But this time, you don't have to head over to your favorite torrent tracker to get it. Microsoft just began its
Windows 7 Beta Customer Preview Program, which means you can head on over to your favorite
internet, download the ISO, burn a DVD and start living the
ultra-fantastic lifestyle of a Windows 7 user. The Beta expires August 1, 2009, and Microsoft is of course piling on the caveats in case this destroys your computer with fire -- and limiting this first run of downloads to 2.5 million users. We're hearing reports of sluggish downloads at the moment, but we're sure with a bit of patience you can be rocking this OS -- or, you know... find it on the torrents.
Update: Oops. Microsoft's Windows 7 download servers have crashed under the strain as has the Microsoft blog reporting the crash. We'll let you know when the servers (and Windows 7 beta) return.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 13)
Josh @ Jan 9th 2009 1:06PM
Is this the same build 7000 that was leaked?
neonenergy @ Jan 9th 2009 1:10PM
I would like to know this as well. Anyone?
Cash @ Jan 9th 2009 1:09PM
Yes, except this version comes with an actual activation key to make the whole thing legit till August.
OneLove @ Jan 9th 2009 1:19PM
Server is too busy
Cash @ Jan 9th 2009 1:21PM
Oh, ya think?
GaryZ @ Jan 9th 2009 1:27PM
use the torrent for now and get a key for activation later. you do not need a key to install anyways
Malikye @ Jan 9th 2009 1:27PM
i'm sure you can find it on Rapidshare soon, so i'm not too worried about the server being down/busy
dope @ Jan 9th 2009 1:36PM
you can still install silverlight. plenty of available bandwidth there.
Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 1:48PM
I still can't get SLi to work in Windows 7, although a friend of mine pointed me to some better drivers, which I'll try when I get home from work.
Just a few notes to anyone thinking about Windows 7. The first thing I have to say is that the “Dock” or task bar, or whatever they call it, is almost useless. It’s useless because it’s just there and really performs no apparent functional task (maybe that will come later on). The Peek feature is just a rip-off of Expose in OS X, but it's okay, I guess. Apple's implementation is much more smooth I think.
File copy speed for me is very slow. I don't know how 7 scored faster than XP and Vista in this area, but this is a beta, so it will probably get better. There is also an issue while playing MP3 files using Windows Media Player 12. Approximately 2-3 seconds data will get cut-off from the beginning of MP3s as Windows Media Player 12 tries to retrieve meta-information from the internet and write it to any MP3 file with a Meta data header larger than 16KB. So if you have a large library of MP3 files, watch out for this. Don't assume that you can just transfer over and leave your own OS behind without problems.
The only positive things I can say is that the cosmetic layout of menus is quite different from XP (I downgraded back to XP after several problems with Vista), the organization of tasks/groups seems to be well thought out. It also appears that Microsoft has taken an initial interest in the customers dissatisfaction with many aspects of Vista. Many have either been eliminated or refined for Windows 7. The UAC has not been annoying as as it was with Vista. The UAC only popped up in when something was affecting the kernel. Installation of my own software has not been a problem. There were some audio driver issues on one machine but they were resolved using released Vista drivers. None of this is really stuff that Microsoft should be praised for, however, seeing that this is really the way Vista should have been from the beginning.
Based on the availability of the beta, I'm hoping that Microsoft will do away with the activations, DRM, WGA or the myriad versions that made Vista such a confusing buy. I'm not holding my breath however and there doesn't seem to be anything that's going to persuade me to pay money for this update, seeing that it's more like Vista SP2, but it's positive that at least they're more or less fixing Vista this time around. I don't expect to hear much more about Vista once this version comes out or I should say, IF it comes out this year.
Goatee Man @ Jan 9th 2009 1:56PM
@Paul
You know that "beta" means "not final version", right? As in, this is a version just to show you the basics, and there will no doubt be -- gasp -- bugs? Not only that, but good lord are you nitpicky. Shut up, man. Seriously.
Kris120890 @ Jan 9th 2009 1:57PM
WARNING:
Paul chapel knows not what he talks (oldyworldy). He's here to publicly bash Microsoft so make you mind up yourself.
Andir3.0 @ Jan 9th 2009 1:58PM
I just want the classic start menu back... I have no need for a half screen start menu. Just a nice, simple application selection menu.
Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 2:05PM
Additional note: Orange Box works pretty well with Windows 7 so far, but I've ran into some troubles with Call of Duty 4. Apparently, Punkbuster doesn't recognize the Windows 7 APIs. If anyone here has a fix for this, let me know. Gonna have a match with some guys after work.
Mark Anderson @ Jan 9th 2009 2:06PM
Uh Paul, you do realise the mp3 bug has already been fixed, right?
OneLove @ Jan 9th 2009 2:10PM
I just need keys!!!!! and windows 7 x64!!
Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 2:17PM
@Mark Anderson
I really don't care too much about music on Windows 7 at this point, because I've just been using it primarily for games and my MacBook Pro and OS X for everything else, but by all means post a link for the fix if you have it. I was just pointing the problem out, since it has affected a few people out there.
John Doe @ Jan 9th 2009 2:21PM
Paul has posted some shit he posted on an earlier Windows 7 article, so don't even care to read it.
Paul Chapel @ Jan 9th 2009 2:47PM
I've also read on Windows 7 forums that the following games work for Windows 7.
Battlefield 2142
Unreal Tournament 3
Farcry 2
GTR 2
Nascar2003
Crysis warhead
Tomb Raider Underworld
BF2
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
Splinter Cell - Pandora Tomorrow
Call of Duty 1 & 2 & 4 (single player okay, not sure about net play).
GTA 4 has had problems with users with Radeon Catalyst drivers. Set the compatibility mode to Vista and it should work.
nohone @ Jan 9th 2009 3:09PM
@Paul
Nice to see you are still a plagiarist, apparently Apple fanboys still do not have an original idea, not only do they need to copy others but just repeat themselves ad-infinitum, repeating the same tired arguments over, and over and over, and...
I am still waiting for your response to this comment of mine, Paul: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/07/windows-7-beta-64-bit-version-leaked-just-in-time-for-steve-ball/comments/16451653/
I take it your refusal to respond and acceptance that you are not having these problems yourself with Windows 7, indicates that you are just another pathetic Apple fanboy liar.
Angus Hedger @ Jan 9th 2009 3:35PM
Lots of other links are dead =[
http://www.overclock.net/windows/439839-official-windows-7-beta-links.html
X86 and X64 links, working for me! They will be ENG GB though :D
nivlack @ Jan 11th 2009 2:30PM
hey its working!
BloodyHell @ Jan 9th 2009 4:44PM
That is one shitty computer you got there paul
kal326 @ Jan 9th 2009 5:27PM
@Josh.
Appears to be the 7000 build that got leaked. File downloading from Connect is 7000-0-081212-1400 which would appear to mean build 7000 dated 12/12/2008 2:00PM. Thats just an educated guess though.
Epic @ Jan 9th 2009 7:57PM
Windows download servers crashed? Wow, they must have been running Windows 7...
RedHat FTW
nahte @ Jan 9th 2009 10:23PM
ugh, I'm gonna get murdered for the noob question: which one should I download? 32 or 64? I have two gigs of RAM, pentium 4, XP sp3, Dell Dimension E310?
I'm downloading the 32, but I thought it was the operating system that determines 32 or 64.
Anyone? Thanks.
Don @ Jan 9th 2009 11:55PM
Can someone post the product key, i have the leaked version :(
Techie @ Jan 10th 2009 9:25AM
My favorite comment of all "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."
Nadool @ Jan 10th 2009 1:30PM
I really wish that, just like his comments, Paul would just fade away. Srsly!
tig @ Jan 15th 2009 3:54PM
yes this is the same version as the one leeked
eggothewaffle @ Jan 9th 2009 1:06PM
Guys, don't bother. It's filled with bloat and viruses and other stuff and it will make you super uncool and no one will want to talk to you at your local Starbucks.
Down with Micro$oft!!!111!1!1111
loocas @ Jan 9th 2009 1:08PM
Thank god I don't waste my life at Starbucks pretending being an important writer, producer or anyone else for that matter. Thanks for the warning though.
eggothewaffle @ Jan 9th 2009 1:11PM
P.S. I'm being totally serious and not at all sarcastic, guys.
superhobo @ Jan 9th 2009 1:14PM
We're sarcastically downranking you :3
eggothewaffle @ Jan 9th 2009 1:32PM
The depressing part is that the Windows 7 FUDwagon has already started:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3204
loocas @ Jan 9th 2009 1:36PM
Hey, egg, then you're seriously stupid :D
Boarderwoot @ Jan 9th 2009 1:07PM
CES? no, this is the gun show.
chi @ Jan 9th 2009 2:20PM
Wow, sum1 at Microsoft needs to calibrate those monitors to have the same color temperature!
bill cant fart @ Jan 9th 2009 2:42PM
*flexes*
Did you get tickets?
bondsbw @ Jan 9th 2009 4:05PM
chi,
It was on purpose. If you notice, the letters and logo cross on top of the black lines. It's a single screen.
Alex @ Jan 9th 2009 1:07PM
Am I the only one who can't get through?
Damn there must be a lot of people trying to download this thing. I've been trying all morning.
jakem @ Jan 9th 2009 1:14PM
I downloaded it from MSDN the other day and it took a fairly long time with multiple disconnects. I guess Microsoft's servers are getting hammered.
Cash @ Jan 9th 2009 1:28PM
Yup, it's like a fanboy DDoS attack.
rcappo @ Jan 9th 2009 1:50PM
Or their servers are running Windows 7...
Anthony @ Jan 9th 2009 1:52PM
Even when you confirm email you get an error message saying to "try back the next business day..."
Oh, well..
nerdtalker @ Jan 9th 2009 2:16PM
Nobody can download it. I give up.
/goes to BitTorrent
Cash @ Jan 9th 2009 2:24PM
Ok I am seriously starting to agree with some of the conspiracy theorists here, in that the download is not officially open yet, and sites like Giz and Engadget are just doing this to drive hits to their sites.
There is still no download link appearing on the official page, which all the MS blogs refer to as the place to go for said download link.
The farthest I have gotten is a page that asks for my info ie email address name etc, and it specifically asks if I am a programmer, engineer, student etc, but nowhere is there just a consumer option.
I've been to three sites now, and the only people who seem to have downloaded it did so via bitorrent, or through the MSDN page.
What I want to know is where did Giz and Engadget get this download link, as I have been through several layers of Windows and Microsoft pages, and haven't found it published anywhere. A google search points to several tech blogs as well, but no official MS pages other then the download page itself. After an hour of hitting refresh for possibly no good reason, yeah I'm a bit cranky.
Cash @ Jan 9th 2009 2:35PM
Gotta amend my second point.... apparently there is an Tech Enthusiast/Consumer option in the drop down box at the info page, my bad.
But even after getting through that, verifying my email etc, I hit a brick wall at the Key page, with the "Please check back on the next business day" error others have reported.
I'm seriously thinking some sites posted this link before MS was ready, and the servers are getting trampled like that Walmart employee on Black Friday.
Greg @ Jan 9th 2009 3:56PM
There is a direct download link to dl it from Micrsoft themself, so you might not be able to get a key yet, but there are the files on MS.com : http://win7mag.com/?p=107
kal326 @ Jan 9th 2009 5:24PM
Keys won't be out till next week. MS is saying to install without and use the 30 trial period. I got an invitation ID for the Win7 beta on connect.microsoft.com. Downloading x64 and x86 at around 300k with drops to 70. The worse thing is all of the traffic has basically taken the vol license servers offline as well. Anything dealing with keys or downloads gets "Server to Busy". Technet Plus and Connect seem to be up and fine though.
loocas @ Jan 9th 2009 1:08PM
Hmmm... interesting. Since I'm really curious about how W7 got updated and how they perform in the tasks I use my computer for, I'll probably go wait in the queue...