Microsoft has made Windows 7 Enterprise available for free download with an evaluation period of 90 days for IT Professionals responsible for desktop administration and deployment. This evaluation period download is only available for a limited time while supplies last.
The extended evaluation period will gives businesses a chance to test run the new Windows 7 operating system to determine if it meets company"s standards as the next major upgrade. This evaluation period is for IT Professionals who do not have access to Windows 7 RTM through:
- Software Assurance Volume License agreement
- MSDN and TechNet subscriptions
- Software Assurance agreement allowing the download of Windows 7 RTM via the Volume Licensing Download Center.
Companies that do not have access to the above means will be able to download Windows 7 Enterprise before the retail release date on October 22, 2009. After the 90 day evaluation period, companies will need to purchase Windows 7 and do a clean install including drivers and applications.
Microsoft does caution companies about this evaluation code before users download it:
- A limited number of licenses are available, so the download will only be available while supplies last.
- Following the 90 day evaluation period, IT Pros who wish to continue to use Windows 7 Enterprise will be required to purchase and perform a clean installation of Windows 7, including drivers and applications.
- Windows 7 Enterprise Edition 90-Day Trial is the final Released-to-Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7 Enterprise Edition. This is the same software that is available to Volume Licensing (VL) through Software Assurance (SA) and is feature-complete.
- Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial is available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Japanese in both 32 and 64 bit versions.
- Activation of Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial is required within 10 days after installation, or the product will shut down every hour. Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial is valid for 90 days after installation. After expiration, your computer will shut down every hour.
Windows 7 Enterprise is not available through retail stores.
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