If you are running the Vista Beta - It's time to move to a full version - Beta Trial is about to expire!
On May 31, the pre-release versions of Windows Vista (Beta 2, RC1, and RC2) will expire. Participants in the Customer Preview Program who are still using a pre-release version of Windows Vista Ultimate will be affected by this expiration. We believe that this expiration will affect a few hundred thousand people worldwide.
People using a pre-release version of Windows Vista will receive an initial beta expiration notification on April 24. This notification will tell them that their Windows license will expire in XX days and prompt them to back up their files and install any edition of Windows Vista. Customers will receive subsequent notifications about the impending expiration starting May 18, 2007, after which customers will get a notification each day from May 18-27. On May 29 and May 30, the notifications will appear every 4 hours and on May 31, the notifications will appear every hour.
After May 31, 2007, customers that 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 for a limited time.
We expect most beta users will have moved to a full version of Windows by this time, but starting April 24, those who are still running a pre-release version of Windows Vista will receive multiple notifications about the expiration so that they will have ample time to back up data and migrate their PCs to the final version of Windows Vista.
It is strongly recommended that customers 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 May 31.
Q&A:
Q: Can customers install editions of Windows Vista other than Windows Vista Ultimate?
A: Yes, it is possible for customers to install other editions (except for Windows Vista Enterprise) of Windows Vista (e.g. Windows Vista Home Premium). To install a different edition, customers will need to purchase the Upgrade version of that edition and perform a clean installation. They then must back up any data as this process will overwrite any data that on the hard disk or on the installation partition. The overwritten data will be lost and unrecoverable.
Q: Are there any discounts available to Customer Preview Program participants?
A: One of the benefits of being a beta user is that you have the ability to purchase and use an “upgrade” copy of Windows Vista rather than the “full” copy. Upgrade copies are typically offered at a significantly lower retail price.
Q: What will happen to customers’ data after the expiration date?
A: After May 31, 2007, customers that 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 August 28, 2007.
It is strongly recommended that customers 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 May 31.
Q: What will happen to my PC after the expiration date?
A: After May 31, 2007, customers that 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 August 28, 2007.
It is strongly recommended that customers 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 May 31.
Q: Will customers be able to install Windows XP on my PC?
A: Yes, it is possible for customers to install any operating system including Windows XP on their PC. To install Windows XP on their PC, customers will need the CD of the full version of Windows XP or the original OEM CD that came with the PC (if any). Customers must back up any data as this process will overwrite any data that on the hard disk or on the installation partition. The overwritten data will be lost and unrecoverable.
Q: Can customers “roll back” to Windows XP?
A: As was noted at the outset of the Customer Preview Program, customers cannot roll back to the previous operating system installation—they will either have to purchase and install the final released edition of Windows Vista or reinstall a previous version of Windows.