Windows 7 Release Candidate Expiration

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To all who are still using the free Release Candidate of Win 7– February 14, 2010 marks the beginning of the end. The expiration warnings start every hour until March 1 when any computer running RC will shutdown and restart every 2 hours. All explained in this article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971767 The final expiration date is June 1, but everyone needs to decide whether to revert to the previous OS or buy the upgrade in the next few weeks.

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I presume that Win 7 knows the date from the system date of the computer on which it is installed. If so, can I re-set the date back, say, 6 months and give myself another 6 months of use?

Sure, there are disadvantages to this, but would it work?

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I presume that Win 7 knows the date from the system date of the computer on which it is installed. If so, can I re-set the date back, say, 6 months and give myself another 6 months of use?

Sure, there are disadvantages to this, but would it work?

You are probably playing with fire. If it works you may be bordering on an illegal activity. If it doesn’t, what are the ramifications to you PC? Wost Case senario, you will need to get a copy of legitimate win 7 quickly to get back up to speed. What will be the cost to do this? If you have used the RC this long, you know you like it. You will like the RTM even more. And these few weeks will give you an opportunity to shop for the best price, whereas the “I have to get a copy quickly” almost always costs more!!!

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I presume that Win 7 knows the date from the system date of the computer on which it is installed. If so, can I re-set the date back, say, 6 months and give myself another 6 months of use?

Sure, there are disadvantages to this, but would it work?

Welcome to the Lounge!

This, unfortunately, is not the place to ask such questions. We are more than happy to respond to most questions, but that is definitely outside our limits.

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I have not done this with win 7 but generally setting the system clock back will trigger a protection script and stop time dependant programs / OS working .

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Thank you. Could you explain clearly please exactly what “our limits” are, and why my question is outside them?

Also, if the proposed action is “illegal” what body of legislation is potentially breached?

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Also, if the proposed action is “illegal” what body of legislation is potentially breached?

Like most others, I have not read the entire EULA from MS, so I do not know for sure that it is illegal. I said it may be bordering on illegal. I have to believe attempting to trick the OS into thinking it’s an earlier date can not be a legitimate use of the technology and is attempting to skirt the rules laid down by MS. As I said earlier, if you want to continue using Win 7 because you are pleased with how it works, then go for it and get a legit copy of the RTM, you will not be disappointed.

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Thank you. Could you explain clearly please exactly what “our limits” are, and why my question is outside them?

Also, if the proposed action is “illegal” what body of legislation is potentially breached?

Did you read Rule 13 that Malcolm linked to ?? It clearly states that the Lounge does not allow discussions about copyright infringment, which is clearly what you are suggesting when you ask if the intended trial period can be circumvented, and thus extended, by adjusting the date settings on the computer.

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Did you read Rule 13 that Malcolm linked to ?? It clearly states that the Lounge does not allow discussions about copyright infringment, which is clearly what you are suggesting when you ask if the intended trial period can be circumvented, and thus extended, by adjusting the date settings on the computer.

With all due respect, I cannot see that any action I might take to extend the life of a software product by changing the system date on my computer infringes “copyright”.

Could you help me understand your position on this by providing me with the Lounge’s interpretation of the term “copyright” in this context, please.

Many thanks.

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With all due respect, I cannot see that any action I might take to extend the life of a software product by changing the system date on my computer infringes “copyright”.

Could you help me understand your position on this by providing me with the Lounge’s interpretation of the term “copyright” in this context, please.

Many thanks.

It is not the Lounge’s interpretation of ‘copyright’ in any context that matters. Microsoft owns the copyright to Windows7. Microsoft grants you a license to use Windows 7 (even the Beta and RC) under the terms of their applicable End User Licensing Agreement (EULA). Your use of Windows 7 constitutes your acceptance of the terms of the EULA. This then becomes a legally binding contract (offer and acceptance) between Microsoft and you. Any breach of the terms of the EULA by you constitute a breach of Microsoft’s copyright. This is one form of copyright infringement or piracy. Hence Rule 13 applies.

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With all due respect, I cannot see that any action I might take to extend the life of a software product by changing the system date on my computer infringes “copyright”.

Could you help me understand your position on this by providing me with the Lounge’s interpretation of the term “copyright” in this context, please.

Many thanks.

What you are proposing is theft. By altering the date on your computer to divert from “real time”, you would be effectively making an unauthorised copy of the Release Candidate. Rule 23(6) applies. ‘Nuff said.

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What you are proposing is theft. By altering the date on your computer to divert from “real time”, you would be effectively making an unauthorised copy of the Release Candidate. Rule 23(6) applies. ‘Nuff said.

Unsubstantiated assertions of illegality, and insults accompanied by an abrupt tone, hardly constitute the intellectual, tolerant, respectful and courteous manner that over the years has characterised this Lounge since the days of Eileen Wharmby.

May I respectfully draw your attention to rule 9.

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Unsubstantiated assertions of illegality, and insults accompanied by an abrupt tone, hardly constitute the intellectual, tolerant, respectful and courteous manner that over the years has characterised this Lounge since the days of Eileen Wharmby.

May I respectfully draw your attention to rule 9.

Can you tell us more about your friendship with Eileen Wharmby? Have you met any of her friends from St Gallen?

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Happy to oblige.

To be in complete compliance you will have to apply this information with the terms of the EULA you got with the software to be certain you are not in violation of any of the rights they claim.

But a good rule of thumb is to just assume that you are not permitted to do anything with copyrighted software that is not specifically stated as being permitted or to do anything to alter a subscription term to extend your use of the software beyond the stated term.

Microsoft software is definitely copyrighted and they take a pretty serious position on copyright infringement or violation.

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A quick check of the Microsoft Windows 7 EULA suggests:

If, after a validation check, the software is found to be counterfeit, improperly licensed, or a non-genuine Windows product, or if it includes unauthorized changes, then the functionality and experience of using the software will be affected. For example:
Microsoft may

[*] repair the software, and remove, quarantine or disable any unauthorized changes that may interfere with the proper use of the software, including circumvention of the activation or validation functions of the software; or

[*]check and remove malicious or unauthorized software known to be related to such unauthorized changes; or…

I would therefore feel that your suggestion could be classified as an unauthorised change. Not being Management here but with many years experience of this Board and its previous incarnation this was the normal stance. I hope that helps.

BTW I know all these documents are open to interpretation so will not continue this conversation if it about ways to circumvent the EULA and was offered as clarification

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You are attempting to circumvent the EULA to extend your RC for 6 mos. What would you call it except copyright infringement. And trying to change the topic to lounge rules violations does not change the fact of what you are proposing. Just spend the money and go legal!

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This started out as a good thread then detiorated into EULA speak, blah, blah, blah.
What I would like to know (but haven’t been able to find out) is if I need to buy the same version of Win7 as my evaluation version (ultimate v.7100) and when I install it will I lose all my previous settings?
Will the same thing happen if I install a lighter version eg. Home premium

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If you clean install you can use any version you desiree. If you do an in place upgrade you have to use the same edition. As you already know the RC was Ultimate, so an in place upgrade would need to be Ultimate. You can use Easy Transfer to transfer your settings to a removal media then back to the RTM. If you do a clean install, the installation will create a folder called windows.old which contains the entire contents of the old OS. You can open this as you would any other folder and grab all your data, i.e. app data, favorites, contacts, etc.

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As far as I know, you cannot upgrade an RC or Beta installation of Windows 7 to the released version. You need to either do a clean install or upgrade an existing Vista installation. Thus any settings you made in the RC or Beta are lost (not sure if the migration utility will help on this).

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