Microsoft Can Control you.

[3400-95-Modified]

I had it loaded on a PC but then loaded RTM 64bit when it was released to us. I still haven't used it more than a few hours... LOL.. I need to setup a 2nd machine and use that as a back up and for exchange account configurations so I might put it to more use soon.

I've been using RTM 64bit since I moved into the house... its not like vista, you can actually install it and install programs and trust it to continue working and make it your default OS... Hell I even ran it on my laptop for a period of time before I moved to test it, granted all the visual stuff was shut off since the card in that sucks, but it still ran very well.

[DefEddie]

Our DVD-rom's factory service manual discs we get sent every couple months at Ford have a time expiration on them.
I just set back the date on my computer for a few minutes if I need to use them for any reason.
I'm betting microsoft thought of that though.

[pocket-rocket]

I used a free 180 day trial of XP-Pro x64 for about 5 months setting the date back They probably are smart enough to have it check the MS servers for the real date if you are connected to the internet. I bet it would work if you left your pc offline all the time.


all your OS are belong to us...

[IsaacHayes]

Yeah to remind you to back up your stuff as windows will stop working soon, we are shutting it down every 2 hrs. Hope you can back up in that time! LOL

I don't think it's pushed via updates but probably hardcoded...

It could be a combo of both, in case you have your date set back.. Also it could be smart that if it sees you moved the date back from what it was, it keeps count of days past after that. Example if you had 4 days left, moved the date back, it has a record of the last "real" date, sees it's now in the past and keeps a counter, after 96 hours boom... When I installed it I almost thought about going into the BIOS, changing the date way back, then installing it without an internet connection to see how long it would go.. It might be coded though to see if the date on the PC was set to a date before the RC was released, and if it is, change the date then start a timer...

I'm sure there's a hack out there.

I had it loaded on a PC but then loaded RTM 64bit when it was released to us. I still haven't used it more than a few hours... LOL.. I need to setup a 2nd machine and use that as a back up and for exchange account configurations so I might put it to more use soon.

[3400-95-Modified]

Probably depends on if you have it connected to the net or not with all the time/date synchronization stuff... Set it for March 5th 2010 and see if it begins shutting down, or if it corrects the date and time.

[bszopi]

Yeah, I remember seeing it in the RC info when I downloaded it last year. Wonder if setting the computer date differently would overcome it? I still have the RC loaded on a computer I don't use, so I might have to try it.

[3400-95-Modified]

I must have missed the shutdown notice on the RC release. Then again I never used the RC... I waited for the RTM version to come out and since I have a TechNet sub I was able to download that for free technically (my company pays for my subscription)

I still think its funny... every 2hrs your PC will shut down.

[robertisaar]

this was well known once the RC went public...

i think it was actually a good idea for MS, considering they were letting you use a new OS for quite some time with no kind of payment. it at least lets everyone try it out to see if it's worth dropping the money (or bandwith ) on it.

[3400-95-Modified]

LOL, I think this is hilarious. I just got this in my TechNet news letter.

Windows 7 Release Candidate Expires June 1, 2010 - Shutdowns Begin March 1
If you are still running the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC), beginning March 1, 2010, your PC will start to shut down every two hours in preparation for Windows 7 RC expiration on June 1, 2010. To avoid interruption, you will need to reinstall an earlier version of Windows, or the final, released-to-manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7.

I think that's funny they can push out an update to make the software auto shutdown.

Anyone out there on W7 RC still?