Win 7 RC confirmed

[Arclight]

Got an e-mail from MS (finally):

Windows 7 Release Candidate Announcement
Thank you very much for your help in testing the Windows 7 Beta. Your feedback is invaluable in helping make Windows 7 a high quality operating system. With your help, we have reached the next major milestone on the journey to Windows 7: the Release Candidate (RC).
-On April 30th, the RC became available to MSDN subscribers and TechNet Plus subscribers.
-On Tuesday, May 5 (PST), the RC will be available to everyone via our Customer Preview Program. As with the Beta, the Windows 7 RC Customer Preview Program is a broad public program that offers the RC free to anyone who wants to download it. It will be available at least through June 30, 2009, with no limits on the number of downloads or product keys available.

So you don’t need rush to make sure you get your copy. When you’re ready to download the RC, it’ll be waiting for you.

To get the RC please use one of the following links:
-Developers
-IT Pros/Microsoft Partners
-Tech Enthusiasts/Consumers


IMPORTANT: If you are running Windows 7 Beta you’ll need to back up your data (preferably on an external device) and then do a clean install of the Windows 7 Release Candidate. After installing Windows 7, you will need to reinstall applications and restore your files. If you need help with the installation process, please see the Installation Instructions.

If you’re running Windows Vista, you can install Window 7 RC without having to back up and reinstall your programs and data. But to be on the safe side, please do backup your data before you start.

Please note: All users of the Windows 7 Release Candidate (including Windows Vista users who have upgraded to the Release Candidate) must do a clean installation of Windows 7 RTM. Please keep this is mind as you consider downloading the Release Candidate as opposed to waiting for the general availability release.

Thanks again for your help in reaching this important milestone. We hope that you will join us in testing the RC and finishing Windows 7!

[AVGWarhawk]

Hmmmmm. Makes it very interesting. I might have to give it a try:D

[Reece]

What is the time limit/expiry on this once installed?:hmmm:

[Peto]

What is the time limit/expiry on this once installed?:hmmm:

Always a good question. It was months with Vista though.

[AVGWarhawk]

Vista is still in beta....no wait. :shifty:

[Arclight]

:rotfl:
What is the time limit/expiry on this once installed?:hmmm:
June 1st, 2010 and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010. Whatever that means. :06:

Windows 7 Beta will expire on August 1, 2009, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009.
RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/donna/archive/2009/04/30/expiration-reminder-windows-7-beta-and-rc.aspx

[Peto]

Vista is still in beta....no wait. :shifty:

:haha:

[Spike88]

:rotfl:June 1st, 2010 and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010. Whatever that means. :06:
http://msmvps.com/blogs/donna/archive/2009/04/30/expiration-reminder-windows-7-beta-and-rc.aspx

I believe Bi-hourly shutdowns means that if run the OS it'll shutdown every 2 hours.

Atleast thats how it looks. Kinda like the N64 used to do in toys r us, you'd only get to play for 10 minutes before it restarted.

[Arclight]

Well that would be anoying, to say the least. If they're gonna be like that about it, why not just have it expire March 1st? Epople at MS make no sense. :nope:

Oh well, if it means I can put off forking over cash for another year it's not so bad I guess. Wonder if they'll give me a discount for testing. :D

[AVGWarhawk]

I have heard of Beta testers getting the OS for free. Lets face it, you used your hardward on potentially destructive OS programs. You should get something for sticking your hard drive out.

[Peto]

I have heard of Beta testers getting the OS for free. Lets face it, you used your hardward on potentially destructive OS programs. You should get something for sticking your hard drive out.

Typically a virus :nope:.

[Arclight]

The Win7 beta FAQ (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-faq.aspx) specifically states you don't get a free copy. :(

Although I think I read somewhere you could get a free copy of Vista if you signed up for some program, see if I can find it...

Ah, here it is:

Sign up for the Windows Feedback Program

Touch the future. Join the Windows Feedback Program so we can learn more about how you use Windows every day. We'll use your feedback to design upcoming versions of Windows. If you send us automated feedback for at least three months and participate in surveys, you will receive a free version of Windows Vista or Office Ultimate 2007. To sign up, please send email to winpanel@microsoft.com with the subject line: "Request to sign up for Windows Feedback Program on Windows 7." We'll send you a registration link. Enrollment is limited to the first 500 participants.
* PS: RC is up. :yeah:

[AVGWarhawk]

Typically a virus :nope:.

Keep that hard drive covered:har:

[Peto]

:yep:

Well--I've decided (finally) to build my next system and I think I'll try using RC 7 for its OS. It should prove to be interesting... I wonder if it'll handle Rise of Flight :hmmm:? I'm pretty sure my new system will!!!

Ordering of parts begins tomorrow :woot:! The only parts I've really nailed down so far is AMD Deneb 940 CPU and my, already purchased EVGA 9800GTX. Gigabyte is in the lead for MBD although I haven't completely made up my mind yet.

I look forward to seeing what I can squeeze out of Windows 7 with 4 cores.

[Arclight]

Installed Win7 RC on a friends PC yesterday: 1,8GHZ P4 with 512MB RDRAM and Radeon 9250 graphics card. Ran fine. :yep:

No aero offcourse, but it worked, smoother than XP (think 34 processes right after install). Only problem was not being able to get online because no driver was installed for NIC. I don't know whether this was because of Win7 still being in test-version, or the antique components in that PC not being supported anymore. Actually this applies to more components, such as sound cards.


Word of advice: ;)

If you plan on putting this on your primary and perhaps only PC, collect all the drivers you need after intalling Win7 beforehand.

[Peto]

Installed Win7 RC on a friends PC yesterday: 1,8GHZ P4 with 512MB RDRAM and Radeon 9250 graphics card. Ran fine. :yep:

No aero offcourse, but it worked, smoother than XP (think 34 processes right after install). Only problem was not being able to get online because no driver was installed for NIC. I don't know whether this was because of Win7 still being in test-version, or the antique components in that PC not being supported anymore. Actually this applies to more components, such as sound cards.


Word of advice: ;)

If you plan on putting this on your primary and perhaps only PC, collect all the drivers you need after intalling Win7 beforehand.

That's good advice :up:!!! From what I've heard and read, 7 is better about finding hardware than Vista was when released (had nightmares 'o plenty with that)! Once I figure out what hardware I'm going to have I'll start collecting drivers on my flash drive.

[Zachstar]

The drivers that come on the DVD are limited and when it finally hits the stores there will likely be more.

The main thing tho is for petes sakes PLEASE have drivers for your network card ready. Everything else is not important because most of them will come back once windows update installs the drivers for them if the hardware maker allowed them to do so.

I look forward to upgrading (Using 7 build 7000 right now) Just got to get my stuff backed up first.

[Arclight]

Pleased to report the refresh issue with CRT monitor is fixed (wouldn't go above 60). Also, the "open submenus when I pause on them with the cursor" option now works. Haven't had time to explore any further, but it seems they paid close attention to feedback. :up:

[Arclight]

Well, I did it. Borked my first install.

Was messing around with getting 70hz in games, when my CRT went black. Everytime the NVIDIA drivers loaded, the screen would go black. Uninstalled drivers, reinstalled, uninstalled again, tryed different drivers, nothing worked. Thank god I have LCD for secondary, but that didn't help me either; yes I could see what I was doing but the CRT wouldn't work anymore. Everytime I hooked both screens up, both would go black. Tried going online to look for solution... to find out I was suddenly and mysteriously disconnected, no way to repair connection. :o

Oh, and Comodo kept giving an error when trying to update, so I tried uninstall, which caused BSOD (1st one ever). :-?

Now on my 2nd install, let's see if this one holds out for more than 24hrs. :doh:

I think beta was more stable :yep: Good run, but they fumbled 1 yard short of the end zone. :shifty:

[Peto]

Which series of Nvidia's drivers are you using (8xxx, 9xxx, etc)? Do you think the problem might be caused by having different refresh rates for different monitors? Odd that video crossed over to your network (nVidia network software?).

I hope you don't mind me asking questions. I'm just being selfish and hoping to avoid my own "challenges" by capitalizing on your frustration :03:! I'm taking my time with my own new build so it'll probable be a week-month till I actually fire my new gear. Case and PWS on the way now though (Antec 900 and Corsair 650W (Seasonic was just too expensive)).

Good Luck with your RC tribulations...:salute:

[Arclight]

Don't mind questions at all, I like speculating. :D

Card is 8800GTS 512 (G92 core, like the 9 series). Once the problem occured it didn't matter what I installed, but it initially happened while running 182.06 32-bit drivers. Board has Intel P35 chipset.

I think the mix of CRT and LCD monitors might have something to do with it, though I think the lack of support for older CRTs lies at the core; more people are using LCD nowadays so that's where they focused their efforts. For some reason Win7 thinks the CRT can't do more than 60hz unless it's running 1024x768, while XP recognized the screen being capable of 1280x960 @70hz.

2 things to mention: I had Rivatuner set up to force 70hz at 1280x960 at all times, which didn't seem to be working. The problem occured as I was trying to set up a custom res in Nvidia control panel (1280x960 70hz). Clicked the icon for the CRT, set up the res, tested, failed. Tried again, test, succes. But the res got assigned to the LCD instead of the CRT. Deleted it, selected CRT again, set it up, clicked test and went black. Just seems to be some conflict between Win7 and CRTs or Win7 and Nvidia control panel.

Now that I think about it, had an issue with my new install too: couldn't select 75hz for the LCD in Nvidia panel, but could through Win7s own method (display properties>advanced). Definitely something wrong there.

Just before everything went black, my CRT indicated it switched to a 35hz mode. It's almost like the hertzes (?) got "split" between the 2 screens; instead of 1 running at 70 and the other at 75, both got 35 which obviously doesn't work. As if the 2 screens got handled as 1? Sounds really weird, but it's the best sense I can make of it. :-?

The LAN problem was because I have 2 NICs: 1 onboard (realtek) and 1 add-in card (antique 3com leftover) to connect to a switch and other PCs on a network. For some reason windows decided to ignore the onboard and opted to use the add-in card for internet. Probably could have straightend it out, but because the monitors where freaking out I choose to reïnstall. Why the problem occured in the first place is beyond me. :hmmm:



Oh, and that Corsair 650Watt has Seasonic components. Good choice IMHO. :yep: