Microsoft: Windows Vista Free Ride Is Over! Go Back to Windows XP!

Microsoft is sending out strong signals that the Windows Vista free ride has come to an end. The Redmond Company is subsequently advising that Windows vista upgrades should be deployed before May 31. This is because beginning with June 1, 2007, Windows Vista Beta 2, Release Candidate 1 and Release Candidate 2 will expire.

The participants in the Windows Vista Community Technology Preview program are directly affected by the May 31 expiration date. However, Microsoft has announced that testers have the possibility to upgrade to a final version of Vista, from a pre-release build.

"To install the final version of Windows Vista on any of these pre-release versions of Windows Vista, you may purchase the desired Windows Vista Upgrade. The Windows Vista Upgrade must be the same language version as the pre-release version you are replacing. If you participated in the Customer Preview Program, you have been using a pre-release version of Windows Vista Ultimate," Microsoft revealed.

At the bottom of this article, you will be able to access a graphic, courtesy of Microsoft, outlining the upgrade options available for Windows Vista. Microsoft is allowing CTP testers to purchase and deploy the Upgrade editions of Windows Vista, which come at a considerable discount compared to the full licenses. "There are no product discounts specifically for participants in the Customer Preview Program; however, because you are using a pre-release version of Windows Vista Ultimate, you can purchase and use the Upgrade version of Windows Vista," informed Nick White, Microsoft Product Manager.

The only limitations set in place refer to the deployment process, as users are restricted to performing a clean install and overwrite/lose all data on the installation partition. Users also have the option to roll back to Windows XP if they will prefer to do so rather than deploy Vista.

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