Window 7 Beta Released

[Mr Bean]

Good Luck downloading it yet

Welcome to the Windows 7 Beta Customer Preview Program

Published: January 2009

* Learn about Windows 7 Beta
* Test Windows 7 Beta in your lab environment
* Stay informed on updates and resources


Windows 7 is…
the next release of the Windows client operating system, built on the secure foundation of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Performance, reliability, security, and compatibility are core tenets of this release as we collect your feedback to meet our engineering goals of making Windows 7 the best-performing and most stable Windows operating system to date. New innovations in the product are designed to augment your ability as an IT professional to better provision and manage increasingly mobile PCs, protect data, and improve both end-user and personal productivity.

See Windows 7 for yourself

We are inviting IT professionals around the world to work with the Windows 7 Beta in their lab environments and secondary PCs to help ensure smooth adoption when the final product is available and to gather feedback from real-world settings.

How can you get involved?

1. Take a look at some of the new features and functionality in Windows 7 as part of our Springboard Series guidance on the Windows Client TechCenter on TechNet. As a partner you can also see additional resources on the Microsoft Partner Program portal.

2. Download the Beta for a hands-on trial. For a limited time, Microsoft is making this pre-release version of Windows 7 available to the first 2.5 million people who download. Ready to take a test drive? You can get one by trying the Windows 7 Beta. We think you’ll have the best experience if:

* You are willing to participate as an active beta tester and provide feedback to help us complete Windows 7.
* You have an extra computer available to dedicate to testing beta software.
* You can back up your PC, install and reinstall Windows, and reconfigure your home network connection.
* You’re comfortable troubleshooting your own PC problems. There’s no technical support available for the Beta.
* You understand how to burn an ISO file to a DVD using your computer’s DVD burner.
* You have a system recovery disc and know how to use it.
* You enjoy participating in an interactive community of beta testers, sharing experiences and feedback in real-time.


Microsoft isn’t providing technical support for the Beta and isn’t responsible for business-related downtime. Don’t install the Beta on your primary home or work computer. When the Beta expires on August 1, 2009, you’ll need to reinstall a released version of Windows to keep using your computer. (See Installation Instructions.)

These are the Microsoft minimum hardware recommendations for systems that will be running the Windows 7 Beta. These recommendations are specific to the beta release and are subject to change:

* Processor: 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
* Memory: 1 GB of system memory
* Hard drive: 16 GB of available disk space
* Video card: Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
* Drive: DVD-R/W drive
* Internet connection (to download the Beta and get updates)

Note: Some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigation through the use of “touch”, may require advanced or additional hardware.

To learn more, see Windows 7 Beta: Frequently Asked Questions.

Thank you for participating in this beta program and helping us build the best operating system for you and your end users.



Select the Windows 7 Beta version you want to download
Ready to get started? Choose between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the download, based on the version of Windows you are currently running and your machine’s hardware configuration. Each version is available in five languages: Arabic*, English, German, Hindi*+(32-bit only), Japanese
*When downloading in these languages please note that you will receive future communications in English.
+This language only available in 32-bit version.

Well trying to download a copy because I'm interested in seeing Windows 7 for myself, good luck with the servers being busier then hell. I've got a DVD all ready to burn and drivers to find but the "Server busy" message for the past hour has put a damper on my hopes to download it anytime soon. Please note only the first two point five million people can download a copy so act fast!

Seriously, why 2.5 mil? Why not 12 million? Or 3.9 million? I'm interested to know at how they arrived at that number.

[General Zod]

Only 2.5 million? Shit. I'll be lucky if there's downloads available once I get home. Looks like I have a use for my spare laptop if I can actually get a copy.

[Bounty]

* Memory: 1 GB of system memory
* Hard drive: 16 GB of available disk space
* Video card: Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)

Note that all of these come with some leeway if you're willing to compromise on visual effects. My install runs fine on 704MB RAM and a 10GB HDD. My video card wasn't recognised, but I still got a usable desktop with the default VGA driver; not surprising considering this is 2000/2002 era hardware.

I'm also very, very impressed with this beta. It installs fast and smoothly, it's light on resources and very easy to use beyond a few niggles. Definitely worth a closer look come release day.

[Beowulf]

Only 2.5 million? Shit. I'll be lucky if there's downloads available once I get home. Looks like I have a use for my spare laptop if I can actually get a copy.

Given how the MS website has been, i'm sure you'll be able to. MS successfully slashdotted itself with this.

[General Zod]

For each beta downloaded, Microsoft has to pay for ~5 GB of data transfer from their server and the other associated server loads from that traffic. This is a relatively small cost, but still a cost, and thus something they'd ideally want to avoid if they can.

This is where something like bittorrent would be incredibly handy to implement and reduce costs. But I suppose Microsoft doesn't want to use evil file sharing technology.

[phongn]

This is where something like bittorrent would be incredibly handy to implement and reduce costs. But I suppose Microsoft doesn't want to use evil file sharing technology.

Microsoft has reservations on using BitTorrent to release software because of the difficulty in ensuring that what you are torrenting is the real deal. Besides, Microsoft has access to huge CDNs, they don't need to use it.

[DesertFly]

Although their websites have had

Thanks for your interest in the Windows 7 Beta. The volume has been phenomenal -- we’re in the process of adding more servers to handle the demand. We’re sorry for the delay and we’ll re-post the Beta as soon as we can ensure a quality download experience.

for many hours straight now.

[phongn]

The limiting factor may not be their CDN but rather their request servers being hammered (presumably they want you to register so they know who is beta testing, etc.)

[DesertFly]

There are ways to get it without going through the main page.

Good luck getting a key though.

[Beowulf]

Doesn't require much luck to get the key.

[DesertFly]

Doesn't require much luck to get the key.

Not anymore it doesn't. I finally managed to get the files and key (three, in fact accidentally) and install it.

It's been working well so far, although having to install all my programs over again is a pain.

[General Zod]

Doesn't require much luck to get the key.

Not anymore it doesn't. I finally managed to get the files and key (three, in fact accidentally) and install it.

It's been working well so far, although having to install all my programs over again is a pain.

You didn't install it to your primary machine, did you?

[Beowulf]

I'm smarter than to install it on my primary machine. I've got it on my laptop (whee touchscreen!).

[phongn]

Go go VMware.

[Beowulf]

Go go VMware.

Yeah, but then you miss Aero. Also, this gives me the ability to use some of the fun features available for touchscreens et al.

[General Zod]

Gah, I got the iso, burned it, then set off to install it over the Linux install on my brokenscreen laptop.

It starts up and lets me nuke the Linux partition. It looks like the install is proceeding, so I delete the iso from my other computer's hard drive. (Which is really tight on space.)

And then the install fails saying required files are missing. I clean the dvd and try again to see the same thing.

The internet tells me that reburning it at a lower speed might help. But that means downloading it again and using another one of my dvds. So annoying.

Looks like it worked though; I burned the image to a RW at 2x without problem. I suggest you guys try burning at low speed on your first try to avoid this.

I was able to burn it on normal speed using Nero with no trouble whatsoever. What burning utility were you using?

The new taskbar sucks. It looks like something from KDE 4. What the hell were they thinking? I can't figure out how to change it away from suck either. Turning off groupings and turning on labels makes it close to Vista.

Then it looks ok. I can't find Windows Classic, but Aero is cool, so I don't need it.

There's ways of changing the taskbar, but I can't say I'm terribly thrilled about some of the design aesthetics myself. Although it almost seems like they've managed to get Aero to use less resources with this version, but I'll have to double check that when I get home.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

Now everybody with more internet bandwidth than they know what to do with can get in on the act . . .

Windows 7 beta now 'available to all'

The latest Windows release will be available to everyone after a surge in demand crashed the Microsoft website on 9 January, the original release date.

In response, the company has lifted a planned limit on the number of copies of the Windows 7 Beta available for download.

Microsoft delayed the launch by one day to add "more infrastructure and servers" to cope with demand.

The unlimited download will last for two weeks, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft had initially planned to restrict downloads of the software to 2.5m copies, but now says that unlimited copies will be available until 24 January.

After that, the limit will be reinstated, though it looks likely to be surpassed by then.

Laurence Painell, product manager at Microsoft, said that it had removed the download limit so that Windows 7 would be available to "a much wider audience".

Shocking demand

"We would expect a beta to only be of interest to tech-enthused and those that have a vested business interest, to look at an operating system for testing purposes," Mr Painell explained.

"We didn't quite anticipate the demand that we saw."

Windows devotees flooded the Windows 7 blog with comments while waiting with bated breath for the delayed download.

A commenter on the blog called Adinelus posted from Romania on 9 January: "Thank God it's Saturday tomorrow, otherwise I would have missed this.

"Hope you guys have some spare servers…because millions wait for you!"

Mr Painell stressed that consumers should be aware that they are getting a preliminary version of Windows 7 which is meant for testing.

As a result, the software is likely to have problems that haven't been ironed out, and Microsoft does not provide technical support for it.

"It's not ideal for every consumer to install and use it on a daily basis," he explained.

Microsoft encouraged people with MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) or TechNet accounts to download the software through their subscriptions, to avoid the congestion on its public sites.

[phongn]

The new taskbar is awesome, I don't know what everyone's complaining about

[Braedley]

I have to agree with phongn. I love how it's much more compact, and mousing over gives nice previews of the windows. My first impressions are very positive. Hell, I tore a hard drive out of an enclosure (not literally, of course) just to prevent cross contamination with my Vista and Ubuntu installs. I'll probably set up grub for tri boot later, but in the mean time, I'm not going leave anything to chance and only have my primary drive connected when booting into Vista or Ubuntu.

[General Zod]

I have to agree with phongn. I love how it's much more compact, and mousing over gives nice previews of the windows.

Uh. . . .Vista has window preview by mousing over already. Just fyi.

[Braedley]

I know, but this is soooooo much better

[Ryushikaze]

Well, after taking a moment to cock about with the UI, it's a lot easier to get the system to look how you like it than in Vista, though I still cannot seem to make the navigation buttons and path pane to vanish from my windows, which is kind of irritating.

Thus far, the only thing I've had issue with is that Google Chrome simply does not work, and that quite a lot of my installation files (on the computer from the last OS) wouldn't work until I copied and pasted them.

[Resinence]

Well, after taking a moment to cock about with the UI, it's a lot easier to get the system to look how you like it than in Vista, though I still cannot seem to make the navigation buttons and path pane to vanish from my windows, which is kind of irritating.

Thus far, the only thing I've had issue with is that Google Chrome simply does not work, and that quite a lot of my installation files (on the computer from the last OS) wouldn't work until I copied and pasted them.

Actually you can get Chrome working, Link

I like Win7's UI. It uses more vertical space sure but vertical screenspace isn't a problem in the first place, in older window's versions the tabs became unreadable due to being squished so much.

Destructionator: New window's don't have to appear on the left, just drag your pinned stuff over to the left and if there is no space next to them the new windows open on the other side. Unfortunately the tabbed thing only seems to be working with IE that I can see, it doesn't work with Chrome anyway.

[Crazy_Vasey]

Well, it just doesn't work for me. I can't set the resolution properly on my external monitor, even with the custom resolution section of the NVIDIA control panel, and so it's pretty useless. A quick Google search indicates that it's not just me having this problem, either. Mind you, I had the same problem with Linux, but there I could just hack the x config file and that was that. That doesn't seem to be quite so doable with Windows. It's all a bit odd because it did work with Windows Vista.

[Ryushikaze]

Well, after taking a moment to cock about with the UI, it's a lot easier to get the system to look how you like it than in Vista, though I still cannot seem to make the navigation buttons and path pane to vanish from my windows, which is kind of irritating.

Thus far, the only thing I've had issue with is that Google Chrome simply does not work, and that quite a lot of my installation files (on the computer from the last OS) wouldn't work until I copied and pasted them.

Actually you can get Chrome working, Link

I like Win7's UI. It uses more vertical space sure but vertical screenspace isn't a problem in the first place, in older window's versions the tabs became unreadable due to being squished so much.

Unfortunately, that doesn't work. It keeps telling me the new location is invalid. Oh well. Google will probably have a fix out shortly.