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Windows 7 RCs Shut Down To Force Updates
nk497 writes "The release candidate for Microsoft Windows 7 will expire June 2010, and the software giant will let users know they need to pay to upgrade by shutting down the system every two hours for three months. According to Microsoft: "The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you'll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You'll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use.""
about 4 seconds...
3... 2... 1....
File this under already announced before RC1 was released to the public, and file a second copy under you get what you pay for.
MS has been upfront about this since before they pushed the RC.
I'm damn sure there was a warning in the giant pages of stuff I had to read before I was given the W7 RC. Certainly, I read this and went "Erm, yeah..."
On top of which, it's always been very clearly "Do NOT install on a production system, this is for testing only". If it wiped my drive wholesale, it wouldn't be a catastrophe, because it's not on a system I can't trivially re-install. Methinks he didn't really read all the details...
When I installed Vista on a used laptop it didn't recognize the Vista CD Key on the laptop and wouldn't let me log in to the system. Only thing it would display is "YOUR KEY IS INVALID. PLEASE ENTER A VALID KEY OR CALL... (etc)". Safe mode didn't work either.
First thought that came to mind is that you might've been using a Retail disk for an OEM install. While I've seen OEM disks from different PC makers work on other brands, I've yet to see a Retail version work with an OEM serial number.
Don't tell me to get a life. I'm a gamer; I have LOTS of lives!
>How many "data files" will it make that are Windows 7 only, making return to XP impossible? None.
Don't take life so seriously. No one makes it out alive.
Start Button -> (Right Click) Computer -> Advanced System Settings -> Perfomance -> Adjust for best perfomance
Actually, I think just unchecking Use Visual Styles does the trick.
I'm starting to think GNU is the problem with "GNU/Linux" these days.
The "easy transfer tool" that they've included in the RC should take care of that handily. I used it when installing over XP. It's as simple as hooking up an appropriately capacious external drive, selecting the directories containing applications/data that you want migrated, and hitting "Go".
Once the Win7 install is up and running, just run the "easy transfer tool", select the backup file that was created, and hit "Go" again. Worked very well.
You may want to get outside and tone the nerd-rage down some.
I don't know why you got modded up for this, it's wrong. There certainly is a difference with OEM discs. They include a license certificate that matches the OEM BIOS. This is how they can install with no activation and a generic product key. It's also a popular way to pirate Vista, as it can't be blacklisted and will always validate as genuine.