks. I just don't want to have to go through the process of reinstalling all of my software. The games will take hours to reload. Fortunately I store all my data on a second hard drive (which is in the process of being moved to a server) so I won't have to fiddle with transferring 100's of GB's of data.

blackmancer 02/02/2010 5:07 AM
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If you planned on never taking the machine online, couldn't you just change the date in your BIOS?? or have they actually thought about a product for once????

d-block 02/02/2010 5:12 AM
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this is still around? cut them off!

haunted one 02/02/2010 5:29 AM
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blackmancer :
If you planned on never taking the machine online, couldn't you just change the date in your BIOS?? or have they actually thought about a product for once????



Never take it online? Oh the horror! :O

curnel_D 02/02/2010 7:29 AM
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blackmancer :
If you planned on never taking the machine online, couldn't you just change the date in your BIOS?? or have they actually thought about a product for once????


Actually, this will automatically trigger a non-genuine installation flag on unactivated installations. They don't let you off that easy. :P

JohnnyLucky 02/02/2010 8:32 AM
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Wasn't it made clear up front that free trial was temporary?

randoMIZER 02/02/2010 10:16 AM
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buwish 02/02/2010 11:14 AM
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It's tax refund season- just save use a bit of your refund on a new copy of Windows and you're good to go until W8 comes out in 3 months;)

oldscotch 02/02/2010 11:36 AM
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Just got the family edition delivered today, I might miss the XP compatibility mode, but can't argue with the price.

oldscotch 02/02/2010 11:38 AM
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JohnnyLucky :
Wasn't it made clear up front that free trial was temporary?



Very clear, yeap. Though I thought we had until June or something.

back_by_demand 02/02/2010 11:59 AM
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I ran the 7100 then the 7600 until December then the missus got me the student offer version for £30 for Home Premium.
Some online retailers like Aria can sell the full retail version from around £75.
For god sake, stop being so goddam cheap, stick your hand in your pocket for once every 8 years or so and buy something.

mforce2 02/02/2010 12:00 PM
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Which reminds me I've go to activate my pirated Windows 7. Oops , oh well I said now

kencolestud69 02/02/2010 1:38 PM
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I am still running Build 7002 on one of my 3 partitions. The other 2 partitions are for Fedora and Vista. Win7 for gaming, Fedora for web browsing/office work, and Vista for everything else. I've had the retail version of Win7 since the official release but have been to lazy to install it. Even though, once in a while, I get notified by pop ups that "I may be a victim to counterfeit software". It hasn't affected my gaming, so no worries, until next month when I have to install.

back_by_demand 02/02/2010 1:50 PM
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kencolestud69 :
and Vista for everything else..


For why?
I own a Ferrari for driving to work, a Lamborgini for going to the shops and a rusty 1971 Ford Pinto for everything else?
For god sake install that retail copy of 7 before someone drives into the back of you and you burst into flames...

TheDuke 02/02/2010 1:51 PM
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i bet their is going to be a ridiculous amount of people complaining about the shutdowns even though they should have known this would happen

jgiron 02/02/2010 2:05 PM
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dang, I just installed the Win7 enterprise (from WinXP) to test drive it.
Oh, i was planning on buying the OS in March anyways.

kayawish24 02/02/2010 4:10 PM
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back_by_demand 02/02/2010 5:04 PM
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kayawish24 :
i dont care because i already installed craked windows 7 x64 witout paying any single penny.you can also download cracked and activated windows 7 ultimate x64 from any torrent website.just burn it and use it.it will be activated and you can do updates also.i never payed any money for any micrsoft windows in my PC.from windows 98 to windows 7 all cracked versions.LOLzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Thanks. We all know how to do this already. But cheers for the hot tip.
The rest of us are not a bunch of lowlife wasters that occassionaly pay for things.
By the way, you can get free food too if you rummage through trash bins behind Subway.
Do you do that too?

NapoleonDK 02/02/2010 5:38 PM
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back_by_demand :
For god sake install that retail copy of 7 before someone drives into the back of you and you burst into flames...


Oh man I laughed so hard...

jojesa 02/02/2010 10:29 PM
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If you still want to enjoy Windows 7 and keep your hard earned cash for another 9 months then get the enterprise edition and re-arm it twice. ;)

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