The Members Forum

barney · Administrator / Manager

Windows 7 Release Candidate Ready For Download!

Vindicated · Administrator / Manager

Sounds like a lot of work for little return!!
If Microsoft was giving a free copy of Windows 7 to participants at the end of the testing period, I'd participate but certainly not as it's presently set-up!!!

barney · Administrator / Manager

I guess that this is for those who want to try Windows 7 before buying it. I am a bit surprised that Microsoft is actually releasing a RC to the public..... usually it is just to testers before the RTM edition is released.

At any rate, it is a chance to try it before you buy it.....

NicKnayme · Manager

You would need to have a spare "box" capable of supporting it?!
I'm thinking very few in this group have the time, inclination, or the money.

I suppose you could try to run it on anything you had...but how would it perform?

My

Alan

barney · Administrator / Manager

Yeah, this release is not for your main computer, but for a "spare" if you have one available, so you can try it out. Being a computer geek myself, I have a few spare desktops lying around, so, potentially, I could download it and try it.

All of the reports that I have read about Windows 7 say that it runs well on older computers. Let me see if I can find the link...........

Ah, here it is Windows 7 Experience

And, yeah, I am the Barney in that thread.....

-- Edited by barney on Wednesday 6th of May 2009 10:38:50 AM

Vindicated · Administrator / Manager

This 'Scares The Hell' out of me:
"Note: The backup methods described here do not preserve installed programs—only data. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to rebuild your test machine using a non-expired version of Windows before the Beta and RC expiration dates. 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."

barney · Administrator / Manager

^ Indeed. The RC version is not meant to be a permanent install. The time frame for usage is as you highlighted. Microsoft shuts off the juice at the appointed hour.

Vindicated · Administrator / Manager

From WinPatrol's BillP, a few comments about Windows 7.