Microsoft puts full-scale Windows 7 Beta back in action

Nice going, guys and girls. You had officially brought the servers that Microsoft used to host up Windows 7 Beta on to their knees. According to a statement received from the company by ComputerWorld, Microsoft had to put things on hold for some time in order to "add some infrastructure support to Microsoft.com properties." The spokeswoman continued by saying that the company "wanted to ensure that customers had the best possible experience when downloading the Beta." Now, however, we're receiving word that everything is back in action, so we'd suggest getting those bits and bytes a-flowin' before we end up in the very same position again.

[Via Digg]

[David Z @ Jan 10th 2009 1:26PM]

I'm trying to download it right now. The download page where you select the version you want loads fine, but that just leads me to a page with a spinning progress bar that does nothing...

Looks like they still have some more work to do.

[Tiptup300 @ Jan 10th 2009 1:27PM]

You need to use IE7

[David Z @ Jan 10th 2009 1:30PM]

That's stupid...

Thanks for the tip though. You would think they would bother to say that on the site somewhere.

[iofthestorm @ Jan 10th 2009 1:31PM]

It worked for me in Firefox and Chrome yesterday, so no you don't (at least if you use the direct download links anyway).

[David Z @ Jan 10th 2009 1:32PM]

What direct download links?

[Phil Perman @ Jan 10th 2009 1:40PM]

I downloaded it using one of the direct links last night, but just got a key using Opera, so its not IE only.

Running it now, quite like it, although Media Center performance is a bit worse than in Vista, but other than that, its all pretty good.

[gonintendo @ Jan 10th 2009 1:44PM]

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/01/09/direct-download-links-for-windows-7-beta-iso-surface/

[Drew Green @ Jan 10th 2009 1:46PM]

I got the download link and the product key through FireFox this morning. So no, IE isn't required to do anything regarding the Win 7 beta.

[David Z @ Jan 10th 2009 1:48PM]

Thanks. Man they have good servers, I'm getting over 2 megabytes a second.

[Cris T @ Jan 10th 2009 1:52PM]

I used Safari, Firefox, and Chrome and it gave me the spinning circle. Now (last resort) I used IE and it worked, so yes you have to use IE.

[Cris T @ Jan 10th 2009 1:54PM]

If anyone got through to finishing the download do you think it will work if I install it on my MacBook Pro and use BootCamp or do I have to do it on my PC?

[Birch @ Jan 10th 2009 2:05PM]

I have it installed on my Macbook right now. It runs great and all the Vista drivers that come on the OSX disk work perfectly.

[Superman @ Jan 10th 2009 2:28PM]

Jeez people, why can't you use torrents?
I maxed out my Comcast connection @ 8 mbps (never get anywhere near that with http)
And if I wanted to I could have gotten it earlier (of course that would have been illegal), but anyway
P2P FTW

[bjsguess @ Jan 10th 2009 2:34PM]

You absolutely DO NOT need to use IE. Just because you got it with IE doesn't mean that was the only path. I used Firefox to land both a 64 and 32 bit key. Downloading the OS was simple enough as well. Total of 30 minutes per OS (using Firefox).

[smp @ Jan 10th 2009 3:47PM]

Not sure why, but I had trouble with Firefox as well. But then, that's what IETab is for.

[justin @ Jan 10th 2009 5:04PM]

no, you DONT have to use IE. I downloaded it with Opera 9.6, and just to test it started in Firefox 3.0.

[Neha @ Jan 10th 2009 6:44PM]

I would not be surprised if Win7 beta supplants Leopard's market share in couple of weeks. Judging by the reusable keys and Torrents versions out there. I bet MS offers discounted upgrade paths from the RC version to everyone...cha ching.

[Josh Ladella @ Jan 12th 2009 2:34PM]

For variety's sake, I'm using Safari.

[Tiptup300 @ Jan 10th 2009 1:27PM]

Downloading now, athough I don't have a spare pc to test it on. :P

[Jash Sayani @ Jan 10th 2009 2:58PM]

Here's a simple tutorial I just wrote on dual-booting Windows 7 with current windows installation: http://www.jashsayani.com/dual-boot-windows-7-with-current-windows/

Hope its helpful....

[Cheng @ Jan 10th 2009 2:58PM]

Do as I did!

Format c:


Works like a charm and plenty of room to spare for Win7.
I've been using this "beta" for a week now and to be honest, it doesn't feel like a beta, Vista did when it came and it still feels like beta.

Microsoft has outdone themselves with Win7, it's sleek, it's fast and to my knowledge, it's stable. To be honest, I have never bought a windows licence but if Microsoft keeps up the good work and makes Windows 7 even better than it is today then I'd proudly go to the store an pay up for my very own legit copy of Windows 7.

[B3nM4n @ Jan 10th 2009 3:06PM]

@ Cheng
My words Cheng!
Exaclty my words!

[marky-b @ Jan 10th 2009 3:09PM]

@cheng

sometimes i get annoyed at [technology savvy] people saying windows is too expensive, so i'll get it illegally. if you're like most of the other nerds bumpin around engadget, you use your computer EVERY DAY.

buck up and buy a damn copy already. what's it come to, like $100 a year (given new os's are released on a 3-4 year cycle)

so thank you for supporting your local MS executive. :]

[James @ Jan 10th 2009 1:28PM]

Got my 64-Bit serial, downloading at a smooth 850KB/s, half an hour left (: ooo baby!

[iofthestorm @ Jan 10th 2009 1:34PM]

By the way, word on Lifehacker is that the serials work for both editions. But I'm trying 64 bit out too because it's supposed to actually be faster. For people who don't believe that, x86-64 has a ton of extra registers, which are basically tiny really fast memories that CPUs load data into before they do the actual instructions, and so a 64 bit program can have access to those extra registers which, if used properly, can speed things up.

[James @ Jan 10th 2009 1:42PM]

Currently burning, will update everyone when I'm on it (:

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy @ Jan 10th 2009 1:45PM]

I accidentally got the 64 bit key and changed the url to reflect win7-32 and got the same key that I got for the 64 bit...

[gonintendo @ Jan 10th 2009 1:46PM]

Yeah, they do, tried 64 serial on 32 machine (yesterday when it was having trouble, had to refresh for an hour) works great.

[and101 @ Jan 10th 2009 2:01PM]

Just started the x64 download and it is coming down at 4300 kB/s, should be down in about 14 minutes.

[Rob @ Jan 10th 2009 2:42PM]

I just finished downloading it (at a solid 800KB/sec throughout). Looks like their server problems are fixed.

[James @ Jan 10th 2009 2:42PM]

All seems well! Installed all of my devices including my wireless adapter that Vista never used to install. Seems quicker and loving the small changes to the look!

[John @ Jan 10th 2009 3:14PM]

When i went to the key page again today it gave me a totally different key than i had yesterday. I hit refresh and it kept cycling through 4 other keys that would appear. I copied them all down, but still strange... I only needed 1.

[Sk8rman @ Jan 10th 2009 1:31PM]

Got this a few hours ago using the neowin insturctions, but just confirmed that it works the official way now

[Ryan @ Jan 10th 2009 1:32PM]

i got the torrent from a few weeks ago, what should i do? i need a product key (i think)

[gonintendo @ Jan 10th 2009 1:47PM]

just go on the win 7 site and go to get beta. it gives you the key before you download, so you won't have to redownload. the 64 and 32 keys are interchangeable btw.just print the page in case you lose it.

[AC @ Jan 10th 2009 1:51PM]

As did I.

Just sign up, and answer the questions. It will give you the key before you download.

[toppgun @ Jan 13th 2009 12:35AM]

I just used the crack. It registered with microsoft too.

.I dont crack final release OSes but I figured this was a beta and by being a tester I am doing them a service so I see no problem with it.
posting from a samsung nc10 running windows 7 build 7000. works great in everything but havent tested battery life vs xp yet.

[Joe Dombrowski @ Jan 10th 2009 5:47PM]

Well, go to the read link, and go through the process. It'll give you a download link and a key...just ignore the link (As long as your file is build 7000)

[Cammeron @ Jan 10th 2009 1:32PM]

Yeah Microsoft pretty much forces IE7 in there websites. I noticed it too Chrome got stuck I figured thats what it was tho. i'm happily at 20% now and its only been like 3 minutes!

[smilingoat @ Jan 10th 2009 1:33PM]

can someone link to where you can download it, tried all day yesterday and that link still does not load... leading me to believe that it just wasnt going to work all along.

[Fundi @ Jan 10th 2009 1:45PM]

http://windows.com/windows7

[Bigsby @ Jan 10th 2009 1:34PM]

I had luckily refreshed the page 20 minutes ago and had gotten one successfully for 64 bit. You don't need to use IE 7 for it, it worked fine on firefox.

[Joe Dombrowski @ Jan 10th 2009 1:35PM]

Sweet! I just got both versions and 7 keys! Will be installig it very, very soon. THe process was smooth as butter this time!

[toxicpiano @ Jan 10th 2009 1:39PM]

I have it and I managed to get a key. Haven't installed it yet though. Need to backup some things first before I wipe my Vista bootcamp partition.

[Ryan @ Jan 10th 2009 1:46PM]

how did u get that key? i think i need one

[DEAD! @ Jan 10th 2009 1:56PM]

why not just upgrade?

and also the keys work in the torrent version. which i am using now. :)

[Erick @ Jan 10th 2009 1:41PM]

This actuallty installed on my old ass toshiba m35. Vista gave ACPI errors but not this time. And it runs as good as XP did

[jack @ Jan 10th 2009 1:42PM]

sick.

[DanMcQ @ Jan 10th 2009 1:44PM]

Got it up and running on my Dell XPS M1530 notebook. I am really liking 7 so far. The interface is real easy on the eyes and I'm quite pleased with the performance as well.

[spencer @ Jan 10th 2009 1:45PM]

no go. error page