Windows 7 RC
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.
For more information about Windows 7 or information about how to purchase a release version of Windows 7, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
For more information about how to uninstall Windows 7 and revert to your original operating system or another version of Windows 7, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
971762 How to uninstall Windows 7
Windows 7 Beta
Windows 7 Beta expiration
Effective August 1, 2009, Windows 7 Beta will expire.
To continue using your computer, you should prepare to install a later prerelease version of Windows 7, to install the retail release version of Windows 7, or to back up your data and reinstall an earlier version of Windows before the August 1, 2009 expiration date. You will be unable to upgrade from Windows 7 Beta to a later prerelease of Windows 7 or 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 Beta expiration functionality
Effective June 17, 2009, the expiration notification process begins:
- Windows 7 Beta users receive an expiration notification in the task bar one time per day.
Windows 7 Beta users are presented with the Notification Wizard one time every four hours and then one time every hour.
Effective July 1, 2009, Windows 7 Beta enters the next phase of expiration:
- Expiration notifications in the task bar continue.
- Computers that are running Windows 7 Beta restart every two hours.
Effective August 1, 2009, Windows 7 Beta expires:
- Windows starts to a black desktop
Windows 7 Beta users are presented with a Windows Activation Expired dialog box during logon and then again every hour.-
Computers that are running Windows 7 Beta restart every two hours
For more information about Windows 7 or information about how to purchase a release version of Windows 7, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
For more information about how to uninstall Windows 7 and revert to your original operating system or another version of Windows 7, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
971762 How to uninstall Windows 7