Microsoft not Supporting Windows 7 RC at All

Let me give you the story on this. So I go to Microsoft’s website and download myself a copy of Windows 7 RC, no biggie. I did this because I wanted to work out any issues with upgrading my ThinkPad X61 tablet. So the normal process begins I burn an image of the download and prepare to install it, pretty normal for Windows users. I install the OS and insert my key, but when I try to activate my key it tells me that my version has expired. This is very weird because Microsoft’s website says exactly this,”

• • Downloads will be available until August 20, 2009. After that, you can still install the RC and you can get a product key if you need one.
  • Watch the calendar. 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.)”

That is a direct copy from the website. It gets better, I try it with a different key just to make sure and it fails as well. So I make the call to try to activate over the phone, I get a rep and we begin the process. He gives me my confirmation ID and I type it in. I get a pop up that says they do not match, well here we go. So he confirms that these are the correct numbers and then tells me he needs to transfer me to tech support. Just super, Windows 7 hasn’t even released yet and already there are problems. So I get tech support and after the normal verify of info, she tells me something that made me speechless. She tells me that Microsoft is not supporting Windows 7 yet because it has not released, she also tells me that I must not be able to register because the trial period is over “no it’s not read your website.” She also told me they do not even have a support department for Windows 7, which shocks me because it releases on October 22.

Microsoft this is not a good start to a new product release and employees misquoting the information on your website is just poor business. Is Microsoft back to their old ways? Is this just the beginnings of problems to come with Windows 7? Beats me, but they may have just lost a user.