Windows Vista Beta 2, Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 and Windows Vista Release Candidate 2 are all set to expire as of May 31, 2007. In this context, Microsoft has already begun informing the participants in the Customer Preview Program that the clock is ticking for the pre-release editions of Windows Vista.

"On 31 May 2007, all Customer Preview Program (CPP) pre-release versions of Windows Vista will expire. If you are running a pre-release version of Windows Vista (Beta 2, RC1 or RC2), you will begin to receive warning notifications about the upcoming expiration on 18 May. To avoid work disruption and loss of data, we strongly recommend that customers running any of these pre-release versions of Windows Vista migrate their PCs to the final version of Windows Vista prior to 31 May," stated Nick White, Microsoft Program Manager.

Microsoft is aiming to nudge Windows Vista testers to make the jump to the final version of the operating system, as the last day of May is synonymous with the last day when pre-release versions of the platform can be run legally. Testers that do not plan to upgrade to one of the final editions of Windows Vista can regress back to Windows XP.

Microsoft added in a press note that it expects the vast majority of Windows Vista testers to have already made the jump to the final version and, as such, not be affected in any way by the May 31 expiration date. If this is not the case, the Redmond Company strongly advises testers to go ahead and upgrade in order to avoid any functionality inconveniences. And this because, as of June 1, 2007, Windows Vista will move to the Windows graveyard of perpetual reboot.

"After 31 May 2007, customers who continue to use pre-release versions of Windows Vista will be able to log in for 2-hour sessions to retrieve data. After 2 hours of use, the PC will automatically reboot without providing the opportunity to save data. The opportunity to log in normally for these 2-hour sessions will be available only until 28 August 2007. It is strongly recommended that PC users running any of these pre-release versions of Windows Vista migrate their PCs to the final version of Windows Vista or another operating system prior to 31 May," White added.