ARGH Microsoft.. Windows 7 beta - expiration shenanigans

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
... it said it will not expire until August 1st, 2009 ...

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.

...

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?

Agree 100%
Big fvck up on Microsoft's part IMO.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: coolVariable

Originally posted by: brxndxn
... it said it will not expire until August 1st, 2009 ...

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.

...

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?

Agree 100%
Big fvck up on Microsoft's part IMO.

What was the big fvckup? That they have flip the dates around a few times, or that the auto shutdown is going to happen?

One way or another, it is a Beta. The provider can pretty much do whatever they want, you are given the PRIVILEGE to run this pre-release OS, not the right.

 

[bsobel]

What was the big fvckup? That they have flip the dates around a few times, or that the auto shutdown is going to happen?

The screwup is sending and email saying June 1st while the website says July 1st. Which means people really don't know which date is correct.

 

[sswingle]

My guess is the email is wrong. If the OS is going to alert you 2 weeks ahead of time, and that hasn't happened, then there is no way it can be June 1.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: bsobel
The screwup is sending and email saying June 1st while the website says July 1st. Which means people really don't know which date is correct.

Which reminds me -
I just checked. Microsoft never did send a correction letter. That's odd, since I get revision and correction emails from Microsoft all the time.

Edit:
Microsoft sent a revision letter this morning (5/27/09)

"Special Beta Edition -- Correction

Because you signed up to test the Windows 7 Beta, we recently sent you mail about the expiration dates for the Beta and Release Candidate. Unfortunately, we made a mistake.

We said the Beta would start shutting down every two hours on June 1, 2009. The correct date is July 1, 2009.

The rest of the dates in the mail were correct. Here?s a quick summary:
Version-------------------Starts shutting down every two hours------Expires:
Beta ----------------------July 1, 2009-----------------------------------August 1, 2009
Release Candidate-------March 1, 2010--------------------------------June 1, 2010


We apologize for the error and any confusion it may have caused.

Thanks again for helping us test Windows 7. "

 

[jjsbasmt]

Thanks RebateMonger, I too got that email today. Perhaps you should put a sticky at the beginning of this Forum with the info. I am sure a lot of folks would appreciate the correct info.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: jjsbasmt
Perhaps you should put a sticky at the beginning of this Forum with the info. I am sure a lot of folks would appreciate the correct info.

Done.

RebateMonger
Anandtech Moderator