True to previous news, Microsoft has finally made Windows 7 Release Candidate available for download to anyone, anywhere, and until July 2009. Yes, you read the last part correctly, Microsoft is extending the days when you can download the biggest update to our be.loved Windows OS. So this means that you don’t have to rush up on trying to download the Windows 7 today. Chances are you’ll be annoyed at how slow the process is going to take due to the outburst of users wanting to download the software. But if you insist in having it today, you might want to read 7 important things to remember before you download Windows 7. Here are seven important things to remember before downloading/installing Windows 7:
- RC will be available until July 2009 and there will be a number of product keys
- The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You’ll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use. (Learn more about installing Windows.)
- Back up your data and please don’t test the RC on your primary home or business PC.
- Read the Release Notes and Things to Know for important information about the release.
- Keep up with the news. You can keep up with general technical information and news by following the team blog. And, you can get non-technical news, tips, and offers by subscribing to the monthly Exploring Windows newsletter.
- Keep your PC updated: Be sure to turn on automatic updates in Windows Update in case we publish updates for the RC.
- Installation: You can install the Windows 7 RC on a PC running Windows Vista without backing up the PC—but we encourage you to make a backup for safe keeping. If you’re running Windows XP or the Windows 7 Beta, you’ll need to backup your data, then do a clean installation of the RC, then reinstall your applications and restore your data. If you need to do a backup, please see How to back up your PC for more details and a suggestion for how to backup a PC running Windows 7 Beta or Windows Vista.
So, ready to download Windows 7 now? Try your luck at the Microsoft Download Center.