Vista Beta 2 Expires?

[Guest]

I want to install Windows Vista Beta 2 on my local computer but will Vista
"somehow" expire in any way when the commerical release is out?

 

[Guest]

Vista Beta 2 will expire on May 31, 2007.

- JB

 

[Guest]

Vista Beta 2 will expire on May 31, 2007.

- JB

And at that time... Will I get a message "Windows Vista expired. Formatting
C:..."?

 

[William R. Mosher]

More Likely, 'This computer will self-destruct in five seconds...'

William

 

[Guest]

And at that time... Will I get a message "Windows Vista expired. Formatting

C:..."?

LOL, no ... It should warn you a few weeks before it expires, and once it
hits the day, I think it would block you from logging in.

- JB

 

[Guest]

More Likely, 'This computer will self-destruct in five seconds...'

William

Can't you just tell me what "exactly" will happen at the time it will
expire? Is it enough to set the system clock to that time and it expires?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

now, now.

More Likely, 'This computer will self-destruct in five seconds...'

William

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Vista expiration will not do anything to hurt your computer. It just won't
work any more.

I suspect that you might benefit from reading what the Customer Preview
Program for Vista is all about (from the CPP home page):

From http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx

"Note: This is beta code and should not be used in a production environment
or on a main machine in the home. Beta 2 is intended for developers, IT
professionals and technology experts to continue or begin their testing of
Windows Vista. Before you decide to use Beta 2, you should feel comfortable
with installing operating systems, updating drivers, and general PC
troubleshooting. Some risks of using beta operating systems include hardware
and software incompatibility and system instability. If you have concerns
about installing this beta software on your computer, we encourage you to
obtain the final release version of Windows Vista when it is available in
2007."

In other words, don't use Vista on your only day to day computer.

 

[Zapper]

You will have been able to find a warez version by then, so don't sweat
it...it is almost a year away..and that is just for the Beta2 version. If
you activated, you are gauranteed RC1..though I don't know how long that
will work.

 

[Conor]

Can't you just tell me what "exactly" will happen at the time it will
expire?

It'll lock you out. You'll be presented with a login screen that when
you click on your account, it'll tell you its locked out and ask for a
new product key. If yopu don't enter one, you can only shutdown or
restart the computer.

Is it enough to set the system clock to that time and it expires?

Yes.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

According to the EULA, there may be no warning.
Anyone using this Beta should be prepared long before the 31 May 2006 end
date.

 

[ZippoHenrik]

Windows Vista will still work after the licensing experation, but it will
automaticly deactivate
many of the features in Windows. (if not
M**rosoft changes their EULA intill then, and you won't be able to log on...

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I know the license is only valid until Vista releases, but do you really
think the software would stop working short of the timebomb date?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Why would it deactivate features? It is probably the case that reactivation
would fail after Vista launch.