There are components in the pre-release versions of Windows 7 that will expire well ahead of the actual operating system, Microsoft revealed. This is the case of some of the video and audio codecs that are included by default with the next iteration of Windows. Even though Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 was made available for download at the start of January 2009, these components have a life spam of just a few months, and will expire come mid-March. However, Microsoft has already released an update designed to swap the components that are heading straight for expiration.

“In prerelease versions of Windows 7, certain audio and video codecs expire after 90 days. When you try to perform certain operations in this situation, such as DVD playback, TV playback, and some device sync operations, the operation fails with an error message such as "Decoder not found." The affected codecs include MPEG-2, H.264, and AAC. Additionally, Dolby Digital-related media may not play successfully. In this situation, you also receive the "Decoder not found" error message,” the Redmond company informed.

Microsoft issued a Windows 7 refresh in February 2009 attempting to remedy the situation. According to the Redmond company, the fresh video and audio codec components are delivered through Windows Update. Users will need to make sure and keep their copy of Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 updated in order to prevent any issues related to the operating system no longer being able to play nice with certain types of media files.

“An update is available that will replace certain audio and video Codecs that expire in prerelease versions of Windows 7 on March 15, 2009,” Microsoft added. “After you apply this update, certain audio and video codecs will not expire on this date.” Microsoft referred only to Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 in the documentation accompanying the update. The software giant said nothing about Windows 7 development milestones between Beta and Release Candidate, such as Windows 7 Build 7022, or Build 7048, which could indicate that these releases are also impacted.