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Beginning Sunday, people who downloaded and installed the free test version of Microsoft Windows 7, known as the release candidate, were scheduled to start receiving messages warning of shutdowns. The bi-hourly shutdowns will start on March 1, and the release candidate will expire completely on June 1, 2010.
A Microsoft support page spells out what will happen:
"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."
- 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."
Freeloaders can extend their ride by taking advantage of a 90-day trial of the Enterprise Edition of the OS, intended for IT pros, but that will also require a clean installation to upgrade to a licensed copy. Students can take advantage of a reduced-priced copy of the retail software version by heading to www.win741.com