Windows 7 RC has 15 days left (Updated)

Today is the 1st of Feb and that means you have 15 more days to use the Windows 7 RC (release candidate) before you need to upgrade to the final RTM version. A timely reminder from Technet: Windows 7 RC expiration coming soon | Media | TechNet Edge.

What does this mean for you, if you are running the RC. Basically you need to backup and rebuild your PC running the RTM version. There is no direct upgrade route, essentially this is the same process as if you are on XP moving to Windows 7.

[EDIT: a few people have contact me now about what's specifically going to happen, this article explains all...

But the skinny is:

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.

Effective June 1, 2010, Windows 7 RC expires:

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.

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So basically, it’s really annoying!

Use the Windows Easy Transfer to transfer all your stuff and make the process as pain free as you possibly can. Just hit start and type “transfer” into the search box. Back everything up to a USB key or hard disk and then on your shiny Windows 7 RTM install do the same, but select restore.

15 days and counting, almost 14 and a half now…

Computers that are running Windows 7 RC restart every two hours.