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Demand for Windows Beta Downs Microsoft's Servers

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*Updated 1/10/09

Have you been anticipating the public launch of Windows 7 beta? You're far from alone. At the Microsoft CES keynote two days ago, Steve Ballmer announced the upcoming OS would be made available in beta form to the general populace today, but the high demand has temporarily knocked out both the Windows 7 download page and Microsoft's homepage, TGDaily reports.

Windows 7, which many are hoping will atone for Vista's sins, has gotten off to a rocky start in its pre-release form. MSDN and TechNet subscribers got first crack at the Windows 7 beta build 7000 yesterday, but some downloaders reported receiving errors when attempting to request product keys for the OS. But if the final product -- which Microsoft won't commit to a 2009 launch -- makes common complaints with Vista a thing of the past, most enthusiasts would agree it will be well worth the wait.

Protip: It might be in your best interest to snag a copy of Windows 7 beta and actively test the OS, even if beta testing really isn't your bag. Official beta testers who downloaded Vista back when it was in beta form and submitted at least one bug report ended up being rewarded with a free copy of Vista Business or Ultimate. That doesn't guarantee Microsoft will do the same with Windows 7, so decide for yourself is the risk is worth the potential worth reward.

Update 1/10/09

Justin Kerr has posted an awesome mini-tutorial on how and where to get the Windows 7 beta up and running with a valid key. Check it out here.

 

COMMENTS
avatarActually it was me.. I did

Actually it was me.. I did it. Sorry... I promise never to do it again.

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avatarWebsite is working for the key now.

Some how in the process I ended up recieving 2 keys.. But they are being givin out now.

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avatarfile size

anyone else's download only showing a file size of 98MB? I've tried a million times.

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avatarWell, you could always use a

Well, you could always use a torrent to get it.. and then if you use the key you got from the MS site I don't see any problem with that.. it's probably a legal gray area so if you don't feel right about it just wait for MS to get their server hiccups worked out, just make sure to get a key so you have it to use when you are able to download and install the OS from the image.

FYI: Using the image download links from the beta key article MaximumPC just posted (it's on the home page), the download got to 498mb and then stopped.

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avatarWindows 7

Since I don't have a key they say I'm limited to what kind of feedback I can send, but why does M$ do this, shouldn't they let everyone send any kind of feedback they want.
To the previous poster if I remember correctly all Vista DVDs were identical but the serial you entered would determine which copy of Vista you got.
Windows 7 is a stupid name as well. Eventually I'm going to shorten it to just 7.

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avataryeah, i've just been typing

yeah, i've just been typing Win7, but your idea of just "7" sounds better!  Like Windows Vista is just Vista now Windows 7 will be just 7 lol.

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avatarWindows 7 of 9 Teriary

Windows 7 of 9 Teriary Adjunct ofRedmontrix 0-1?

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avatarI was looking at those links

I was looking at those links down bleow but they appear to be exactly the same. Is 32 and 64 installable from the same image? I just finished d/l the from the 64 link but was still wondering about the accuracy of the version for the links.

 Anyone dual booting with it yet? trying to decide wether to set up another machine or justa hdd and dual boot.

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avatarSome things never change

Dual boot was a snap for me, it sets up the MBR for ya with no hassle. For anyone wondering Creative X-Fi drivers don't work yet, although Nvidia drivers do. Somehow that's what I expected though...

Edit: Just install the latest Creative drivers in compatibility mode and it works alright. Rear speakers don't work.

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avatarWorks fine

I quad booted with Vista, 7, Linux, and XP for S@#$'s and giggles and it was smooth. For obvious reasons I suggest the beta 7 as the "play around with" OS.

The 64 bit version has an "x" in the code  -GB1CULXFRE_

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avatarVersions and download numbers

I'll be interested to see how many people downloaded the 64 bit version compared to the 32 bit version.

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avatar64 bit FTW

I got the 64 bit

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avatarLINK

this is the link I used.....

 

http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso

 

It's posted at the bottom of these comments

 

 

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avatarWindows 7

I have been trying to get windows 7 for about 5-6 hours. I  can't get the product key. Does anyone know if Microsoft will have another beta release day like today?

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avatari don't see any download

i don't see any download link in microsoft website! :(

can someone please provide a link that works, & how to get the product key?

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avatarWhy dont people just use

Why dont people just use download from a torrent?

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avatarInstalling.....

I'm currently d/l-ing this Beta version, but I have a few questions, if anyone could help. I'd greatly appreciate it. :)

 

- I am running 64bit Vista SP1. Will this replace my entire Vista OS?

 

- Will I lose all my data like games, file, pics, etc. once this Beta is installed? If not, will I be able to switch right back over to Vista without any problems?

 

- How long is this trial version for once you get a product key?

 

- Is there a certain procedure of doing the actual installation that I should follow?

 

Thanks all!

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avataranswers

if you put it on a different partition/HDD you wont loose any documents/games

the os is only avaible for almost a year

 

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avatarFree Windows 7 would rock

If they do the same thing again with the free Windows for beta testers who submit bug reports and stuff I will be a very happy customer and buy an upgrade for the other computer that I don't use the free copy on. Otherwise, I'll probably just wait upgrading for a while since I'm pretty happy with Vista.

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avatarquick question

i got the os but did they put out the product keys yet. I know they were talking about some kind of delay but have they worked it out yet?

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avatarI love this scurry for Windows 7!

So through the year, people bad mouth Vista and Microsoft, and sure enough they all come back like good little fanboys, scrambling to download Microsofts latest offering. It's a story that plays out with EVERY release of a Microsoft product.

 If you don't like VISTA now, you WILL NOT come to like Windows 7 later. The reason is Windows 7 is built on VISTA. (as explained at a couple Microsoft seminars on Vista that I attended last year). It's NOT much at all different from VISTA, aside from tweaks and streamlining.

 So when the same people who now claim VISTA stinks because it crashes and breaks all the time come to find Windows 7 doing the same, I hope they collectively come to realize the the problem is sitting between the chair and the monitor..ie: USER ERROR.

  ENJOY WINDOWS 7!

I know I will :)

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avatarwhat!?

windows vista does not have problems anymore, its perfectly fine, windows 7 is different, you judging it based of the interface similarities. yeah it may have been based off of vista, but wasnt vista based off of xp. plus to the other guy, if you want to be taken seriously, never say "jk lulz" it makes you sound like an idiot

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avatarIt will...

...almost be a good as Mojave then, right? ;)

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avatarya i think thts what they

ya i think thts what they are sayin jk lulz

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avatarWARNING WINDOWS HAS DETECTED

WARNING WINDOWS HAS DETECTED A IDIOT AND MUST SHUT DOWN

 

:p

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avatardownload links

x86 version
http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso

x64 version
http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRE_EN_DVD.ISO

 

copy and paste in your browser

 

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avatarTHX

Dude thanks for the link, I couldn't find the d/l anywhere and was too embarrassed to ask.

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avatarThanks

Thanks for the link, I can download now and get a key when they put them up. Is there somewhere I can get an md5 or sha-1 hash of this so I can verify the download later?

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avatarwut about gettin a key?

wut about gettin a key?

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avatarSo is my time already up? 

So is my time already up?  Where do you go to download?  I can't even find a link to fownload it.

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avatarhttp://technet.microsoft.com/

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

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avatarCrap...

I didn't realize it was only to the first 2.5 million people. Dang, I wanted to use it on my new machine that I'm (slowly) building. Would have saved me from buying a copy of Ultimate. Oh well. I like Vista by the way, and it feels cleaner and smoother than XP>

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avatarnew post on the beta page!

*Update on Windows 7 Beta Availability
Due
to very heavy traffic we’re seeing as a result of interest in the
Windows 7 Beta, we are adding some additional infrastructure support to
the Microsoft.com properties before we post the public beta. We want to
ensure customers have the best possible experience when downloading the
beta, and we will be updating this page once the beta goes live. Stay
tuned! We are excited that you are excited!

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avatarYeah I've been running into

Yeah I've been running into that dreaded server busy message all day! 

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avatarYou hit the nail on the

You hit the nail on the head. If it weren't for it being "beta" and some of the worries that happened with dual-booting XP and Vista (good riddence!) then I would be running Windows 7 only. I'm very impressed with the speed and other features, many that I commented on in a previous post... though I must say again that the taskbar is amazing compared to the ones that came before it. Be sure to try opening your recent documents through the program menu too, ie. hover over MS Word and it will list a few of your recently opened document files. VERY NIFTY I must say!

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avataranybody manage to get

anybody manage to get through? i got the server too busy message over and over, and now that page seems to have disappeared. i also can't get it through MSDN.

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avatarthe servers are still messed

the servers are still messed up -_-

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avatarWindows 7 Key set

Hey :

    Saw your post and in case your still looking ; the Windows 7 beta is repeating ten keys and they are :

 

64Bit:
Product Key: 7XRCQ-RPY28-YY9P8-R6HD8-84GH3
Product Key: JYDV8-H8VXG-74RPT-6BJPB-X42V4
Product Key: RFFTV-J6K7W-MHBQJ-XYMMJ-Q8DCH
Product Key: D9RHV-JG8XC-C77H2-3YF6D-RYRJ9
Product Key: 482XP-6J9WR-4JXT3-VBPP6-FQF4M

32Bit:
Product Key: TQ32R-WFBDM-GFHD2-QGVMH-3P9GC
Product Key: GG4MQ-MGK72-HVXFW-KHCRF-KW6KY
Product Key: QXV7B-K78W2-QGPR6-9FWH9-KGMM7
Product Key: 4HJRK-X6Q28-HWRFY-WDYHJ-K8HDH
Product Key: 6JKV2-QPB8H-RQ893-FW7TM-PBJ73

                                                                  hope that helps. later

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avatar7 is alright...BUT......

Registered Linux User #404122 Microsoft has encountered a critical system error and must now shut down. Better get Bill Gate$ on the phone for this one....... [img]http//i35.photobucket.com/albums/d183/NunofyaBidness/404122.png[/img]

I installed Windows 7 on my test machine last night.
I am impressed with the overall speed of 7....as opposed to its older sibling Vista. The overall memory footprint is also impressive.
My gripes with this O/S however...have to do with the changes made.
Microsoft seemingly made changes to the O/S for spites sake.
There is no customizing the START menu bar to 'classic' Windows computing that we all know and love.
Also you are having to relearn a new GUI map. 

All in all....Vista fans might like Windows 7.
I think people migrating from Windows XP however.....are going to want to continue to stick with XP.

Glenn Condrey

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avatarChange...is good

Ive been using XP forever, as well as Vista and am trying out 7.

 After using Vista for a bit, XP felt so antiquated and using XP made me want more (even after all my custimizations and custom add-ons). After using 7, i actually DREAD using XP. 

 Those who refuse to change simlpy because they are so used to an interface, c'mon, break out of your shell and give new things a shot. Without change, there is no progress. I love the superbar, I love all the new Aero features, I love everything about Win7.

 So what if it resembles the MAC dock; it expands on the concept and actually makes it useful, not just eye-candy piece of trash that is completely useless. We as a race have always stolen ideas and expanded on them. Thats why theres so many musicians that can have similar sounds, designers that have a similar design styles, social outcasts that want to be "different" yet copy the look of someone else whose "different" then there are games that borrow code, or elements from other games, and on, and on, and on.

 i find switching between apps and open windows a breeze. 7 just rocks, i cant wait to actually own a full license

btw, i also LOVE the ribbon interface. it took some learning but in the endm its much easier to use. once again, CHANGE IS PROGRESS (of course depending on the type of change but I feel MS has done some good things with the whole ribbon thing and Win 7)

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avatarand if the XP Dihard what to

and if the XP Dihard what to continue livin intheir fantasy world of buggy 64Bit xp and outdated 32bit, no long being sold 32 bit XP i say let them. I'm tired of their unfounded bitching.

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avatarA--men

amen

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