Free Download of Windows 7 Beta on Friday

[redwudz]

I'm DLing it at about 80KB/Sec. Seven hours to go. I did see a post that said, 'Windows 7 Keys will be given out later and posted here later...', but I have no idea if that's a 'official' quote.

EDIT: I'm using this link: http://www.downloadwindows7beta.com/search/label/Windows%207%20Keys

[Soopafresh]

If I recall, they're letting you run it for 30 days without an activation key, much like XP.

[Supreme2k]

I know that, but I'd like to run it longer, with an extended activation key like I did with Vista (which ultimately put me off Vista).

[Number Six]

OK - I tried to download this 3 times - I got the following:

1GB
278MB
152MB

I give up for now

Did anyone get the full file?

[Vidd]

Use a download manager program that has a resume feature. Your browser downloads may be timing out.

[deadrats]

ok, so i just got through trying the 64 bit beta out and just have the following to report:

after burning the dvd and trying the "upgrade" option, the install routine informs that upgrading from my OS is not supported (i'm running XP 64), upgrade is only supported from Vista SP1 (in my case, 64 bit Vista).

So i choose the "new installation" option and a warning is shown that your current windows installation will be backed up to "windows.old" but that you won't be able to use it. i figure no big deal, if windows 7 is everything i'm hoping it will be i don't plan on going back.

the installation precedes, everything seems to be going fine and about 25 minutes later as the installation is being finalized i get an error message that the install could not complete on my current hardware platform (9500, 7900gt oc, 4 gigs ddr2 667), so i close the error message and it looks like the installation is continueing, but after another 5 minutes or so of nothing happening, i decide to reboot and try again, thinking to myself that my current OS install is hosed anyway, so no matter what i have to re-install an OS and all my apps.

i reboot, the installation routine tries to restart, gives me a similar error message that for some reason installing windows 7 is not supported on my current hardware platform (i wonder if it has something to do with the TLB bug) and then much to my suprise it says that my previous installation will be restored.

after a few minutes of animated graphics to show that something is happening, the computer rebooted and lo and behold my original XP 64 installation is alive and well.

just based on how it handled a botched install attempt i am impressed, hopefully when i finally get to try out the final build i will be equally as impressed.

edit: btw, the 64 bit iso is 3.2 gigs, not 2.5, haven't checked the 32 bit iso yet.

[Number Six]

Use a download manager program that has a resume feature. Your browser downloads may be timing out.

I don't think that my browser is timing out because the download was steady, but it was slowing down - then it said that it completed - no errors, but not full size - this was for the 32 bit version. I opened the file with Isobuster - it showed the tree and files, but most of the files had a red X in front of them - so I guess that they were missing. I think that there is too much demand on the server, and the server is dropping out. I just downloaded the 64 bit version, complete with no errors - unfortunately, I can't use it! I willl try the 32 bit version again later when the server traffic is hopefully less congested.

[Supreme2k]

I am testing it now on a spare machine. Will report what little I can tomorrow.

[deadrats]

check out the nvidia page for windows 7 drivers:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/windows_7.html

"We expect Windows 7, coupled with NVIDIA's graphics technologies, to deliver the fundamental performance our mutual customers have come to expect. NVIDIA's graphics technologies enable applications to take advantage of the visual capabilities in Windows 7 such as manipulating photos, video, and 3D graphics. With the expertise NVIDIA has in visual computing, they have been a key contributor to the development of Windows 7."

Mike Nash
Corporate Vice President of Windows Product Management
Microsoft Corporation [make certain of quote approval]

looks like someone at nvidia screwed up, the quote attributed to "mike nash" evidently didn't come from him, lol!

interestingly enough, it also seems to imply that some functions will be hardware accelerated.

[rhegedus]

Both DLs crapping out even with Orbit downloader.



Back-up now:

64-bit @ ~ 800KB/S

32-bit @ ~ 75KB/S

[yoda313]

after a few minutes of animated graphics to show that something is happening, the computer rebooted and lo and behold my original XP 64 installation is alive and well.

just based on how it handled a botched install attempt i am impressed, hopefully when i finally get to try out the final build i will be equally as impressed.

Wow that is impressive. It's a shame it failed in the first place but at least you didn't have to do a full reformat.

I'd be interested in testing win7 but how long do you think a 3.2gb download would take on a 384kpbs dsl connection? A week?

[Number Six]

I GIVE UP

Every time I try to get the 32 bit version, all I get is a piece of it - I even tried a download manager to resume the file where it left off, but no good. I got the complete 64 bit version in 1 try, but I can't use it.

I did get keys for when I get this file - if ever.

[Number Six]

The official release is posted and up and running - it came in lightening fast and with no problems at all

Now i'm going to burn the disc and then try to install it - YAY


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

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

[deadrats]

The official release is posted and up and running - it came in lightening fast and with no problems at all

Now i'm going to burn the disc and then try to install it - YAY


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

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

interesting, i just check the first link and after confirming my email addy and getting a cd key (2 things that weren't done with the links i posted) i am redownloading the 64 bit iso (which has the exact same file name and size as the one i linked to), hopefully this one will install ok.

i also noticed this notice:

NOTICE ABOUT THE H.264/AVC VISUAL STANDARD. This software includes H.264/MPEG-4 AVC visual compression technology. MPEG LA, L.L.C. requires this notice:
THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED UNDER THE AVC PATENT PORTFOLIO LICENSE FOR THE PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF A CONSUMER TO (i) ENCODE VIDEO IN COMPLIANCE WITH AVC STANDARD (“AVC VIDEO”) AND/OR (ii) DECODE AVC VIDEO THAT WAS ENCODED BY A CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERICAL ACTIVITY AND/OR WAS OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDER LICENSED TO PROVIDE AVC VIDEO. NO LICENSE IS GRANTED OR SHALL BE IMPLIED FOR ANY OTHER USE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM MPEG LA, L.L.C SEE HTTP://WWW.MPEGLA.COM

i wonder in what way windows 7 uses h264?

[redwudz]

I was finally able to download the 32 bit version on the third try. Will burn it to disc and try it on a spare computer. Apparently MS underestimated the response and it temporarily killed their servers. They finally brought more servers online and if the file is still available, it should download a bit faster.

[lacywest]

32bit version ... Central California ... 40 miles south of Fresno

136kb/s ... 155kb/s ... 180kb/s ... 200kb/s ... 180kb/s ... 150kb/s

supposely finish in 4 to 5 hours


Im using IE6 ... and using BitComet 1.07 to download it. ... Time now ... 2:30PM

[Number Six]

Well - I have the 32 bit version installed, and am in the process of getting things in order. It did not have drivers for my Ethernet, Audio, only generic driver for my Video, and does not recognize my touchpad's features - I downloaded the drivers and everything installed except for the touchpad. Vista drivers from Synaptic fixed the touchpad.

I am online now with it and just posted this via Windows 7

[MJA]

32bit version ... Central California ... 40 miles south of Fresno

136kb/s ... 155kb/s ... 180kb/s ... 200kb/s ... 180kb/s ... 150kb/s

supposely finish in 4 to 5 hours


Im using IE6 ... and using BitComet 1.07 to download it. ... Time now ... 2:30PM

I live in IL and it took close to 1 hour and 15 mins to download (started around 2.30 this afternoon)

[MJA]

Number Six.is it a 30 day trial ?i didn't install my copy yet

[Number Six]

Number Six.is it a 30 day trial ?i didn't install my copy yet

It tells me that I have 3 days until automatic activation, or I can activate now. It also allows me to change the product key - this is on the System Properties page.

Also - it comes with IE8.

The interface is very different from XP - I never used Vista, so I am not sure if it is even like it.

By the way - my download speed for the 32 bit version was approximately 1.2mb/sec average on a cable modem.

[gll99]

There's a bug on the cd key page that lets you receive multiple keys. It's probably not important because they seem to repeat a few randomly so there may a limited number that are reused.

Don't ask. My lips are sealed :P

[MJA]

Number Six.is it a 30 day trial ?i didn't install my copy yet

It tells me that I have 3 days until automatic activation, or I can activate now. It also allows me to change the product key - this is on the System Properties page.

Also - it comes with IE8.

The interface is very different from XP - I never used Vista, so I am not sure if it is even like it.

By the way - my download speed for the 32 bit version was approximately 1.2mb/sec average on a cable modem.

I'm not going to install it if it's less than 6 months

[Number Six]

The beta will expire on August 1, 2009

[gll99]

MJA wrote:

Number Six.is it a 30 day trial ?i didn't install my copy yet

As was stated it expires Aug 1 2009.

Number Six wrote:

It tells me that I have 3 days until automatic activation, or I can activate now. It also allows me to change the product key - this is on the System Properties page.

MS Instalation instructions:

Do connect to the Internet after you install the Beta. Being connected helps make sure you get useful security and hardware updates. (If you don't have an Internet connection, you can still install the Beta.)

Why the need for activation if you don't need the internet? Do they expect you to call in? Doesn't seem likely, how can you have automatic activation unless you installed on top of your existing windows?

[Dv8ted2]

Why the need for activation if you don't need the internet? Do they expect you to call in? Doesn't seem likely, how can you have automatic activation unless you installed on top of your existing windows?

This is nothing new.

With XP, you could activate over the phone. You did not necessarily need an internet connection. The actvation is probably necessary to enforce the cutoff time limit of the beta.

[rubberman]

32 bit:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B ... EN_DVD.iso

i downloaded this and its only 211mb

[Number Six]

32 bit:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B ... EN_DVD.iso

i downloaded this and its only 211mb

You did not get the full file - it will be corrupt - download it from the links that I provided above. It will be 2.45GB.

[bacardi/avt]

They must have a different servers for download in europe since I got speeds between 1.5 and 3.75 Mb/s. took about 20 minutes to download it all (32-bit )

well well, now I have to install and test, hopefully it will be a bit faster than Vista.

[redwudz]

I have W7 32 up and running on a spare PC, Asus Micro ATX MB, 2 GB RAM, AMD 4800+ 2.5Ghz CPU. No problems so far. The OS drivers work for my MB, no yellow checkmarks in Device Manager.

A bit early to draw any conclusions. I have Vista Ultimate and Vista Home Premium, so something to compare to.

It will take a few days to evaluate. So far, I'm impressed.

[Supreme2k]

I'll have to wait until tomorrow to check it out, as the DVD drive on my spare PC has died a slow, horrible death. Maybe I'll try de-ISOing it and run it from the/a drive.