The pre-release versions of Windows 7 will go through two phases on their way to expiration. The operating systems will not cut off testers at once, but, instead, transition into a pre-expiration period where the platform will start shutting down at two-hour intervals. Only at the end of the first phase on the road to expiration will Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 and Windows 7 Release Candidate Build 7100 actually switch off, leaving testers in the dark. The first one to go will be, of course, Windows 7 Beta. Microsoft has, in fact, already started sending out emails to all participants in the Customer Technology Preview program warning of the imminent expiration of Build 7000.

“Over the weekend, some of you may have received an email from us reminding you that the Windows 7 Beta expires on August 1st, 2009. In that email, we ask that if you are still on the Windows 7 Beta that you should consider moving to a ‘non-expired’ copy of Windows such as the Windows 7 RC or Windows Vista because bi-hourly shutdowns will begin June 1st. The Windows 7 Beta does expire on August 1st, 2009; unfortunately, the date for when bi-hourly shutdowns will begin for the Windows 7 Beta was incorrect however. Bi-hourly shutdowns for the Windows 7 Beta will begin July 1st, 2009,” Brandon LeBlanc, Windows communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, revealed.

As far as the Windows 7 Release Candidate is concerned, Microsoft has set the absolute kill deadline on June 1, 2010. That's when testers will completely lose access to the operating system. But RC Build 7100 will also go through the pre-expiration phase plagued with bi-hourly shutdowns. For Windows 7 RC, this period will start on March 1, 2010. “If you’re still on the Windows 7 Beta, you should certainly look at giving the Windows 7 RC a try,” LeBlanc stated.

32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (Release Candidate) RC Build 7100.0.090421-1700 is available for download here.