Fresh-baked Windows 7 beta keys now available through MSDN?

Got an MSDN subscription? Interested in checking out Windows 7 without engaging in any shady downloading? According to some tips we're receiving, keys are available right now through official channels -- and they even work. Mr. Ballmer was widely expected to announce the release of the (so far quite well-received) OS into public beta at his keynote speech later tonight, so you might say they've let the cat out of the bag a little early on this one. Give it a try, if you would, and let us know what you find. Sadly our subscriptions were revoked for posting silly pictures of a certain CEO.

Update: Seems it's gone. We'll just have to wait for the official word. You know where you can find it.

[Thanks, Wayne S.]

[Neha @ Jan 7th 2009 8:37PM]

"Get Another Key"

Ooh, can someone spare one? :p

[Curtis Joslin @ Jan 7th 2009 10:33PM]

when we get the keys, when will they expire?

[Byron @ Jan 7th 2009 8:39PM]

I am a MSDN subscriber, how do I get this? Do I have to pay?

[Kamokazi @ Jan 7th 2009 8:50PM]

No. I am a TechNet Plus subscriber, and the new stuff like this does not seem to appear in the normal product trees right away...I usually find them under Top Downloads or New Downloads first. I don't see it on TechNet yet.

[millenium_dare @ Jan 7th 2009 8:44PM]

The Windows 7 Beta does not seem to be available through academic MSDN channels at the moment :-(

[John @ Jan 7th 2009 9:02PM]

If you're referring to MSDNAA, I don't think they make betas (or even some software) downloadable through that.

[millenium_dare @ Jan 7th 2009 9:17PM]

Yes, I was referring to MSDNAA but was not aware that Microsoft did not make betas available through it. What a shame...

[Rebel6381 @ Jan 8th 2009 12:06AM]

Darn, was hoping for that too...

[Jason @ Jan 7th 2009 8:45PM]

I don't see it in my list of available downloads...anyone that sees it have the full tree listing of where it is?

[shawn @ Jan 7th 2009 8:46PM]

i hope they release that to the public,it would be nice instead of having to pay for like a $700 sub to that msdn stuff

[Hashbrown Hunter @ Jan 7th 2009 8:54PM]

I'm pretty sure they will. Windows really needs some positive buzz with this after the Vista trainwreck, so why not let people try the new one for free for like 30 days and collect a massive amount of feedback?

[vvtopkar @ Jan 7th 2009 11:07PM]

In the keynote he said that Public Beta will be out this Friday, Remember, Developers need some hype too!
Soo exited!

[Hashbrown Hunter @ Jan 7th 2009 8:48PM]

I got Win7 through some "shady business", and you know what? I'm glad I did.

It really does kick Vista's ass. It's much more refined, polished, and just freakin cool.

Only problems I've faced it is that the taskbar and quick launch sort of blend in with each other so it is hard to know which programs are already running. But I'm sure MS can fix that easily. And of course some of my drivers didn't work with Win7, like my audio and USB WLAN. Both from cheap third teir companies so no surprise there.

And I guess I can throw in some flamebait: on a simple computer (including netbooks) it runs as smoothly as Leopard does on Macs.

[Hashbrown Hunter @ Jan 7th 2009 9:07PM]

Two things I'd like to see added to Windows 7:

1.) Full Zune Marketplace Support (Ditch WMP or add Zune support to it)
I know, Windows Media Player is great. And the new version on Windows 7 is good too, but there isn't much of a change and if MS decided to preload the software with the Installation process (like how Apple has iTunes on their OSes) then it would be an effective way to get the word out. Plus if people play with the software, they may prefer it over iTunes and decide to go in that direction. Either way, I'm shocked Vista didn't come with it pre-loaded and I'm hoping they won't forget to put it i Windows 7.

BUT if they do not want to put the Zune software, then fine. They can keep WMP but they should add Zune support and the Zune Marketplace (like how URGE was in WMP11). It's just common sense.

2.) Make DX10 Optional for Games
Yep, when I tried playing Bioshock, Trackmania, Portal, or any of my other games it never worked simply because I did not have a .dll file in my system folder. I don't remember the exact name, but it had '_dx10_' in it so I'm assuming it's mandatory here (but I'm not totally sure yet). Well, maybe by the time this is out, DX10 will be inside everyone's PCs so I won't have to complain but for now it's annoying. What's the point of having a refined, less-taxing OS if you can't play any of your games on it to test the performance?

(Note: If it isn't the lack of DX10 that's preventing me from playing games on Windows 7, then what is? Any tips?)

[pete @ Jan 7th 2009 10:29PM]

That's already "fixed".
Right-click the taskbar, select properties, and there's a drop-down in there that lets you change the behavior of the new taskbar grouping.
I like the 'don't group until the taskbar runs out of space' option.
This returns text labels to the taskbar items - sooo nice.

[Hellbound6996 @ Jan 8th 2009 12:33AM]

Hashbrown hunter, just download the required dll off the net and put it in the system32 folder and you wont have that issue any more. I was missing a DX9 dll with the same issue but it takes 30 seconds to fix

[unjustifieddeath @ Jan 7th 2009 11:12PM]

I dont know what your doing in Windows 7, but every game i have works awesome! better then XP !!!!!! I'm talking about the full boat, Far Cry 2, Fallout 3, GRID, UT3, Dead Space, STALKER Clear Sky, Bioshock, everything works too, Creative X-fi Fatality, My usb wireless adapter. shoot me an email if you got any questions, i was up and dual booting 7 in 15 minutes with NO ISSUES. [e-mail]

[cjuni @ Jan 15th 2009 7:02PM]

How can i get a copy?

[VerbCat @ Jan 7th 2009 8:50PM]

I wish I were a hardcoar developer, so I could justify buying a MSDN subscription.
I wish I weren't a coward, so I could torrent the beta and try it for free.
:(
I suppose I'll just have to wait and buy Se7en when it's finally released.
Only two questions remain, though:
Desktop or laptop?
Touch screen or regular screen?

[neodorian @ Jan 7th 2009 8:50PM]

Got mine through shady business as well. Runs fine on my Vista laptop with the exception of funky Lenovo hotkeys. I need to try it on lower spec hardware because Vista already ran fine on this lappy. The optimized desktop window manager should make it easier to leave on the bells and whistles on lower spec hardware and the UI changes are nice. I also like the new Media Player/Media Center changes although I have not tested them on my HTPC.

[Hashbrown Hunter @ Jan 7th 2009 8:56PM]

Yeah they've done a really good job fixing up Media Center. I think it's sort of boring on Vista so I rarely use it.

[Dennis F @ Jan 7th 2009 8:55PM]

I just checked my technet sub, and it's not there either. Not that I expected it to be there yet.

[jasondefaoite @ Jan 7th 2009 8:57PM]

I'm also an MSDN sub (Volume License) ... and also don't have this.

[CraigJ @ Jan 7th 2009 8:57PM]

just checked. not available from my MSDN Premium subscription yet, unless the link is super secret... Maybe it was available temporarily as a mistake, and it will be available tomorrow?

[Alejandro @ Jan 7th 2009 8:59PM]

I'm a VS Pro with MSDN Premium (VL) subscriber, and no key or download yet :-(

[JLange @ Jan 7th 2009 9:00PM]

I am a member of the official beta group, and it's not yet available for me to download.

[be82453 @ Jan 7th 2009 9:05PM]

Still no Windows 7 beta keys in my MSDN Premium. The shady download did work though, and it's running very nicely on a few notebooks. We definitely prefer to Vista; I want to use it on my production computers so badly....

[SJobs @ Jan 7th 2009 9:07PM]

I don't even have to put a license plate on my car and this option is not listed on my magic key page.

[jtwilliams @ Jan 7th 2009 9:12PM]

I'm not seeing it yet in my list of downloads yet.

[goalkeepr @ Jan 7th 2009 9:14PM]

The Windows 7 (and those other Server 2008) keys showed up for me this afternoon. I just logged back in, and they're gone now.

The ISO was never available for download. Only the key was available. I tried the key in my "shady downloaded" 7000 installation, and activation worked.

Like the picture shows, the keys were strangely put under the 'Access 2.0' area. I've been told that Microsoft will be making an announcement regarding availability "really soon", so I expect they were just getting things in place to "flip the switch" to display them later on (maybe tonight?)

I'll check MSDN periodically and if/when it reappears, I'll post back.

[goalkeepr @ Jan 7th 2009 9:46PM]

MSDN/TechNet availability tomorrow. Public beta released to *everyone* on Friday.

More details here: http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_beta_available.asp

[goalkeepr @ Jan 7th 2009 9:55PM]

Confirmed back on MSDN as soon as Ballmer just said "available NOW." Go and get it, kids!

[Bryan Price @ Jan 7th 2009 9:35PM]

I just checked my TechNet subscription. No download, no key request either yet.

[dawtips @ Jan 7th 2009 9:47PM]

It's not in my MSDN either... yet.

[dawtips @ Jan 7th 2009 9:51PM]

Forget my last comment. The beta key is up now, just got it!

[jack1701 @ Jan 7th 2009 10:05PM]

Downloading it right now. The x86 and x64 versions are available on Technet as well as language pack. Now I need to get a spare HDD for dual booting =)

[Bryan Price @ Jan 7th 2009 10:18PM]

I just did a refresh. Got me my key and started downloading it.

[Error Man @ Jan 7th 2009 11:13PM]

pls tell me for keys windows7 beta

[f5alcon @ Jan 7th 2009 11:48PM]

is there in place upgrade, i really dont want to wipe my drive and fresh install and downloading from msdn takes awhile.

[Windhawk @ Jan 8th 2009 12:28AM]

Yep, its there on TechNet Plus now.

[Covarr @ Jan 8th 2009 1:05AM]

Anybody who's gotten it, is this the same as the pirate 7000 build, or is this a newer build?

[superhobo @ Jan 8th 2009 1:18AM]

Is this the same as the 7000 everyone has and loves?

[Phil @ Jan 8th 2009 2:21AM]

Hi there

As of 2009-01-08 it seems that the download and the keys are available over technet. I am a technet plus subscriber and I can download the x86 / 64bit versions of the new beta of windows 7.

regards

[MFong @ Jan 8th 2009 1:27PM]

Man. I wish I had MSDN now. I use to have it when I was an undergrad. That's how I got Vista for free + others, including XP. I think I could have gotten up to 5 free CD keys, but the person had to be related to you or something like that. There was a weird restriction for a free key.

[VallSoStupid @ Jan 9th 2009 3:41PM]

just another hype. Same old same old, Microsoft couldn't even make Vista far excel than winXP, Only stupids will fall into the traps again wasting their valuable time and PC resources for another MS window B/S help contribute more electronic junks polute our environment. Microsoft leech on our stupidity and curiosity, then sell it with ridiculous premium as a incomplete package as always did to help enrich a few already multi-billionaires within Microsoft circle with a few more billions into pockets..

[LOIS FREIX @ Jan 9th 2009 7:32PM]

MY LAPTOP IS STILL UNDER WARRENTAND I HAVE VISTA AND HATE IT IS DELL GOING TO HELP ME CHANGE OVER??????????????????????/

[claudia @ Jan 9th 2009 9:31PM]

It really isn't that much different than vista, in my opinion. It's like they took out all the nagging BS from Vista and now call it "Windows 7" I downloaded a little yahoo widget goldfish that swims around the desktop. Kinds looks cool with the desktop that comes with Windows 7.

[Eric Tomsej @ Jan 11th 2009 8:34AM]

How do I get this new system? how much will it cost me?