Windows 7 beta starts today!

[OrangeJuicey]

I was just on the windows 7 site and its got an announcement that if you want to try the beta to come back on the afternoon of the 9th of January afternoon. That equates to some point this evening the beta should go live.

I've chatted to some people who have been using windows 7 pre beta version with the 30 day trial period. I've only heard good things about it, its faster for starters, and they didn't have to download any drivers to get the operating system up and running.

The beta download is here: (p.s i can't access this site any more it just loads forever but i was on it earlier)

www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/

Windows 7 compared to XP and Vista:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3236

p.s

the web site is still down, if anyone has an alternative for the beta when it launched please post!

[bcuk]

Gonna give this a go, what time (UK) does this go live?

[DejaVu]

Website down? Seems up to me!

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/

The link you posted is incorrect.

Been using Windows 7 for a day... LOVE IT! GET IT IN YOUR LIFE!

[OrangeJuicey]

yeah the site seems to work at home not at work strange.

Its still not released but it is some time today american time though i'm guessing so we'll just have to wait till it comes on. Says today in the afternoon

[maltloaf]

it was getting hammered early on, ms recommend this link

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx

when it's up.

I did hear they are limiting the licences to about a million though so theres likely to be some disappointed i would think

[Mickey]

Once it becomes public and ironed out the bugs i will DEF buy it

[tom999]

yeah its pretty good, also on technet for those lucky enough to have it

[Waka]

Been using it for a week. This beta is faster and more stable than Vista Ultimate SP1 was!

W.

[tiggerbiker]

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/e.../dd353205.aspx

[kracken]

New download links ...

Direct links
Windows 7 x86 (32bit)
Windows 7 x64 (64 bit)

Microsoft is also providing a QFE patch for the MP3 corruption issues that have plagued build 7000, this should be online shortly as KB961367. It's extremely important you apply this patch as you may lose parts of your MP3s if the patch is not applied. 32bit and 64bit patches are now available.

[kracken]

I did hear they are limiting the licences to about a million though so theres likely to be some disappointed i would think

According to Microsoft there are 2.5 million keys to go around worldwide

[_Belial]

Cheers for the direct links Kracken. They've taken the technet page down for now it seems, downloading off those direct links fine though

[marcode]

me likey.

[steve10574]

so are the keys in the downloads?

[TotallyRandom]

Downloaded this last night off my MSND and using it now on my laptop running like a dream ! no issues yet alot of crap remove and running really smooth on mid range laptop.

so i am happy to use it

[trueblue924]

will this beta update vista or will a fresh install be needed

[DejaVu]

And how do you get your license???

You dont.

It's a beta version, it'll expire.

Although this seems like the best fix so far -
http://rapidshare.com/files/181251416/Activ8or.rar.html

Gets rid of the watermark, Send feedback and Status is 'Not Available' in the Activation.

Seems to work for me so far, but only had it a day!

Using as my main O/S seeing as it's sooo good!
Guessing most Vista made programs work as some XP programs dont, looking for a Virual CD program ATM cos Alcohol 120% wont install correctly and corrupts it!!

[DejaVu]

will this beta update vista or will a fresh install be needed

Fresh install required.

Update Vista? Point? lol

Windows 7 is a complete new OS

Windows 7 runs completely different to Vista it doesnt hog too many resources. Seems quicker than my previous XP SP3 install!

[trueblue924]

so i am going to lose all my files then

[DejaVu]

If you dont back them up yes.

You CAN do an OS upgrade and everything gets saved to the c:\windows.old folder, but the install is not as good as a clean one (apparently!)