The Windows 7 RC1 countdown of doom begins

If you’re still running the release candidate of Windows 7 that was made available as a free download last year, now is the time to think about upgrading to the full version of the operating system.

Windows 7 RC1 was only ever intended as a limited trial for testing purposes and, starting from 15th February, the countdown to its expiry begins (the free beta version expired on 1st August 2009).

So, in two weeks’ time, anyone still using Windows 7 RC1 will see an on-screen reminder in the Taskbar about the operating system’s imminent expiration. Then, starting on 1st March, Windows 7 RC1 will automatically restart every two hours. The restarts cannot be postponed or interrupted and any unsaved work will be lost as a result.

On 1st June, Windows 7 RC1 will revert to “non-genuine” version of the operating system, which means that the Desktop will turn black and Windows updates that require validation cannot be downloaded.

Windows 7 RC1 won’t actually stop working after 1st June, but it will be more or less unusable and the only solution is to upgrade to a full version of the operating system. And in this case, “upgrade” means a “clean install” that saves your documents, but wipes any installed software.

The cheapest version of Windows 7 is the Home Premium Upgrade Edition at around £65. If you don’t qualify for an upgrade version, then the full version of Windows 7 Home Premium costs £95.

Here’s the full breakdown of the Windows 7 RC expiration process from Microsoft:

Windows 7 RC expiration

Effective June 1, 2010, Windows 7 RC will expire.

To continue using your computer, you should prepare to install the retail release version of Windows 7 or install an earlier version of Windows before the June 1, 2010 expiration date. You will be unable to upgrade from Windows 7 RC to the retail release version of Windows 7. However, you can back up or transfer your data to your next or previous operating system.

Windows 7 RC expiration functionality

Effective February 15, 2010, the expiration notification process begins:

• Windows 7 RC users receive an expiration notification in the task bar one time per day.
• Windows 7 RC users are presented with the Notification Wizard one time every four hours and then one time every hour.
• Effective March 1, 2010, Windows 7 RC enters the next phase of expiration:
• Expiration notifications in the task bar continue.
• Computers that are running Windows 7 RC restart every two hours.

Important — When the computer restarts, your work will not be saved.

Effective June 1, 2010, Windows 7 RC expires:

• Windows starts to a black desktop.
• Windows 7 RC users are presented with a Windows Activation screen. The screen states that the Windows that you are running is not genuine.
• Computers that are running Windows 7 RC restart every two hours.

[ Windows Team Blog]