SubscribeOffice 2007 Beta Coming To An End
Microsoft has announced that the Office 2007 beta will end soon. You can read this on activewin.com. Let me summarize the key points:
- The Office Preview Site will close on October 25, 2006. That means, Office 2007 Beta 2 and Beta 2 Technical Refresh cannot be downloaded anymore starting October 25.
- Microsoft Customer Service and Support will begin providing technical support for Office 2007 on October 28, 2006.
- The formal beta testing phase will end on October 30, 2006.
- There will be no further beta releases beyond Beta 2 Technical Refresh.
- If you buy Office 2007 in its released version, you will have to uninstall all beta client applications, and then install the released version. This should be straightforward and you shouldn’t lose any settings or data in the process.
- All Office 2007 Beta 2 Technical Refresh Client applications will expire on March 31, 2007. All B2TR Server applications will expire on May 15, 2007. That means after those dates, Office 2007 Beta will not be usable. If you want to keep using Office 2007, you will have to purchase it.
October 9th, 2006 at 22:19
[…] Important: Office 2007 Beta Ending Soon […]
October 11th, 2006 at 6:38
As the Beta 2 Technical Refresh files are hosted on Microsoft Downloads, are you sure those files will be pulled from MS Downloads when the Office Preview web site is decommissioned?
Simon Jones
Contributing Editor
PC Pro Magazine
October 11th, 2006 at 6:57
Simon,
please read what is posted on activewin.com. That is all I know. And unless I have any information from Microsoft to the contrary, I have to assume that what is posted there is true. I made two changes compared to the activewin.com note though: I added the obvious reference to B2, and I stated the expiration date for client applications different from the note, as the public MS Office Known Issues list had a different date.
Patrick
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:46
Now that the Office 2007 Beta, Office has expired, what true method is there for removing it completely as it appears to be damaging files.
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:47
Damaging files? What do you mean?
Only Beta 2 expired btw. If you have B2TR installed, you are still good till the end of March.
To remove the beta completely, see http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/11/13/79
February 10th, 2007 at 23:46
To extend your 2007 office Beta, change your computer clock to Jan. 2 2007
February 11th, 2007 at 0:00
Dave,
what’s the point? You will be using a buggy beta for however long and it really won’t do you any good. Just get the trial version.
Patrick
February 11th, 2007 at 7:26
Hi Patrick, I seem to recall not too long ago that you advised the complete procedure for uninstalling Office 2007 B2TR to be followed by an installation of a NEW Office 2007 Small Business Version unfortunately despite saving the detail when I need it I can’t find it as is no the unusual scenarion. On a similar note regarding Windows “Files & Settings Transfer”, am I correct in that this is not applicable for Office and if so perhaps you could confirm relevant settings to save which presumably would be C:\Documents and Settings\Allan Rowlands although I suspect I’d also need to use tooling within Outlook for Email, Contacts etc? I agree with your comment regarding the clock, did amuse me to be honest.
February 11th, 2007 at 12:05
Allan,
the manual removal steps: http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/11/13/79
You’d have to use the User State Migration Tool 3 or Vista Windows Easy Transfer. Both are Windows tools and are not specific to Office. The Office Save My Settings Wizard has been discontinued for 2007.
I don’t know where you’d have to look for all your settings. You certainly have to get a lot of them out of the registry as well.
Patrick
February 12th, 2007 at 6:42
Hi Patrick
I suspected I was right regarding the Settings Wizard but unconcerned about that because I regularly back up everything including Outlook so not worried and having checked my pocket drive also found the above mentioned blog so at least I’m doing something right! By the way I’ve also now registered on the your site, don’t see any point in running around like a headless chicken when I can receive the usual prompt replies from you.
Regards
Aan