Windows 7 RC Downloads Extended to August 20th

Windows 7 Release CandidateNotice:

Downloads will end August 20

Thanks for all your help building Windows 7. We are on our way to the last big milestone: Release to Manufacturing. Starting on October 22, you’ll see it on PCs and store shelves. As we gear up for that, it’s time to wind down the Release Candidate testing program.

If you or a friend needs a download, you’ve got time. We’ll continue to offer the RC download until August 20, 2009. After that, you won’t be able to get the download, but if you have the bits, you can still install the RC and get a key if you need one.

(To get a key, just go to the Downloads page and follow the instructions.) Tell us what you think.

If you’re using the Windows 7 Release Candidate, we hope you like what you see. Let us know — go to http://input.microsoft.com and tell us what you think. You’ll be able to give feedback on various aspects of the operating system. Got the RC and need help? Experts on the Windows 7 Forum can help answer your questions. The forum also gives you a way to share what you’ve learned with other people

can’t boot to an operating system

Tom had called into our show to say he had been unable to boot to Normal mode, Safe mode, and a command prompt.

Advanced troubleshooting for general startup problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/

He might be able to boot into the Recovery Console

Try to use System Restore

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He might need to try to do a “repair installation”:

How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if Internet Explorer 7 is installed
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917964/

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

If you perform an in-place upgrade of Windows XP, all existing restore points are removed and a new system checkpoint restore point is created after the in-place upgrade is complete. Do not perform an in-place upgrade if you may have to use System Restore to restore your computer to a previous state.

You may lose data or program settings after reinstalling, repairing, or upgrading Windows XP.

If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed on your computer, you must reinstall Service Pack 2 after you reinstall or repair Windows XP…

After you perform an in-place upgrade or repair installation, you must reinstall all updates to Windows…

System Restore

During our latest show we were discussing how to use System Restore…here are links to more information:

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Start your computer in safe mode with command prompt.
At the command prompt, type rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER.

Can Facebook Be Private?

This is the article I mentioned during our latest show…it’s in the July edition of PC World: Can Facebook Be Private?
“…Facebook will warn you that the app can access your personal data, but it won’t tell you exactly what personal data that app uses…
“…if a friend installs an app, the program will by default be able to see anything you’ve shared with that friend…

“…create a list of friends, then restrict content-sharing to certain lists…

“…Facebook’s profile preview tool: Go to Settings, Privacy Settings, then Profile, and type a friend’s name in the box up top. You’ll see your own profile as it would be viewed by that friend, and can then adjust your privacy settings accordingly.”