quoted from:
[url]http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/preview.mspx[/url]

Windows Vista: Beta 2, RC1, and RC2 Set to Expire
On May 31, 2007, pre-release versions of Windows Vista will expire. If you
are running a pre-release version of Windows Vista (Beta 2, RC1, or RC2) you
will begin to receive notifications about the upcoming expiration on May 18,
2007. To avoid work disruption and the loss of data, it is strongly
recommended that PC users running any of these pre-release versions of
Windows Vista migrate their PCs to the final version of Windows Vista prior
to May 31.

To install the final version of Windows Vista on any of these pre-release
versions of Windows Vista, you may purchase the desired Windows Vista
Upgrade. The Windows Vista Upgrade must be the same language version as the
pre-release version you are replacing.

If you participated in the Customer Preview Program, you have been using a
pre-release version of Windows Vista Ultimate. Windows Vista Ultimate is the
most complete edition of Windows Vista—with the power, security, and mobility
features that you need for work, and all of the entertainment features that
you want for fun.

The table below outlines the upgrade options from the different versions of
pre-release Windows Vista:




Windows Vista Ultimate RTM Other editions of Windows Vista RTM Previous
version of Windows

Windows Vista Beta 2
Clean install with Ultimate Upgrade
Clean install with Upgrade version of desired edition
Clean install with full version

Windows Vista RC1
In-place upgrade or clean install with Ultimate Upgrade
Clean install with Upgrade version of desired edition
Clean install with full version

Windows Vista RC2
Clean install with Ultimate Upgrade
Clean install with Upgrade version of desired edition
Clean install with full version



A clean install means your current version of Windows, including all of your
files, settings, and programs, is automatically replaced. You must back up
any data as this process will overwrite any data that you have on your hard
disk or on your installation partition. The overwritten data will be lost and
unrecoverable.

An in-place upgrade means you can install Windows Vista and keep your
programs, files, and settings from your current version of Windows. It is
still strongly recommended that you back up any data prior to initiating the
upgrade.

Make sure the PC you have is the PC you have always wanted. Purchase and
download the Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade or any desired edition now by
going to [url]http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/upgradenow[/url].

_____________end quote_________________


To reiterate the key point of misleading information:
"It is still strongly recommended that you back up any data prior to
initiating the upgrade"

I did exactly that, via the only means I knew how: total backup---to
preserveall files and programs and settings.

Now, someone (Peter?) please tell me where on that page, or on any MS page
=in prominent public view=, where do they tell the gazillion RC users, that
their backups will only re-apply data into Ultimate?

And, where is the warning, tht if they buy a low-grade Vista, then the
prescribed backup disks of no use, not even to put to some other operating
system.

We, the great majority of computer users, are not expert nor are we lawyers.

We only know when we have been had.