Microsoft puts full-scale Windows 7 Beta back in action
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 10th 2009 1:23PM
posted Jan 10th 2009 1:23PM
[Via Digg]
posted Jan 10th 2009 1:23PM
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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.
You need to use IE7
That's stupid...
Thanks for the tip though. You would think they would bother to say that on the site somewhere.
It worked for me in Firefox and Chrome yesterday, so no you don't (at least if you use the direct download links anyway).
What direct download links?
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.
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/01/09/direct-download-links-for-windows-7-beta-iso-surface/
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.
Thanks. Man they have good servers, I'm getting over 2 megabytes a second.
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.
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?
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.
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
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).
Not sure why, but I had trouble with Firefox as well. But then, that's what IETab is for.
no, you DONT have to use IE. I downloaded it with Opera 9.6, and just to test it started in Firefox 3.0.
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.
For variety's sake, I'm using Safari.
Downloading now, athough I don't have a spare pc to test it on. :P
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....
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.
@ Cheng
My words Cheng!
Exaclty my words!
@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. :]
Got my 64-Bit serial, downloading at a smooth 850KB/s, half an hour left (: ooo baby!
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.
Currently burning, will update everyone when I'm on it (:
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...
Yeah, they do, tried 64 serial on 32 machine (yesterday when it was having trouble, had to refresh for an hour) works great.
Just started the x64 download and it is coming down at 4300 kB/s, should be down in about 14 minutes.
I just finished downloading it (at a solid 800KB/sec throughout). Looks like their server problems are fixed.
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!
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.
Got this a few hours ago using the neowin insturctions, but just confirmed that it works the official way now
i got the torrent from a few weeks ago, what should i do? i need a product key (i think)
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.
As did I.
Just sign up, and answer the questions. It will give you the key before you download.
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.
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)
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!
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.
http://windows.com/windows7
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.
Sweet! I just got both versions and 7 keys! Will be installig it very, very soon. THe process was smooth as butter this time!
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.
how did u get that key? i think i need one
why not just upgrade?
and also the keys work in the torrent version. which i am using now. :)
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
sick.
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.
no go. error page