Windows 7 RC1 doesn't expire until June 1, but we found a catch, and it's a pretty horrible one. Starting March 1, it'll shut down every two hours.

Watch the calendar. The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you'll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You'll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use.

Really? Really guys? You know, if you wanted us to stop using RC1 on March 1, it'd be totally fine to just have it expire. That's cool. The trial's over, time to move on people. But turning the entire OS into a crippling piece of harassmentware? Way to turn something awesome into a huge douchebomb moment for yourselves.

Anybody feeling brave enough to move their clocks up to March 1 to see what happens? [Microsoft via Giz AU]

Send an email to matt buchanan, the author of this post, at matt@gizmodo.com.