Microsoft puts the kibosh on Windows 7 beta downloads

Sadly, the day we were all expecting has come to pass: Windows 7 beta downloads are no longer available from Microsoft. Originally, the plan was to limit downloads to 2.5 million users, but due to popular demand and to help ease traffic on The Pirate Bay's website (just kidding) the company later offered unlimited downloads which (after providing a couple generous extensions) lasted until yesterday. But don't worry -- if your download got interrupted, you have until Thursday, Feb. 12 at 9:00 PM PST to finish the job; and folks who have finished their download can still register a product key or look up an old one on the download page.

[Via The Register]

Further reading:

	Microsoft extends Windows 7 beta downloads to February 10 Good news for those of you who haven't yet snagged a copy of the Windows 7 beta -- Microsoft's decided to extend the beta download period to February 10th.		Windows 7 multitouch: it's a gimmick (for now) We've spent some time with Windows 7 Beta's new touch and multitouch features this week, and came away largely disappointed.
	Windows 7 Beta in-depth impressions We finally gathered together all our thoughts and impressions of the OS into one meaty pile of words and screencaps.		Windows 7 install roundup After resting up and settling into our post-CES golden desk chairs, team Engadget got busy at installing Windows 7 on pretty much anything they could find.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2009 2:21PM]

his message implied it was a reply, but it wasn't, hence irony.

dumbass

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2009 2:47PM]

Torrent

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2009 2:55PM]

I am running Windows 7 full time on my PC as well as my wife's laptop. It's really amazing. Even in it's beta form I find it to be nearly as stable as XP SP3, just as fast, and obviously leaps and bounds better than the joke that is Vista. I'm excited for the full release, but for now the beta is incredible.

[Kris91 Posted Feb 11th 2009 3:16PM]

I've got a disk of Windows 7 64-bit. $5 shipped, just need to get a key.

Jk.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2009 3:41PM]

since they are still allowing key registrations, you can still easily download this over a torrent. MS saves bandwidth, and we can still get the legit keys. Win/win if you ask me.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 11th 2009 5:36PM]

But OF COURSE you wouldn't use torrents!

(being sarcastic)

[superhobo Posted Feb 11th 2009 6:17PM]

RIP Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 ;_;

Now, on to 7022...

[va jj Posted Feb 11th 2009 10:10PM]

are you implying if i buy windows 7 i will get my very own unicorn? alright now i want world peace as well.

[MNeko Posted Feb 12th 2009 3:00AM]

I got my copy just before Microsoft ended the offer, and I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with Windows 7 so far. I'm running it on a 3.0GHz Pentium 4 and it runs roughly as fast as Windows XP had, so it's clear that Microsoft made optimization a top priority.

I'm just wondering, though... when do these betas expire? Will there come a point when they're no longer functional?

[Galley Posted Feb 12th 2009 8:40AM]

Charlie, is that you?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2009 6:44PM]

Well, I am running Windows 7 beta, build 7022, on my LG notebook and I'm pretty impressed so far. I went to MS's website but couldn't get the download as it's been stopped now so I had to get it elsewhere (thank you google) however, I was still able to get a new CD-Key here where one used to get the download of Windows 7 on MS's site. Here is the URL: "http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx" I just filled in the appropriate info asked for and wala, was given a key!
Also, if anyone out there is like me, I really like 'Windows Mail' but discovered it's not included in Windows 7 beta. I personally hate Windows Live Mail and various other pop email clients so I found a very simple work around. If anyone is interested to do the same, this is all I did. First I copied the "Windows Mail" folder (C:\Program Files\Windows Mail), from a Vista machine, to "C:\Program Files\" on my notebook running Windows 7. Then I created a shortcut on my desktop to "C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe". Now I have Windows Mail running perfectly on my Windows 7 beta OS. This is for all you folks that still prefer Outlook Express - Windows Mail email client.
Cheers