ARGH Microsoft.. Windows 7 beta - expiration shenanigans

[brxndxn]

I'm running the Windows 7 original beta released to the public... on my work laptop. I have a HUGE project startup the week after my vacation in a few days.. I've been working overtime to get it ready for startup week.

The only reason I'm running it on my work laptop is because it said it will not expire until August 1st, 2009 and I do almost everything in virtual machines..

Now, on May 24, 2009, I get an email from Microsoft saying the Windows 7 beta will begin shutting down every 2 hours on June 1st, 2009.. So.. ONE FUCKING WEEK NOTICE. I read through the beta outlines and nothing stated that it will be shutting down every two hours starting June 1.. It only ever said it will expire August 1.. This is total bullshit.

So now.. either I work extra overtime to put XP 64bit back on my laptop or I deal with a laptop that shuts down every two hours in the middle of an industrial plant startup.. Holy fucking shit.

If I would've known it was going to do this, I NEVER would have installed the beta.. I don't think it outlined this anywhere.. Did I miss something?

 

[nickbits]

The bit you missed was "don't test on your primary PC." What if it didn't even work? You'd be in the same boat.

I'd either try installing the RC on top or go back to XP.

 

[brxndxn]

Originally posted by: nickbits
The bit you missed was "don't test on your primary PC." What if it didn't even work? You'd be in the same boat.

I'd either try installing the RC on top or go back to XP.

It should've said there would be intentional crippling.. I tested it on a virtual machine and found it to be stable for my development.. So, I put it on my work laptop.. which is just one of various machines I use.

 

[bsobel]

This has been documented since the beta release. Simply install the RC ontop. Should take you an hour. Second, its July 1st, not June 1st.

"Please plan ahead for the Beta and RC expiration dates. To avoid interruption, you?ll need to rebuild your test machine using a valid version of Windows before the software expires. Windows will notify you that the expiration process is beginning and two weeks later your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. The Beta expires on August 1, 2009, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009. The RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010. In both cases, you?ll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS and reinstall all your programs and data."

Soapbox: That said, I hate these rants. You have a huge important project and you install a BETA OS on the rig (with documented issues like the above) and then bitch about it?

The only bullshit is anyone doing an 'industrial plant startup' on beta software. I realize you may have missed the warning, but I knew about it and it was definately posted.

Bill

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: bsobel
This has been documented since the beta release. Simply install the RC ontop. Should take you an hour. Second, its July 1st, not June 1st.

Microsoft sent this email this morning (May 23, 2009), presumably to everybody who downloaded the BETA:

=============
IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT BETA EXPIRATION DATE

Thanks again for your help in testing Windows 7 Beta.

We?re sending this mail to remind you that Windows 7 Release candidate is available and to make sure you plan ahead for when the Beta expires on August 1, 2009. On June 1, 2009, the PC you?re using to test the Beta will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will send you a notice a couple of weeks in advance, and that?d be the ideal time to rebuild your test PC with a non-expired version of Windows, such as the RC or Windows Vista. This will be a clean installation, so be ready to reinstall your programs and data. (Learn more about installing Windows.)
=============

 

[bsobel]

Most interesting, I got the July date from http://www.microsoft.com/Windo...indows-7/download.aspx

Someone screwed up, we have two public dates now....

Bill

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: bsobel
Most interesting, I got the July date from http://www.microsoft.com/Windo...indows-7/download.aspx

Someone screwed up, we have two public dates now....

Yeah, it reads like a screwup. Since it says, "we'll send you notification a couple of weeks before this starts". And then it says it starts in a few days.

But, yeah, when everybody downloaded the Beta from Microsoft's site, it definitely gave warnings that it'd go on "automatic restart" one or two months before it "expired".

The RC does the same thing. Folks quote the "expiration date", but, in reality, the RC will be useless three months before it "expires".

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
I'm running the Windows 7 original beta released to the public... on my work laptop. I have a HUGE project startup the week after my vacation in a few days.. I've been working overtime to get it ready for startup week.

The only reason I'm running it on my work laptop is because it said it will not expire until August 1st, 2009 and I do almost everything in virtual machines..

Now, on May 24, 2009, I get an email from Microsoft saying the Windows 7 beta will begin shutting down every 2 hours on June 1st, 2009.. So.. ONE FUCKING WEEK NOTICE. I read through the beta outlines and nothing stated that it will be shutting down every two hours starting June 1.. It only ever said it will expire August 1.. This is total bullshit.

So now.. either I work extra overtime to put XP 64bit back on my laptop or I deal with a laptop that shuts down every two hours in the middle of an industrial plant startup.. Holy fucking shit.

If I would've known it was going to do this, I NEVER would have installed the beta.. I don't think it outlined this anywhere.. Did I miss something?

You should NEVER USE BETA SOFTWARE ON A PRODUCTION MACHINE!

You have only yourself to blame for being so ignorant so quit trying to make this somehow Microsoft's fault.

Nuff said.

 

[Itchrelief]

IT'S ALL MICROSOFTS FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111

 

[brxndxn]

Originally posted by: bsobel

The only bullshit is anyone doing an 'industrial plant startup' on beta software. I realize you may have missed the warning, but I knew about it and it was definately posted.

Bill

My laptop isn't running the plant.. But, a lot of times during startup, you let it sit connected to the servers and make a 5 minute change every few hours.. Point is, I shouldn't have to be planning to reinstall an OS one week before startup.. because of poor outlining of the original dates by Microsoft.

The development is done on XP virtual machines.. I could run them under any OS..

 

[brxndxn]

Originally posted by: soonerproud

Originally posted by: brxndxn
I'm running the Windows 7 original beta released to the public... on my work laptop. I have a HUGE project startup the week after my vacation in a few days.. I've been working overtime to get it ready for startup week.

The only reason I'm running it on my work laptop is because it said it will not expire until August 1st, 2009 and I do almost everything in virtual machines..

Now, on May 24, 2009, I get an email from Microsoft saying the Windows 7 beta will begin shutting down every 2 hours on June 1st, 2009.. So.. ONE FUCKING WEEK NOTICE. I read through the beta outlines and nothing stated that it will be shutting down every two hours starting June 1.. It only ever said it will expire August 1.. This is total bullshit.

So now.. either I work extra overtime to put XP 64bit back on my laptop or I deal with a laptop that shuts down every two hours in the middle of an industrial plant startup.. Holy fucking shit.

If I would've known it was going to do this, I NEVER would have installed the beta.. I don't think it outlined this anywhere.. Did I miss something?

You should NEVER USE BETA SOFTWARE ON A PRODUCTION MACHINE!

You have only yourself to blame for being so ignorant so quit trying to make this somehow Microsoft's fault.

Nuff said.

The stability of the OS is not the problem.

 

[M0RPH]

What the heck are you guys talking about? It says this right on the Windows 7 site:

Watch the calendar. 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.

Text

Ohhhhhh.

You're talking about the original beta.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
The stability of the OS is not the problem.

I never said nothing about the stability. Microsoft clearly warns not to install this on production machines. It is for testing purposes only and nothing more. If it was your home machine and you don't do nothing work related or critical, then knock yourself and make it your primary OS. But to put it on a actual work machine is quite plainly just retarded.

I am not trying to judge you as we all have done bone headed moves like that before. But I never blamed anyone but myself when something did not work out according to plan on such software. If my new home PC, which is using 7 until it RTM's because I don't want to buy Windows twice craps out due to 7, I have a backup plan to temporarily install a old XP license I have until RTM or just use nix until then.

So next time, think first before you act when it comes to using beta software and make certain you have a backup if things don't go your way.

 

[RebateMonger]

I'm looking over my notes and emails from Microsoft, trying to find something that shows the DATE when W7 BETA starts rebooting itself. I know it's been published, and it was given when downloading the Beta.

However, I'm also finding all kinds of other expiration dates that Microsoft has published. It seems that Microsoft has issued a pretty confusing array of dates for the effective "expiration dates" of the Beta and of the RC.

All the quotes below were published by Microsoft (except for the last one, which is a quote from a MS VP). The largest number of votes seem to go with July 1, 2009, as the "reboot hell" start date.

-------------------

"If you are using Windows 7 Beta, migrating to Windows 7 RC will avoid the July 7, 2009, beta expiration date. Failure to migrate before the beta expiration date will cause frequent system reboot prompts."

--------------------

"We?re sending this mail to remind you that Windows 7 Release candidate is available and to make sure you plan ahead for when the Beta expires on August 1, 2009. On June 1, 2009, the PC you?re using to test the Beta will begin shutting down every two hours".

---------------------

"The Windows 7 Beta will stop working on August 1, 2009. After that date, your PC will stop working and it may be difficult to recover your files. So, if you're running the Beta version of Windows 7, please be prepared to install Windows 7 RC or reinstall a prior version of Windows before August 1, 2009. "

---------------------

"The Beta expires on August 1, 2009, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009. The RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010".

--------------------

"The Windows 7 RC will stop working on June 1, 2010. After that date, your PC will stop working and it may be difficult to recover your files. If you're running the RC version of Windows 7, please be prepared to reinstall a prior version of Windows or the final version of Windows 7 before June 1, 2010. See Installing the Windows 7 RC.

You will be alerted to install a released version of Windows and your PC will shut down automatically every 2 hours [starting March 1, 2010]," said LeBlanc. "On June 1, 2010, if you are still on the Windows 7 RC, your license for the Windows 7 RC will expire and the non-genuine experience is triggered." At that point, LeBlanc continued, the copy will be marked as bogus, with on-screen nags and a black background.

Unless users are prepared to put up with the automatic reboots -- which come without warning and so may cause data loss -- they'll have to give up Windows 7 RC on the last day of February 2010, about 10 months after it went public.

Windows 7 Beta, which Microsoft launched last January, will start rebooting even earlier -- July 1, said LeBlanc -- a month before it expires."

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: brxndxn



The stability of the OS is not the problem.

Nope its the inability to understand the term "beta" and "Evaluation Copy"

They could make the OS quit tomorrow without warning and still be within the EULA.


You can type winver in the search box to see when your copy expires, that is the date the nagging starts.

 

[brxndxn]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I'm looking over my notes and emails from Microsoft, trying to find something that shows the DATE when W7 BETA starts rebooting itself. I know it's been published, and it was given when downloading the Beta.

However, I'm also finding all kinds of other expiration dates that Microsoft has published. It seems that Microsoft has issued a pretty confusing array of dates for the effective "expiration dates" of the Beta and of the RC.

All the quotes below were published by Microsoft (except for the last one, which is a quote from a MS VP). The largest number of votes seem to go with July 1, 2009, as the "reboot hell" start date.

-------------------

"If you are using Windows 7 Beta, migrating to Windows 7 RC will avoid the July 7, 2009, beta expiration date. Failure to migrate before the beta expiration date will cause frequent system reboot prompts."

--------------------

"We?re sending this mail to remind you that Windows 7 Release candidate is available and to make sure you plan ahead for when the Beta expires on August 1, 2009. On June 1, 2009, the PC you?re using to test the Beta will begin shutting down every two hours".

---------------------

"The Windows 7 Beta will stop working on August 1, 2009. After that date, your PC will stop working and it may be difficult to recover your files. So, if you're running the Beta version of Windows 7, please be prepared to install Windows 7 RC or reinstall a prior version of Windows before August 1, 2009. "

---------------------

"The Beta expires on August 1, 2009, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009. The RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010".

--------------------

"The Windows 7 RC will stop working on June 1, 2010. After that date, your PC will stop working and it may be difficult to recover your files. If you're running the RC version of Windows 7, please be prepared to reinstall a prior version of Windows or the final version of Windows 7 before June 1, 2010. See Installing the Windows 7 RC.

You will be alerted to install a released version of Windows and your PC will shut down automatically every 2 hours [starting March 1, 2010]," said LeBlanc. "On June 1, 2010, if you are still on the Windows 7 RC, your license for the Windows 7 RC will expire and the non-genuine experience is triggered." At that point, LeBlanc continued, the copy will be marked as bogus, with on-screen nags and a black background.

Unless users are prepared to put up with the automatic reboots -- which come without warning and so may cause data loss -- they'll have to give up Windows 7 RC on the last day of February 2010, about 10 months after it went public.

Windows 7 Beta, which Microsoft launched last January, will start rebooting even earlier -- July 1, said LeBlanc -- a month before it expires."

I also posted the following on the Windows 7 beta forums.. and another guy posted that Microsoft has even changed the terms since he had a saved .mht of the original site.

From the FAQ: (TODAY.. as of RIGHT NOW.. 5/24/09)

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/faq.aspx

How long can I test Windows 7?

This is a very important question, because Windows 7 Beta and Windows 7 RC each have an expiration date. To avoid interruption, you?ll need to rebuild your test machine using a valid version of Windows before the software expires. Windows will notify you that the expiration process is beginning and two weeks later your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. The Beta expires on August 1, 2009, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009. The RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010. In both cases, you?ll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS and reinstall all your programs and data. (Learn more about installing Windows.)

From the EMAIL:

We?re sending this mail to remind you that Windows 7 Release candidate is available and to make sure you plan ahead for when the Beta expires on August 1, 2009. On June 1, 2009, the PC you?re using to test the Beta will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will send you a notice a couple of weeks in advance, and that?d be the ideal time to rebuild your test PC with a non-expired version of Windows, such as the RC or Windows Vista. This will be a clean installation, so be ready to reinstall your programs and data. (Learn more about installing Windows.)

Which one is right?

 

[M0RPH]

You screwed up, get over it. Backup your data and install the RC. It doesn't take that long. Then you're good until March 2010.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: brxndxn

I also posted the following on the Windows 7 beta forums.. and another guy posted that Microsoft has even changed the terms since he had a saved .mht of the original site.

That is the problem with beta software.
These few lines mean they can do whatever they feel like.

By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept them, do not use the software.

PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE. This software is a pre-release version. It may not work the way a final version of the software will. We may change it for the final, commercial version. We also may not release a commercial version.


17. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY. The software is licensed ?as-is?.
You bear the risk of using it.

18. LIMITATION ON AND EXCLUSION OF REMEDIES AND DAMAGES. You can recover from Microsoft and its suppliers only direct damages up to U.S. $5.00. You cannot recover any other damages, including consequential, lost profits, special, indirect or incidental damages.

It also applies even if Microsoft knew or should have known about the possibility of the damages

I really like that last part


The problem is people having gotten into the habit of just clicking through the pages of a EULA without reading it. Some of them have some really nasty stuff in them.

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: soonerproud

Originally posted by: brxndxn
I'm running the Windows 7 original beta released to the public... on my work laptop. I have a HUGE project startup the week after my vacation in a few days.. I've been working overtime to get it ready for startup week.

The only reason I'm running it on my work laptop is because it said it will not expire until August 1st, 2009 and I do almost everything in virtual machines..

Now, on May 24, 2009, I get an email from Microsoft saying the Windows 7 beta will begin shutting down every 2 hours on June 1st, 2009.. So.. ONE FUCKING WEEK NOTICE. I read through the beta outlines and nothing stated that it will be shutting down every two hours starting June 1.. It only ever said it will expire August 1.. This is total bullshit.

So now.. either I work extra overtime to put XP 64bit back on my laptop or I deal with a laptop that shuts down every two hours in the middle of an industrial plant startup.. Holy fucking shit.

If I would've known it was going to do this, I NEVER would have installed the beta.. I don't think it outlined this anywhere.. Did I miss something?

You should NEVER USE BETA SOFTWARE ON A PRODUCTION MACHINE!

You have only yourself to blame for being so ignorant so quit trying to make this somehow Microsoft's fault.

Nuff said.

QFT. Granted, I have it on my work laptop but I won't create a stupid rant thread if things end up going wrong.

 

[Snapster]

I can only but reiterate the sentiment of the above in that you got it wrong, badly.

Having said that, you have several options:

1. Re-install a valid o/s that will not be time limited

2. Install Windows 7 RC1, which can be done in 20-40 mins

3. Use the upgrade trick and upgrade your copy to rc1 which will buy you another year before you'll be in this boat again. Just in case you didn't get Microsoft's message, your o/s will go into limited functionality mode and reboot every few hours.

 

[RebateMonger]

I've experienced the "auto-reboot" function with the Trial version of Windows Home server. Last year I was using the Trial version and didn't keep track of the 120-day time limit.

Actually, everything seemed fine. There were no warnings that the trial had expired. I only noticed it when some of the daily automatic backups would fail. A look at the WHS System Event Log showed that the server was rebooting itself every two hours.

I didn't have any corrupted data or backups, but it was a pain to copy 1.3 TB of data to another networked drive. I had to time it so that data was only copied within two hours of each reboot. If you have a lot of data, be sure to copy it somewhere BEFORE the auto-reboot cycle begins.

 

[akugami]

Too lazy to google it so OP should do it him/herself. You can install the RC on top of the Betas. This is done by downloading the RC ISO and editing a file within the ISO. This will allow you to install Win7 RC on top of Win7 Beta. The downside is this might potentially create issues that a clean RC install will not. The upside is you don't have to spend many hours to re-install all of your apps.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: soonerproud

Originally posted by: brxndxn
I'm running the Windows 7 original beta released to the public... on my work laptop. I have a HUGE project startup the week after my vacation in a few days.. I've been working overtime to get it ready for startup week.

The only reason I'm running it on my work laptop is because it said it will not expire until August 1st, 2009 and I do almost everything in virtual machines..

Now, on May 24, 2009, I get an email from Microsoft saying the Windows 7 beta will begin shutting down every 2 hours on June 1st, 2009.. So.. ONE FUCKING WEEK NOTICE. I read through the beta outlines and nothing stated that it will be shutting down every two hours starting June 1.. It only ever said it will expire August 1.. This is total bullshit.

So now.. either I work extra overtime to put XP 64bit back on my laptop or I deal with a laptop that shuts down every two hours in the middle of an industrial plant startup.. Holy fucking shit.

If I would've known it was going to do this, I NEVER would have installed the beta.. I don't think it outlined this anywhere.. Did I miss something?

You should NEVER USE BETA SOFTWARE ON A PRODUCTION MACHINE!

You have only yourself to blame for being so ignorant so quit trying to make this somehow Microsoft's fault.

Nuff said.

:thumbsup: Times 100.

Never run Beta on critical production equipment. My lord! :disgust:

And then complain about it in public is even worse.

pcgeek11

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: pcgeek11

Originally posted by: soonerproud

Originally posted by: brxndxn
I'm running the Windows 7 original beta released to the public... on my work laptop. I have a HUGE project startup the week after my vacation in a few days.. I've been working overtime to get it ready for startup week.

The only reason I'm running it on my work laptop is because it said it will not expire until August 1st, 2009 and I do almost everything in virtual machines..

Now, on May 24, 2009, I get an email from Microsoft saying the Windows 7 beta will begin shutting down every 2 hours on June 1st, 2009.. So.. ONE FUCKING WEEK NOTICE. I read through the beta outlines and nothing stated that it will be shutting down every two hours starting June 1.. It only ever said it will expire August 1.. This is total bullshit.

So now.. either I work extra overtime to put XP 64bit back on my laptop or I deal with a laptop that shuts down every two hours in the middle of an industrial plant startup.. Holy fucking shit.

If I would've known it was going to do this, I NEVER would have installed the beta.. I don't think it outlined this anywhere.. Did I miss something?

You should NEVER USE BETA SOFTWARE ON A PRODUCTION MACHINE!

You have only yourself to blame for being so ignorant so quit trying to make this somehow Microsoft's fault.

Nuff said.

:thumbsup: Times 100.

Never run Beta on critical production equipment. My lord! :disgust:

And then complain about it in public is even worse.

pcgeek11

Yep I don't understand why people use a beta OS on one of their main systems. This is never recommended unless you install it as a secondary OS.

 

[Snapster]

Originally posted by: akugami
Too lazy to google it so OP should do it him/herself. You can install the RC on top of the Betas. This is done by downloading the RC ISO and editing a file within the ISO. This will allow you to install Win7 RC on top of Win7 Beta. The downside is this might potentially create issues that a clean RC install will not. The upside is you don't have to spend many hours to re-install all of your apps.

I roughly mentioned in this and another thread, but here are the steps:

1. Download the ISO as you did previously and burn the ISO to a DVD.
2. Copy the whole image to a storage location you wish to run the upgrade from (a bootable flash drive or a directory on any partition on the machine running the pre-release build).
3. Browse to the sources directory.
4. Open the file cversion.ini in a text editor like Notepad.
5. Modify the MinClient build number to a value lower than the down-level build. For example, change 7100 to 7000.
6. Save the file in place with the same name.
7. Run setup like you would normally from this modified copy of the image and the version check will be bypassed.