Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Earlier this month we discovered that the VPC (Virtual PC) images we distributed as part of the VS 2008 Beta2 release this summer unfortunately have an operating system timeout of November 1st of this year.  The standalone VS 2008 setup packages do not have this issue - only the pre-built VPC images do.  So if you've installed VS 2008 on your own operating system image you won't have any issues.

If you are using the Beta2 VPC images, though, is is really important that you retrieve all of the data that you have saved in them before November 1st (after this the OS won't work). 

Today we re-released the VS 2008 Beta2 VPC image downloads (without the timeout setting) that you can download and move to using instead here. 

Sorry for the mix-up,

Scott

Published Monday, October 29, 2007 9:18 PM by ScottGu
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Comments

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 12:27 AM by Tom Kirby-Green

Hi Scott,

On the VSX's team blog I read that they're already prepping the VS SDK for the RTM build - that being the case, will we mortals get a RC build of some variety before RTM (or RTW) later this year?

Kind regards,

tom

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 2:44 AM by JKON

Is there any way backing up the files after 1st day? ..Changing the system clock?

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 2:56 AM by Osman Pirci

Thanks Scott

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 3:38 AM by ras

Thanks Scott, this really helps.

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 5:20 AM by David Arno

I'm curious; if you discovered this "earlier this month", why wait until 2 days before the expiry date to notify people?

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 5:35 AM by David Arno

According to <a href="bink.nu/.../update-on-expiring-vs2008-beta2-vpcs.aspx">research by "Vasudev" over on Blink.nu, the OS won't stop working after the 1st; it will be time-limited instead.

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 5:55 AM by ScottGu

Hi Tom,

>>>>>> On the VSX's team blog I read that they're already prepping the VS SDK for the RTM build - that being the case, will we mortals get a RC build of some variety before RTM (or RTW) later this year?

We aren't planning a public RC build - instead we are doing private RC testing.  If you want to send me email, I can try to get you access to the bits.

Thanks,

Scott

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 5:56 AM by ScottGu

Hi JKON,

>>>>>> Is there any way backing up the files after 1st day? ..Changing the system clock?

Unfortunately I don't think there is any easy way to-do this after Nov 1st.  The best bet is to quickly back it up now.

Thanks,

Scott

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 5:58 AM by ScottGu

Hi David,

>>>>>> I'm curious; if you discovered this "earlier this month", why wait until 2 days before the expiry date to notify people?

We learned about it late last week (Thursday I think) and blogged about it within about 24 hours after we discovered it: blogs.msdn.com/.../vs2008-beta2-vpcs-expiring-prematurely.aspx

I didn't learn about it until yesterday - which is why I'm blogging it now.

Hope this helps,

Scott

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 6:36 AM by Jeff Beehler

One thing I'd like to clarify about what Scott says above is that after November 1st, your data will still be available.  When the OS evaluation period expires it goes into a mode where it'll run for an hour, present a dialog informing you that the evaluation period has ended and that it'll shut down in an hour.  So you essentially have a window of 2 hrs to the system before it shuts down. After that, you can restart the system and run it again for another two hours.  So, for some uses such as demos, the existing VPCs are still fine to use.  In other cases, you'll want to make a change either to migrate your data to the refreshed VPCs or upgrade the OS to a fully licensed version of Windows Server.  

There's a more detailed explanation of the situation on my blog here: blogs.msdn.com/.../update-on-expiring-vs2008-beta2-vpcs.aspx.  Please drop me a note if you need more information.

Thanks,

Jeff

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 6:43 AM by Karl Joest

Hmmm...so you guys have the RC ready and don't give it to the people? The guys who are going to have their problems with the Beta on the 1st will be more angry, if they have to download the same version again...Perhaps you might want to discuss your RC-policy again and give the expiring on Nov 1st a late sense - with the release of a RC on that date.

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 8:07 AM by David Arno

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the reply to my point. Yes it does help. Thanks.

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 8:49 AM by Anders M.

Hi Scott,

In your response to Tom:

>>>>> "We aren't planning a public RC build - instead we are doing private RC testing.  If you want to send me email, I can try to get you access to the bits."

Does that mean that there will (for sure) be no RC/Beta 3 and that the next version will be the final released late February 2008?

Personally I would love to see a RC (not VPC) – seems like a long time to wait :-)

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 9:21 AM by Vikram

Hi,

Can I also get a piece of Visual Studio RC. I would loge to help you guys.

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 9:43 AM by Nisim

Hello Scott please tell me how can I get vs 2008

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 9:53 AM by Richard J. Rothery Jr.

Scott,

Please, confirm. The VS2008 Beta2 standalone file from July 23, 2007 that is **NOT** going to expire on November 1, 2007 is:

**************************

OrcasBeta2VSTSX1394647.img

**************************

Best Regards,

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 12:35 PM by ScottGu

Hi Anders,

>>>>>> Does that mean that there will (for sure) be no RC/Beta 3 and that the next version will be the final released late February 2008?

We'll be releasing the final release pretty soon - it will happen this year, you won't need to wait until Feb.

Hope this helps,

Scott

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 12:46 PM by Dave Parslow

Is the date set yet on the RTM of Visual Studio 2008?  The devconnections website says the people that attend are going to receive a copy of it implying the RTM copy.

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 1:10 PM by lee

if we go to http://www.devconnections.com/ it says be first to recieve a copy of VS2008. is this final version?

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 2:54 PM by Johan

Hi Scott,

Visual Studio 2008 with the MVC Framework Preview, will that only be available for MSDN Subscriper or can anyone download it?

Best Regards

Johan

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 3:52 PM by AspDev

Scott,

+1 to those who say the VPC should contain RC.

You have the RC ready, but you are not prepared to give it out???

Is that your decision??? Could you explain the, ehem, logic, of that?

Is the RTM expected in the next few days, or late-Nov/Dec? You will really, really annoy people if you force them to install a new VPC with beta 2 tomorrow or Thurs, and then, say on Monday, announce RTM. Most folks can hang on for a few days if the RTM is imminent, otherwise installing the RC would make more sense.

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 4:54 PM by Martin Ennemoser

Scott, I agree with AspDev. We need something more than "soon" or "almost there" in terms of RTM timeframe. Not necessarily a specific day, but something like "in x weeks" would be highly appreciated.

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 5:10 PM by Jon

Scott, I would also like to know how close are you guys from having the RC out on the MSDN, we have a project that needs a ORM tool, but our company won't allow us to install Beta 2 in production. So our choice is going to be NHibernate if we have to wait until Febrary, please give us a clue on which month are you guys plan to release RC?

Thanks a bunch.

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:36 AM by Dan O

>>>>> Is there any way backing up the files after 1st day? ..Changing the system clock?

Warning: changing the BIOS clock will only make the trial period end sooner: see support.microsoft.com/.../812545

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 4:25 PM by D. Figuerres

Hey folks sometimes a public release is more hasle then it's worth, esp. if they are going from RC to RTM in less than say 40 days +/-  

he did say they have *PRIVATE* rc testing going on... so a bunch of folks who can't speak in the open must have the rc bits (may have had more than one rc by now?)

if the RTM is not ready till say late dec. then yes I want to have a go at an RC, if it's gonna go gold in less than 40 days... I can wait.  all depends on timing... :-)

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Thursday, November 01, 2007 9:09 PM by ElQuintero

Thanks Scott. ;-)

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Friday, November 02, 2007 5:41 AM by Rocky Moore

Hey Scott, how would someone go about getting the RC?  If there is a "Me too" list, I would love to get on it.  Trying to press through a few problems in different areas, with the latest being issues with "attach" in LINQ.  Would be great to try this out on the RC and see if there will work or if I need to continue trying to work on a workaround.

email: rjmoore@rockymoore.com

# re: Important Notice: VS 2008 Beta2 VPC Images Expiring on Nov 1st

Monday, November 05, 2007 10:55 AM by Robert Beaubien

Are there going to be additional Release Candidates,  or CTP's of VS2008 before the RTM?

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