Need help

syedsultan · 16 Mar 2010

i am using windows 7 it was working fine after some months its not working properly..i got a message on my screen that (0 days left backup your files and install genuine windows) after that when ever i start my computer it automatically restarts(after every 2 hours)

and when i do windows validity check it show my computer is genuine

plz help

Tews · 16 Mar 2010

You have the Release Candidate version installed (7100), which has now expired. You need to install the retail version (7600)... Hope this helps...

Bare Foot Kid · 16 Mar 2010

Hello syedsultan, welcome to Seven Forums!

As Tews has said the RC has expired, have a look at the MS kb article at the link below.

Description of Windows 7 Beta and Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) expiration dates and functionality

syedsultan · 16 Mar 2010

thanks for the help....but i have lots of data installed in my computer..that i want to backup

can u tell me how to upgrade the windows without losing the installed file

and can you tell me which version of windows to download...

thank you

seekermeister · 16 Mar 2010

Typically, unless you are a Technet or msdnaa subscriber, you buy the OS in DVD form, rather than downloading it. Which to buy depends primarily on your budget, personal needs and hardware limitations. This will give you a rough idea of how to compare the versions:

Which one is right for you? - Microsoft Windows

The actual price to buy will vary some, depending on where you shop.

motc7 · 16 Mar 2010

syedsultan said:

thanks for the help....but i have lots of data installed in my computer..that i want to backup

can u tell me how to upgrade the windows without losing the installed file

here's the short answer. Don't try installing a retail version of 7 over the release candidate. I have seen way way too many problems with that as a tech.

I would get you an external hard drive, backup all your stuff to it, then install Windows from the retail DVD.

Bare Foot Kid · 16 Mar 2010

Hello again syedsultan.

After you have made backups of all the data and files you don't want to lose to an external hard drive (HDD) or individual CD/DVD disks, have a look at the tutorial at the link below; be sure to keep us informed.

Clean Install Windows 7

syedsultan · 16 Mar 2010

where to back up if i backup on cds they will be many .....i dnt hav extra HDD

Bare Foot Kid · 16 Mar 2010

syedsultan said:

where to back up if i backup on cds they will be many .....i dnt hav extra HDD

Hello syedsultan.

Those are the only 2 options available to you; well you could put some things on a USB drive.

seekermeister · 16 Mar 2010

There is one other possibility. You could backup to an online service, like Mozy, but as far as I know, there aren't any such services that are free.

EDIT: After a very quick Google, I found that there are a number of online backup services that offer a limited amount of free space. This one offers 50GBs free on a 14 day trial:

http://www.adrive.com/