Windows Vista Beta 2, RC1 and RC2 set to expire

On 31 May 2007, all Customer Preview Program (CPP) pre-release versions of Windows Vista will expire.  If you are running a pre-release version of Windows Vista (Beta 2, RC1 or RC2), you will begin to receive warning notifications about the upcoming expiration on 18 May.  To avoid work disruption and loss of data, we strongly recommend that customers running any of these pre-release versions of Windows Vista migrate their PCs to the final version of Windows Vista prior to 31 May.

For more information on migrating away from CPP versions, please go to http://www.windowsvista.com/preview.mspx.  We've included below a listing of frequently asked questions to help those of you still running a pre-release version of Windows Vista on your PCs to get started.

CPP Expiration FAQ

1. Can I install editions of Windows Vista other than Windows Vista Ultimate?

Yes, it is possible for you to install other editions (except for Windows Vista Enterprise) of Windows Vista (e.g., Windows Vista Home Premium).  To install a different edition, you will need to purchase the Upgrade version of that edition and perform a clean installation.  You must back up any data, as this process will overwrite all data that you have on your hard disk or on your installation partition.  The overwritten data will be lost and unrecoverable.

2. Are there any discounts available to Customer Preview Program participants?

There are no product discounts specifically for participants in the Customer Preview Program; however, because you are using a pre-release version of Windows Vista Ultimate, you can purchase and use the Upgrade version of Windows Vista.

3. What will happen to my data after the expiration date?

After 31 May 2007, customers who continue to use pre-release versions of Windows Vista will be able to log in for 2-hour sessions to retrieve data.  After 2 hours of use, the PC will automatically reboot without providing the opportunity to save data.  The opportunity to log in normally for these 2-hour sessions will be available only until 28 August 2007.  It is strongly recommended that PC users running any of these pre-release versions of Windows Vista migrate their PCs to the final version of Windows Vista or another operating system prior to 31 May.

4. What will happen to my PC after the expiration date?

After 31 May 2007, customers who continue to use pre-release versions of Windows Vista will be able to log in for 2-hour sessions to retrieve data.  After 2 hours of use, the PC will automatically reboot without providing the opportunity to save data.  The opportunity to log in normally for these 2-hour sessions will only be available until 28 August 2007.  It is strongly recommended that PC users running any of these pre-release versions of Windows Vista migrate their PCs to the final version of Windows Vista or another operating system prior to 31 May.

5.  Is there a breakdown of the upgrade options available to users of the various CPP pre-releases?

From/To 

Windows Vista Ultimate RTM

Other editions  of Windows Vista RTM

Previous version of Windows

Windows Vista Beta 2

Clean install with Ultimate Upgrade

Clean install with Upgrade version of desired edition

Clean install with full version

Windows Vista RC1

In-place upgrade or clean install with Ultimate Upgrade

Clean install with Upgrade version of desired edition

Clean install with full version

Windows Vista RC2

Clean install with Ultimate Upgrade

Clean install with Upgrade version of desired edition

Clean install with full version

A clean install means your current version of Windows, including all of your files, settings, and programs, is automatically replaced.  You must back up any data as this process will overwrite any data that you have on your hard disk or on your installation partition.  The overwritten data will be lost and unrecoverable.

An in-place upgrade means you can install Windows Vista and keep your programs, files and settings from your current version of Windows.  It is still strongly recommended that you back up any data prior to initiating the upgrade.

6. Can I install Windows XP on my PC?

Yes, it is possible for you to install any operating system including Windows XP on your PC.  To install Windows XP on your PC, you will need the CDs of the full version of Windows XP or the original OEM CDs that came with your PC (if any).  You must back up any data as this process will overwrite any data that you have on your hard disk or on your installation partition.  The overwritten data will be lost and unrecoverable.

7. Can I "roll back" to Windows XP?

As was noted at the outset of the Customer Preview Program, you cannot roll back to the previous operating system installation -- you will either have to purchase and install the final released edition of Windows Vista or re-install a previous version of Windows.

Please, do yourself a favor and upgrade to any edition of the RTM version of Windows Vista before 31 May.

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Comments

  1. John Caboose
    Posted on: April 24, 2007 at 2:44PM  

    Hmph, You guys set back the date from June 10th to May 31st...

    It's not that I won't buy Vista it's just if you say something, I expect you to stick to it.

    Well, I know how you Microsoft guys are with sticking to schedule ;)

    I know you're doing your best but please set realistic expectations and dates for your products/Xbox Live maintenances!

  2. jon9966
    Posted on: April 24, 2007 at 3:12PM  

    why is it when i shrink to the taskbar somthing that ia running i cant restore it to proper size on vista???

  3. terri
    Posted on: April 24, 2007 at 6:29PM  

    jon9966, is this a specific program?  Could you give a few more details?  When you click on the icon, it doesn't restore to full size?  What if you right click and then click Restore?  Were these programs running in full screen mode when you minimized them?

  4. newscientist2000
    Posted on: April 24, 2007 at 9:52PM  

    Thanks for the reminder,

    I have a few installs of RC1 and RC2 on different partitions on my hard drive which I havent checked/booted into since upgrading to Vista.  Time to make sure I havent left anything behind that I need.

    Its great that you will allow users who forget about this to log in to save data for 2hrs at a time after May 31st until the 28th August.  Data is so, so important, thanks for recognising that :-)

  5. Albert
    Posted on: April 24, 2007 at 11:58PM  

    I have been wanting to uninstall the beta on my dual-boot system for a while now, but last time I tried...it was not a happy time. When I uninstalled Vista, somehow my machine still thought it was installed, so on the booting screen, it would still list Vista and if I would not stay to select XP, it would try to load Vista. Any [updated] specific instructions you guys have for removing Vista from a dual-boot machine?

  6. BostonJeff
    Posted on: April 25, 2007 at 4:40PM  

    I have a question, and hope you might be able to shed some light on this problem.  Humor me and read through this pelase, even though I know you're not tech support :)

    I built a home system recently: Gigabyte mother board, case, 600 watt power supply, Nvidia 7900GS video card, 2 gigs dual channel ram, DDR2-800, Intel Core2Duo at 2.66ghz, 300 gig SATA drive, dual DVD-RWs, onboard sound (Realtek High Def Audio, could care less about Sound Blaster).  Runs DX10, can provide a dxdiag txt file if you wish, but.. here's the question :

    I have an application (Battle for Middle Earth 2) that won't seem to execute.  I install the game clean, as an Administrator of course, and attempt to execute the application and after a minute get the "not responding" popup and the app terminates, creating a DUMP log in the application folder and making a game.dat entry in event viewer.  I was told by EA Support to try to change compatability to Windows XP and/or 200, Win 98, etc.. but each time I do this and hit Apply, and try to execute the application, it waits at the splash screen and then kicks up a message about "Insert the correct CD or DVD and try again".

    This stupifies me... why would changing compatiblity to another OS cause a problem with detection of a DVD drive?

    Quite strange...  

    I've also noticed the application seems to bounce between the two cores (I have a gadget that tracks core usage, temp etc.. as wel as ram usage, paging) pegging each out, hopping back and forth.

    Feel free to contact me via my email address used in registering - and I appreciate your time with this :)

    Jeff

  7. BostonJeff
    Posted on: April 25, 2007 at 4:42PM  

    ..yes.. running VISTA Home premium 32bit.. sorry for leaving that out :)

    Jeff

  8. RonV
    Posted on: April 25, 2007 at 7:23PM  

    Jeff

    Your best strategy is to contact the maker of that game to make sure it is compatible with Vista. If there are any known issues, they will likely know about them.

    RonV

  9. TJENN
    Posted on: April 25, 2007 at 10:25PM  

    Is this built in or will it be an update?

  10. WhyldKnight
    Posted on: April 27, 2007 at 7:19PM  

    I have the pre-RTM build of Vista. It's that grey area between RC2 and RTM. I've never seen any expiry on my software. Will it still expire?

Trackbacks

  1. Posted by: TechHerding - Resources for managing high-tech cats, and making them purr » So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish on April 24, 2007 at 1:50PM
  2. Posted by: TechBlog on April 24, 2007 at 9:51PM

    Here's a rare sight these days: A TechBlog linkfest! • So Apple's former chief financial officer apparently has decided that if he's going down in the company's stock backdating scandal, then by gum, someone bigger's going down with him. That...

  3. Posted by: theapp.net on April 25, 2007 at 11:43AM

    Thanks to Owen, I got a bit of news today. Windows Vista beta and release candidate versions are set up start rebooting at the end of May. I don't know if it's just the ones that have used Windows...

  4. Posted by: Richard G. Harper - Microsoft Windows Support and More on April 29, 2007 at 6:27AM

    I really have to apologize for not keeping things up here in a while but I've had some rather significant

  5. Posted by: Chris Dufour's Weblog on May 04, 2007 at 9:05AM

    Windows Vista Beta 2, RC1 and RC2 set to expire

  6. Posted by: Satisfy Me on May 13, 2007 at 9:37PM

    As Nick posted on the Windows Vista blog last month , the Vista beta and RC preview versions will expire

  7. Posted by: Life as an Evangelist on May 31, 2007 at 6:13AM

    This was announced long time ago, but just to reiterate and repeat the message so everyone would know

  8. Posted by: Peering through Windows... on June 01, 2007 at 5:08AM

    Important notice for all those of you who haven't moved over to RTM (Release to Manufacture - Andy :-))

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