The Windows 7 RC expires on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, PCs running Windows 7 RC began shutting down every two hours.

If you’re still running the RC, your PC will continue shutting down every two hours and your files won’t be saved during shutdown. In addition, your wallpaper will change to a solid black background with a persistent message on your desktop. You’ll also get periodic notifications that Windows isn’t genuine. That means your PC may no longer be able to obtain optional updates or downloads requiring genuine Windows validation.

To avoid interruption, please reinstall a prior version of Windows or move to Windows 7. In either case, you’ll need to do a custom (clean) install to replace the RC. As with any clean installation, you’ll need to back up your data then reinstall your applications and restore the data.

Thanks again for helping us test Windows 7

So now you have the option of either backing up all your data and buy Windows 7 and upgrade from the beta version or downgrade to vista or xp , in my case I took my windows 7 install and installed my Intel X-25 M SSD in my computer and partitioned that drive for a new XP Pro install and migrated my important data from windows 7 . Also take advantage of tools like Foxmarks, Carbonite , etc for online back up of data and bookmarks and sites from browsers etc to transfer over to your new OS install.

My personal opinions on the matter is that Microsoft will annoy some users with the whole upgrade phase by shutting down their PC’s every 2 hours and don’t even give you the courtesy of saving your current work. Also complaints of people who are using their windows 7 beta install for projects etc as its their main OS and only have several hours to upgrade of course you can go out and buy a windows 7 CD and carry on though it will still annoy plenty of people and I’m sure hacks around the activation time will be up on the web in a matter of days.

So what are your opinions will you be upgrading to 7 Ultimate or downgrading to XP or vista , for the time being I’ll be on XP till I can get a windows 7 disc then migrate my data over.

Feel free to comment below …

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