How do you get to beta test this?

By Gotenks98
in The Fast Ring (Insider Previews)

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roaddog

Posted
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Or, you know, they'll just keep using the same pool of 10k-15k testers they've been using since the Vista betas. I'm still testing stuff for them, SP1 included. Although, they may go for a bigger base and sign people up through blogs again. That's how I got on board. Keep yer eyes peeled I supose.

Mentor

M118LR

Posted
Posted

Go to www.connect.microsoft.com and sign in with a Passport. Look in Available Connections and see if there are any Beta's that you would like to be in. If you get in make sure to do all of the Surveys, participate in Newsgroups. keep up with Feedback. You may not find any bugs, but you can validate other peoples bugs.

You have to know that even doing all of these things you may still not get into a Beta like Windows 7.

Beta Testing can take up alot of time and hard work and at the end of the Beta all you may get is a thank you.

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Grand Master

#Michael

Posted
Posted
if you're in, you'll hear from Microsoft themselves...

Also even talking about the 7 Beta will break NDAs so most will refrain from talking about it :ninja:

My ass people will keep quiet about win7. There have already been leaks with pre-alpha 1. Besides longhorn/vista was one of the worst leaked os betas MS ever did. I highly doubt win7 will be any different. Look at fiji, it's been out what 1 week and screenshots have been posted.

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roaddog

Posted
Posted

I tested Vista, and SP1 so I'm assuming that they'll at least offer me a chance to test Win7 when it becomes available. Since I'm not testing it currently, and NOT under NDA, I can safely say that I haven't heard or seen anything on connect about this. Yet. I'm sure it'll happen soon enough, but I'm thinking not for a few more months at least.

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briguy992

Posted
Posted
I own a site about Windows Vista. Sure it's not Windows 7 but the user base is there and if I got to beta test, it's a win-win situation because I'll generate more hype for it.

Any chance I can get a beta because of that?

If you go to PDC, then yes!

Otherwise, wait in line like the rest of us (including other, very high profile media members).

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Mr. Dee

Posted
Posted
I hope not.

A lot of the misconceptions about Vista come from those public releases.

Microsoft has been distributing public previews of Windows since Windows 2000 Beta 3, its nothing new. Only difference is, you had to pay for the Corporate previews of Windows 2000 and XP. With Windows Vista, all you had to do was download 7 GBs of data, you could even request DVDs for a minimal fee. MSDN and Technet subscribers automatically get access to beta 1. So, if you are desperate access an early preview, then that would be the best route.

I am sure they will do the same for Windows 7.

Grand Master

tomwarren Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
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Microsoft has been distributing public previews of Windows since Windows 2000 Beta 3, its nothing new. Only difference is, you had to pay for the Corporate previews of Windows 2000 and XP. With Windows Vista, all you had to do was download 7 GBs of data, you could even request DVDs for a minimal fee. MSDN and Technet subscribers automatically get access to beta 1. So, if you are desperate access an early preview, then that would be the best route.

I am sure they will do the same for Windows 7.

I don't remember ever paying for beta software of Windows 2000 or XP. Both were on what Microsoft now referes to as CTP.

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Mr. Dee

Posted
Posted
I don't remember ever paying for beta software of Windows 2000 or XP. Both were on what Microsoft now referes to as CTP.

I am not aware of CTPs during 2000 or XP betas, I am aware of interim builds which were not as often as CTPs were during the Vista beta. In fact the idea of Community Technology Previews did not come into existence until Visual Studio codename Whidbey.

Please note though that Corporate Previews were not available to the general public until around Beta 3 and RC1 I believe for 2000 and XP respectively. If you were in the private betas or subscriber to MSDN you would automatically get access to those previews of which you speak.

Grand Master

+Ryster Subscriber²

Posted
  • Subscriber²
Posted
Hey,

any news on this? I was a beta tester for Vista...Even submitted a few bugs but never via Connect so I never got the free copy. :/

Anyway, I'd love to test Windows 7 too.

Thanks.

So... what you really mean is that you downloaded the publically available CTP version and were not an actual beta tester.. rightt? If you were in the actual beta program, you should have been filing bugs via connect.

It got rid of a lot of bugs in Vista though. I wouldn't be surprised if they did the same again.

How do you know "a lot of bugs" were resolved as a result of the CTP program and not the actual closed beta program? The CTPs are largely just a marketing gimmick.

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