Windows 7 Beta Stops Working On August 1st?

Well, I hadn't noticed this before, but apparently the beta version of Windows 7 will "stop working" on August 1st, 2009..

The Beta will stop working on August 1, 2009. To continue using your PC, please be prepared to reinstall a prior version of Windows or a subsequent release of Windows 7 before the expiration date. You won't be able to upgrade from the Beta to the final retail version of Windows 7.

So like, will it just freeze up and stop working or something? How will they make it stop working?

Is there a way I can bypass or remove this limitation? Will setting my computer date back work?

If not, is there a way to go back from Windows 7 to Vista?

Because I upgraded my main computer to Windows 7 since I used it and enjoyed it extremely, and never knew about this.. Any advice? Before it's too late.

I can't back up because I'm using a school image i upgraded from xp to 7 and i dont have the original xp disk and i'll get screwed for using illegal stuff as I already got suspended from school for 3 days for having illegal cracks and stuff on my laptop.

So then will fooling Windows and setting my system time back to like 2007 or something stop it?

Or is there like an actual way to go from 7 to Vista like a downgrade but keeping settings and programs?

EDIT: Can I just like backup my whole 7 registry and then do a vista install over my 7 windows folder and import the registry and keep files or is there a big difference between 7 and vista registries?

I wasn't talking about specific illegal stuff, I was just saying I got in trouble at school for it.

And there has to be a way to stop it since it's in the code and there must be a way to remove or modify that code that causes that message that keeps restarting your computer.

And if not, then back to the other idea of backing up my program files and registry and stuff from win 7, then doing a fresh vista install and replacing the 7 registry backup over the vista registry and moving back all my program files and stuff. Could that work? Or is 7's registry too different?

And what's this about a RC win 7? Will that be free to download like this beta was?

Crap, should have noticed this earlier >_<

I keep seeing people say thier copy will stop on Aug 1st but mine will stop on July 1st for some reason! (See pic below) Anyone know why?

ClericX said:

So then will fooling Windows and setting my system time back to like 2007 or something stop it?

Or is there like an actual way to go from 7 to Vista like a downgrade but keeping settings and programs?

EDIT: Can I just like backup my whole 7 registry and then do a vista install over my 7 windows folder and import the registry and keep files or is there a big difference between 7 and vista registries?

1. Setting your time back like that will kill it upon your first boot afterwards.

2. No

3. It will BSOD, or at best black screen out with just a cursor.

ClericX said:

And there has to be a way to stop it since it's in the code and there must be a way to remove or modify that code that causes that message that keeps restarting your computer

That breaks the EULA and is illegal.

artnada said:

I keep seeing people say thier copy will stop on Aug 1st but mine will stop on July 1st for some reason! (See pic below) Anyone know why?

Mine too... I just checked after reading your post...