Or more specifically, can you just modify your key to the new key that you get without having to reinstall? Will they provide a patch to move RC to gold? Assuming the above would work, can you buy professional and just 'downgrade' you install by updating the key to the professional key, thereby disabling the features which are only available in ultimate?

Youdon't assume that you could get a pre-release version to "gold" only by applying the right key, or do you? So, no. There are tricks to create some Frankenstein's Windows out of beta + final parts, but what's the purpose of that? Just reinstall your previous system and upgrade normally.Mobile AMD64 3000+, VIA Apollo K8T800 chipset, 1 G RAM, ATIRadeonMobility 9700, 20x DVDRW, C:XPSP3 (55G),D:WIN7 (25G),F:DATA (250G)

larry - No... There are a couple of reasons why.1.) There is no way to downgrade from Ultimate to Professional, Home Premium, etc... You can go the OTHER way - upgrade from Home Premium to Pro or Ultimate. But it doesn't work the other way around.2.) You don't want beta or RC bits lingering about with your final code. As they said when the RC was released, there are all manner of glitches that can pop up that Microsoft won't be tracking down.

Youdon't assume that you could get a pre-release version to "gold" only by applying the right key, or do you? So, no. There are tricks to create some Frankenstein's Windows out of beta + final parts, but what's the purpose of that? Just reinstall your previous system and upgrade normally. Mobile AMD64 3000+, VIA Apollo K8T800 chipset, 1 G RAM, ATIRadeonMobility 9700, 20x DVDRW, C:XPSP3 (55G),D:WIN7 (25G),F:DATA (250G) Sanmartin - Hmm.. FrankenWindows! I like it... Sounds like a new horror movie.

larry - No... There are a couple of reasons why.1.) There is no way to downgrade from Ultimate to Professional, Home Premium, etc... You can go the OTHER way - upgrade from Home Premium to Pro or Ultimate. But it doesn't work the other way around.2.) You don't want beta or RC bits lingering about with your final code. As they said when the RC was released, there are all manner of glitches that can pop up that Microsoft won't be tracking down. Thanks, that was nicely put. Was hoping I wouldn't have to re-install, but I guess it wouldn't be horrible. Done it twice so far this year, after all :)

larry - You're welcome. Reinstalling Windows is something that shouldn't be too surprising - after all, the instructions when you downloaded it said it was coming. I know.. It can be a daunting task but them's the breaks when it comes to testing a Beta (and/or RC) OS.