Windows 7 RC to shut down bihourly from March

Author: Tim Smalley
Published: 12th May 2009
Comments (25) Stumble
Windows 7 RC to shut down bihourly from March

Windows 7 RC will start shutting down bihourly from 1st March 2010, three months before the software expires.

An eagle-eyed reader pointed us to a Microsoft webpage which outlines the shutdown strategy for both the Windows 7 Beta and Release Candidate.

Microsoft says that the operating system will automatically inform you that your licence is about to expire and then two weeks later it will shut down your PC every two hours until the key expires.

For the Windows 7 Beta, this will start on 1st July 2009 before the 1st August expiration while the Windows 7 Release Candidate will start bihourly shutdowns from 1st March 2010 ahead of its 1st June timeout.

While this means both the beta and RC aren't in a fully functional state until the original expiration date, the demo versions of the OS are still mostly usable until then.

When you consider the fact that, by the time the Windows 7 RC starts its three month count down to expiration, the full Windows 7 release will have been available for at least three months (and more likely four or five), it's hard to understand what the fuss is all about.

Discuss in the forums.
Quote Paradigm Shifter 12th May 2009, 13:58
Quite. I don't understand what the fuss is about, either. Microsoft are actually being quite generous in terms of allowing the test builds to continue functioning after release of the full OS. And 'two hour shutdown' gives a window of opportunity to get data off safely before a reinstall... even if you've ignored the functioning deadline warnings.
Quote Fod 12th May 2009, 14:00
Please. The Inquirer? THEY don't even take themselves seriously. It's like The Onion, but without humour.
Quote Jenny_Y8S 12th May 2009, 14:04
Let's talk about why ms is doint all this...

Vista is a pretty good OS
Windows 7 is a pretty good OS (Hey it shares more than a few similarities with vista!)

Vista got a real bad rap, so many people cried "Rubbish!"

So give away 7, all the people who cried "Rubbish!" rush out and blag their "freebie". They get the same warm glow they get from a well found torrent but it's all legal!

And then you have people using 7, they realise it kind of just works OK if you don't have anything odd and incompatible (Exactly like 95, 98 ,XP & Vista before it behaved)

Am I using 7? No, vista pro + ultimate do me fine for now (But I do have it on a VM and would you believe it? It works fine!)

Will I upgrade? If it's in release state when I next to a rebuild probably yes.
Quote smc8788 12th May 2009, 14:05
I didn't even know there was a fuss about it. It was very clearly displayed on the main Microsoft Windows 7 download page, so I automatically assumed everyone knew about it.

Not reading the small print before you download and install pre-release software on you system is asking for trouble in my view. Luckily, this time it's not a big deal.
Quote Yemerich 12th May 2009, 14:19
Vista IS rubbish.. At least my Ultimate 64. Not even a proper driver for the scanner!
Quote Krikkit 12th May 2009, 14:19
Quote:
Originally Posted by smc8788
I didn't even know there was a fuss about it. It was very clearly displayed on the main Microsoft Windows 7 download page, so I automatically assumed everyone knew about it.

Not reading the small print before you download and install pre-release software on you system is asking for trouble in my view. Luckily, this time it's not a big deal.

I thought everyone knew about that too.

Tbh they've been incredibly generous on this one, people have nearly a year to use the new OS for free.
Quote Bauul 12th May 2009, 14:25
Lol, I hadn't even realised anyone was complaining about the RC.

Oh, no, it's one person on the Inq. Hardly "a fuss".

I think anyone worth their salt appreciates the actually genuine decent package Microsoft is offering. Yes it's for PR purposes and for godwill gestures to get the IT market back on their side, but when it's a genuinely good offering, why not run with it?
Quote proxess 12th May 2009, 14:39
One question. Will we be able to upgrade from Beta or RC to Final without having to format?
Quote Stuey 12th May 2009, 14:46
Man, that Inquirer author has an attitude problem.

Also, I didn't know that this was "news" - MS discloses the time-limitations of the RC on or before the download page.

Gosh, now I'm pissed off at that guy's entitlement issues.
Quote ch424 12th May 2009, 14:48
Quote:
Originally Posted by smc8788
I didn't even know there was a fuss about it. It was very clearly displayed on the main Microsoft Windows 7 download page, so I automatically assumed everyone knew about it.

Yeah, I thought it was pretty obvious too...
Quote lona 12th May 2009, 14:55
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yemerich
Vista IS rubbish.. At least my Ultimate 64. Not even a proper driver for the scanner!

So will be 7!

Your scanner support is rubbish, not Vista.
Quote Turbotab 12th May 2009, 14:58
Quote:
Originally Posted by ch424
Yeah, I thought it was pretty obvious too...

Stupidity has no limits.
Quote yakyb 12th May 2009, 15:09
Quote:
Vista IS rubbish.. At least my Ultimate 64. Not even a proper driver for the scanner!

how is that microsofts fault
Quote p3n 12th May 2009, 15:30
Eagle eyed? It said it as you clicked download on the RC...
Quote perplekks45 12th May 2009, 16:01
Quote:
Originally Posted by proxess
One question. Will we be able to upgrade from Beta or RC to Final without having to format?
You can update from Beta to RC but you have to manipulate one text file on the installation disc before you can do it. I don't remember the details but I'm sure Dr. Google can help you there. ;)

And yes, MS clearly said that this'll happen on their download page PLUS that is pretty similar to what Vista's RC did. So I really don't get it why that idiot at the Inquirer is bitching about it.
Oh, and by the way:

IT IS FREE SO STOP MOANING!!!
Quote dyzophoria 12th May 2009, 16:45
the shutdown will remind the average joe next year that "hey you are using beta software, come and get the real deal now" lol, seriously its a right thing to do for MS's part, even though a large percentage of computers run windows, a large percentage of that "large percentage" are really just everyday average joe users who quite often opens that "Medication" email. so its a nice touch for MS to remind that large percentage lol
Quote leexgx 12th May 2009, 17:02
The Inquirer is bad site , thay report crap
Quote frontline 12th May 2009, 19:13
The length of availability of the release candidate is impressive, i just hope that the upgrade prices for the final release are a lot more palatable than the Vista retail versions were...
Quote DragunovHUN 12th May 2009, 19:53
Rights? What rights? What's the problem? Who said you have the right to use Windows 7 for free forever?

You get to try an OS for free for a whole YEAR, and this from MICROSOFT. And someone still complains? What's with people these days? WHAT THE HELL!
Quote naokaji 12th May 2009, 20:29
Give people free stuff and they still complain? Human greed knows indeed no boundaries.

Seriously though, unless you want to pay more taxes to cover the social security costs caused by ms shutting down due to not earning money you might as well just say thank you for almost a year of free windows 7 and then go buy the damn thing.
Quote MajestiX 13th May 2009, 03:18
improper drivers were the major cause of BSOD, microsoft did everyone a favour by signing drivers (and pocketing extra on the side). It is then the manufacturers job to update their drivers to required standards, not microsofts.
Quote chicorasia 13th May 2009, 16:48
I bet £10 that MS wil forget to disable the automatic shutdown on the rush to release Windows 7.
Quote perplekks45 13th May 2009, 17:48
You know it's built-in, right?
Quote ParaHelix.org 15th May 2009, 08:51
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yemerich
Vista IS rubbish.. At least my Ultimate 64. Not even a proper driver for the scanner!

Come on now, are you expecting Microsoft to run to your scanner manufacturer and say "Please can we make a driver for you?". I think not. Don't blame the operating system for a lack of your scanners manufacturer support. Please understand who makes what before ranting on at Microsoft for something that they have no responsibility for. As said above, Microsoft, though they do charge for it, sign drivers but only IF the manufacturer sends them to Microsoft, this assures they are compatible with the operating system. End of.
Quote perplekks45 15th May 2009, 15:41
But that is the main problem with Vista: Bad driver support. And MS gets the blame. I won't say Vista is the Holy Grail of OS but it's nowhere near as bad as people make it.
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