Windows 7 RC and XP given extensions on life well into 2010

Whether or not Windows 7 does launch in October as previously suggested, those who have (or plan to get) Release Candidate will be happy to hear that Microsoft won't be pulling the plug until June 1, 2010, well over a year from now and 11 months after its initial expiration date. After that, you're gonna have to fork over the Benjamins for one of the retail SKUs if you wanna keep 7 alive. As for those still living in Redmond's past, the company's also extended the life of XP, at least for OEMs. Companies using the older OS will still be able to install it on netbooks for up to one year after 7's official shape date. Seeing as the new system's likely to have a more expensive licensing fee, it's probably the best move if the company plans on keeping that 96% grip on the netbook OS market.

[Via gadgetmix]

Read - Windows 7 RC extension
Read - Windows XP extension

[Inzain Posted May 1st 2009 7:20AM]

It will, but it's gonna be sluggish. I have the RC (build 7100) running on an old PC down in the basement - Athlon XP 2400+,1GB RAM, on-board GeForce2 and it runs nicely with all the whizbang aero effects turned off.
A friend of mine has the RC running on a Duron 1.2Ghz with 640MB RAM and that works pretty nice too.

[superhobo Posted May 1st 2009 8:18AM]

Yeah, it will. That processor is about as powerful as the Atoms in netbooks, which run it fine.

It might be lacking for RAM though.

I installed in on my old P4 2GHz with 256MB(lol) RAM, it's quite snappy when not doing anything.

[MikeWard1701 Posted May 1st 2009 8:55AM]

As Zane has said, it'll be sluggish.

There's a couple of things you can do though that may increase performance.

1) Use a USB flash drive or memory card with ReadyBoost. Depending of the size of drive/card you use and the amount you assign to readyboost, you could see some good improvements in performance. Even if you go for the full 4GB though, you wont get the fancy Areo graphics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Readyboost

2) Install more RAM. Maybe not the cheapest option but more guaranteed to improve performance, Bringing your total above 1GB will help and anything after that is a bonus. I'm guessing you're using DDR (which seems to be getting expensive again), check your motherboard specs, see what RAM speeds it supports and if it supports dual channel.


I'm looking forward to trying Win7 on my P4 2.8GHz with 2.5GB of DDR400 RAM and GeForce 6600GT, I'm hoping it runs well (and if it gives me Aero thats a bonus), as a backup though I've got a 4GB flash drive prepped for ReadyBoost.

[fikhl Posted May 1st 2009 9:17AM]

Thanks everyone for answers! so it will work but might be a bit sluggish, which I don't care 'cause I'm planning to use it as a backup server.
Tried XP, Ubuntu and I always had networking issues going on.Anyway glad to hear that it'll work! Well done MS! I hope 7 will do the trick here! RC, Heeeere I come!

@MikeWard1701

I just upgraded the RAM recently for Ubuntu. it is SDRAM! and quite expensive,it initially had only 256MB, I got another 512MB stick. I hope it would be enough I'm not going to pay $30 for a SDRAM in 2009! :)

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2009 7:36AM]

That's a pretty sweet deal Microsoft is offering here (regarding Windows Sev7n). I mean I'll put the Win7 RC in the next weeks in replacement for my Windows XP Pro SP2 (not very clear stuff here I must admit, if you catch my drift :D)...Windows Sev7n R.C. will definitely help my decision to stay on a Windows machine or go Apple with a Macbook Unibody. I mean I'm not sold on OSX yet but if Windows Sev7n is as good as what I've been hearing, I guess Redmond is going to get some of what is/ will be in my wallet.
I know it is a R.C. so it may be a little different when it will reach retail version, but I think a R.C. is a better way to judge an OS rather than a beta...So props to Microsoft !!!!

[BOGRASH Posted May 1st 2009 8:11AM]

buried for "Sev7n"

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2009 9:14AM]

Microsft has Smiled on us this day!! I was planning on saving up $400 for W7Ultimate just in case it's that much. Now I can wait for next years income tax! Thank you MS! This is a big push for me to upgrade to RC1. Yes!

[superhobo Posted May 1st 2009 9:31AM]

Ultimate is going to cost $400?

I doubt it.

[superhobo Posted May 1st 2009 9:30AM]

Mine was SDRAM too :p

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2009 12:17PM]

So for those of us who are using the beta, is there an update that converts Beta -> RC? I really don't want to have to download a 3 gig file from scratch, again.

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2009 10:55AM]

It'll continue "working" until June 2010... However,

"Expiration dates – Make sure you plan ahead when it comes to expiration dates. For the RC you will need to rebuild your test machine with a genuine copy of the RC before the beta expires. Dates below:

* Windows 7 Beta – Expires August 1, 2009. Your machine will begin shutting down every 2 hours from July 1, 2009.
* Windows 7 RC – Expires June 1, 2010. Your machine will begin shutting down every 2 hours from March 1, 20010."

I'm liking Windows 7 and all, but everyone needs to be clear on how this system works.

[MiggityMikeB Posted May 1st 2009 11:43AM]

"from March 1, 20010"

so youre telling me we got some time then?

[aaronaaron Posted May 1st 2009 11:03AM]

I put it on a old laptop, an hp NC4010 w/ 512mb, No aero effects, no problem. Idle, it was using 290mb ish of memory.

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2009 12:29PM]

OK totally Noob question but where can i pick up the windows 7 RC?

[MikeWard1701 Posted May 1st 2009 8:07PM]

www.windows7.com

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2009 12:46PM]

Just want the earbuds, but will take the Zune too!

[(Unverified) Posted May 12th 2009 5:13AM]

If windows 7 also works as windows Xp , i Definitely change my windows Xp into windows 7.
I will wait for this to be release. I hope this launch goes much smoother than Windows XP.