Will you somehow take windows 7 away from us testers when it is released or something? Will we have to buy it or will you let us keep it?

waterbeds - Windows 7 RC (build 7100) will expire on March 1st, 2010 and will start shutting down every 2 hours until itultimately drops dead on June 1st, 2010. You have until then to do any of the following:1.) Install a previous OS (XP, Vista, 2000)2.) Buy a retail copy of Windows 7 (full) and install it3.) Buy a retail upgrade copy of Windows 7, install your previous OS and thenupgrade to the retail version of Windows 7.4.) Install another OS...Take your pick.

The previous chap has got it right.However, you can I presume just change the Product ID code from your purchased copy of Windows 7, if you so wish - I could be wrong but its worh a look.Look at your: Control Panel, System and Security, System View Basic Information about your computer. Windows 7 Ultimate. Copyright2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. System ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rating: Processor: Intel XXXXX XX @ 3.00 Ghz 3.00 GHz Installed memory (RAM): 128.00 GB (127.50 GB usable) System type: 64-bit Operating System Pen and Touch: No Pen or Touch Input available for this Display Computer Name, Domain, and Workgroup settings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Name: Texas Lone Star-PC Change settings Full Computer Name: Texas Lone Star-PC Computer Description: Texas Lone Star Workgroup: WORKGROUP Windows activation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Windows is activated Product ID: 12345-123-1234567-12345 Change product key If you want to input another product key You would do it here. If your product key is for a version less than Windows 7 Ultimate then I presume that you would lose some functionality Like the Disk encryption facility etc. You may need to remove any such problems before changing the product key Hope this is of useYours ever, TLS

That probably won't work lone star since the only keys that theRC accepts for activation are the ones from the official download site. It would be best to let the RCgo peacfully anyway becouse the time it expires the RTM will be availableboth updated andapproved for sale.

Dear Mr. Seven,You are probably right, however if there is a button to press I am sucker for giving it a try.If it does not work, I will clean my Hard drive and start afresh.Your ever, TLS

You cannot go RC > GA. Nor do anything between beta keys & GA keys.Beta keys are free licenses for temp use. GA keys are ongoing paid licenses.Drew - MS Partner / MS Beta Tester / Pres. Computer Issues

TLS - Simply entering a new product key won't work for a number of reasons. 1.) The beta/RC keys and the final product keys are different. Beta keys won't work with final code, and vice versa.2.) You can't downgrade from Ultimate to any of the other editions. It's not simply a matter of losing a feature here or there. The registry has a LOT of stuff that's been put into it - and removing entries willy-nilly can cause a TON of problems. While you might be removing an entry for something in one section, it might have an effect on something somewhere else. Microsoft is not in the registry cleaner business.

Buying a retail copy of Win7 is not the problem for me. My problem is that I am forced to choose between 32bit and 64bit and I don't like it a bit. I have an AMD Athlon +64 with XP (32bit OS) running on it. As a longtime user of Windows, why can't I just get an upgrade from XP to a 64bit Win7 (which is a $100 savings for me)? Instead, I have to buy the 64bit full version (a $100 more) to make full use of my AMD. It is not right and fair, as far as I'm concerned.

Buying a retail copy of Win7 is not the problem for me. My problem is that I am forced to choose between 32bit and 64bit and I don't like it a bit. I have an AMD Athlon +64 with XP (32bit OS) running on it. As a longtime user of Windows, why can't I just get an upgrade from XP to a 64bit Win7 (which is a $100 savings for me)? Instead, I have to buy the 64bit full version (a $100 more) to make full use of my AMD. It is not right and fair, as far as I'm concerned. Are you sure of that?I believe that havinga 32 bit version of XP qualifies you to use an upgrade *license* to Windows 7 X64. You won't be able to do an upgrade-in-place from *any* 32 bit OS to Win7 X64, but you can do a custom (clean) install.It was definitely true for Vista: I purchased a retail upgrade copy of Vista Home premium. The X64 wasn't included in the box, but Microsoft provided one for an additional $10. (That offer was not available from Microsoftfor OEM copies. I don't know whether any PC builders supplied an X64 DVD, for free or otherwise.) The license key works with both X86 and X64 versions.I haven't seen an official statement of the restrictions on the upgrade license for Win7, but Iexpect that they will not prevent you from going to X64.

I have factory-installed Vista HP 32bit...?

lads, 64bit is made for enthusiasts, for developers and for some scientists.. it wont speed up your PC just because its 64 not 32... 1) you need to be sure that your software is designed for 64bit OS 2) your system (cpu, gpu, ram, hdd, etc) will work adequately. otherwise it will be a waste...