The proverbial “free ride” is about to come to an end for pre-release copies of Microsoft’s latest iteration of the Windows client. Early adopters still running Windows 7 Build 7100 need to upgrade to the RTM Build 7600 version of the platform as soon as possible. This because Windows 7 RC Build 6.1.7100.0.090421-1700 is only one month away from its expiration deadline.

Just as it is the case for a variety of Microsoft testing development releases, Windows 7 RC Build 7100.0.090421-1700 is time-bombed and will enter its expiration period at the start of the coming month. By mid-2010, Windows 7 RC will be completely expired and will be treated in the same manner as a pirated copies of the operating system, offering customers experiences similar to platform versions that have been detected as non-genuine by the Windows Genuine Advantage antipiracy mechanism, according to Brandon LeBlanc, Windows Communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team.

“On February 15th, people still running the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) will receive a notification reminding them that starting March 1st, 2010, their PC will begin experiencing bi-hourly shutdowns. These shutdowns will continue through June 1st, 2010,” LeBlanc stated. “On June 1st, 2010, a non-genuine experience is triggered where your wallpaper is removed and “This copy of Windows is not genuine” will be displayed in the lower right corner above the taskbar. This means your PC will no longer be able to obtain optional updates or downloads that require genuine Windows validation.”

Microsoft released Windows 7 RC in the first half of May 2009, and gave testers running Build 7100.0.090421-1700 almost a year of free usage in exchange for the feedback they provided. An earlier version of Windows 7, Beta build 7000 expired on August 1st, 2009. “To avoid any data loss, I suggest making plans to move to a released version of Windows 7 before the automatic shutdowns start. During these shutdowns, your work will not be saved. Remember, pre-release versions of Windows are unsupported,” LeBlanc added.

Here are the stages of Windows 7 RC expiration, as outlined by Microsoft in KB 971767:

“Effective February 15, 2010, the expiration notification process begins:
- Windows 7 RC users receive an expiration notification in the task bar one time per day.
- Windows 7 RC users are presented with the Notification Wizard one time every four hours and then one time every hour.

Effective March 1, 2010, Windows 7 RC enters the next phase of expiration:
- Expiration notifications in the task bar continue.
- Computers that are running Windows 7 RC restart every two hours.

Effective June 1, 2010, Windows 7 RC expires:
- Windows starts to a black desktop.
- Windows 7 RC users are presented with a Windows Activation screen. The screen states that the Windows that you are running is not genuine.
- Computers that are running Windows 7 RC restart every two hours.”