Windows 7 Release Candidate nears its use-by date

Still running Windows 7 Release Candidate? From Monday the OS will automatically shut down every two hours, taking any unsaved work with it.

Microsoft's most widely-installed beta software is nearing its use-by date. Ten long months after the Windows 7 Release Candidate made its debut, and four months after the long-awaited OS hit the streets, time is running out for RC build 7100.

As of Monday, March 1st, any PCs till running Windows 7 RC will automatically shut down every two hours. And if that wasn't inconvenience enough to convince penny-pinching laggards to spring for a full version of the software, any work that's unsaved when your PC hits the 120 minute mark will be gone for good.

Windows 7 RC will fully expire three months later, on June 1st. The OS will boot into a black desktop, although PCs will continue to run in Terribly Annoying Mode with two hour shutdowns.

For added bother, Microsoft warns, "You'll see a Windows Activation dialog box that says the version of Windows you're running is not genuine. That means your PC may no longer be able to obtain optional updates or downloads requiring genuine Windows validation."

If it's time to bite the bullet and buy a copy of Windows 7, you'll need to do a custom or 'clean' install of Windows 7. Microsoft notes that "this doesn't save your files, settings, and programs, so you'll have to back up your files and then copy them back to your computer after you finish installing the final release version of Windows 7, as well as reinstall your programs."

You can also revert to an earlier version of Windows by running the original install disc for Windows XP or Vista, although we'd be moved to ask why anyone would bother going back from Windows 7, and especially to Vista…

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