Testers to get downloadable Windows XP Pro x64 Edition

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Thanks scyphe for this submission.

As a thanks to all Beta Testers who participated in the betas of Windows 2003 SP1 and Windows XP Pro x64 Edition Microsoft have offered testers their own free licensed copy of Windows XP Pro x64 Edition (downloadable ISO).

As a small measure of our appreciation for your help in testing Windows Server SP1 and Windows x64 on the Technical Beta, we are offering active participants a complimentary full copy of Windows Professional x64 Edition. This will be done as a downloadable ISO file only, but will be a licensed copy of Windows Professional x64 Edition. (i.e. not an eval copy)

The download won't be available until a couple of weeks, Microsoft have put this down to making product keys and server space available.

Thumbs up to Microsoft!

Changes:

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* Live Video with 3-D rendering
* Ability to clear IM History
* An additional Ads Setting that allows you to control where ads are displayed, as well as the size of the ads
* Buddy Info and Alert Me functionality when you ‘right click’ on the Buddy List feature

#1 [DGS] on 27 May 2005 - 13:45

Let the leakin' begin!

#2 Gowcra on 27 May 2005 - 13:46

me waits for a pirated copy to appear within days :lol:

#3 ThunderRiver on 27 May 2005 - 13:54

You guys didn't read it clearly. It is X64 edition with single retail user license. It is not VLK.

For the first two, you are too late? X64 got leaked a long time ago.

(1 reply) #4 nvizible on 27 May 2005 - 14:08

hmm... nice of microsoft to be so generous, they really must keep up the good work!

#4.1 markjensen on 27 May 2005 - 16:05

Yeah. Now if only if this idea of giving away free copies of your OS would catch on.

(2 replies) #5 BigPaul2006 on 27 May 2005 - 14:52

How can I become a tester?

#5.1 Azmodan on 27 May 2005 - 15:32

Well my << removed >> friend, you are late for receiving your free copy, as the title says, the free Licensed copy was for people that colaborated with Microsoft with no profit intended and good will

Last edited by 36818 on 27 May 2005 - 16:06

#5.2 Shadow Dragon on 27 May 2005 - 15:58

lol, am I the only one wondering why you called this guy << removed >>

?

Last edited by 36818 on 27 May 2005 - 16:06

#6 xSuRgEx on 27 May 2005 - 14:58

goto beta.microsoft.com and fill out a form,

remember being be a beta tester meens "testing" the software and not just downloading the latest build and braging to all your friends "look i have the latest" . those that get in the bigger beta tests. get some cool rewards.

if you are only signing up to get free stuff then you might as well not bother. as microsoft will see that you dont test properly and submit bug reports. and then you may get taken off all futrure betas.

hope this helps.

(5 replies) #7 raid517 on 27 May 2005 - 15:07

Erm... So I signed up and downloaded the beta ages ago. So does this mean that I should get a feee x64 licence too? If so, how will I be told how to get my free licence?

GJ

#7.1 configure on 27 May 2005 - 15:17

Based on what the article said, you have to be an active tester to be eligible for receiving a copy.

#7.2 ThunderRiver on 27 May 2005 - 16:21

You will get it if you received that email. I got it this morning.

#7.3 raid517 on 27 May 2005 - 20:02

So what does 'active' tester mean? I used it almost every day when it was in beta (when it first hit public beta that is) on a spare machine. I can't say I ever really found any issues though. Are you saying you only get a free licence if you reported any issues? Or maybe if you are a MSDN member?

Not that I guess it matters, as I just changed ISP's - and as a result email addresses - so the address I registered for the beta with is dead. Surely there should be a web page I can go to to give my details so that I can get my free licence?

GJ

#7.4 ThunderRiver on 28 May 2005 - 03:24

Nay, you don't have to report anything. The key is that you download updates from BetaPlace periodically. They check that kind of stuff in case you haven't noticed.

If your email address is dead, you need to update it on your betaplace account. You should be able to receive the free copy just fine from BetaPlace or WindowsBeta web site.

#7.5 scyphe on 28 May 2005 - 09:30

The first criteria is that you're a technical beta tester (not preview user etc.), and the second criteria is that you filled out all the surveys.

(1 reply) #8 Mx² on 27 May 2005 - 15:30

I was an active testing, so

#8.1 MrMobi on 27 May 2005 - 21:44

here, have a cookie.

(3 replies) #9 snappyfool on 27 May 2005 - 15:36

i was actively thinking about maybe actively testing, do i get a copy?

#9.1 ThunderRiver on 27 May 2005 - 17:37

thinking only = zero active testing = no efforts = no reward. Do you think you can still get a copy?

#9.2 MrMobi on 27 May 2005 - 21:47

ThunderRiver - did they teach you what 'sarcasm' was at school?

#9.3 ThunderRiver on 28 May 2005 - 03:27

MrMobi - Did they also teach you what it means to ask something obvious?

You are very smart.... (there you have it. a sarcasm)

#10 TC17 on 27 May 2005 - 16:45

Oh no, think of the money Microsoft will lose by people getting their software for free.
/sarcasim off

#11 .:Neo.X.WinFreak:. on 27 May 2005 - 17:35

mmh.. damn... why didnt i participate in this beta program? -> dont ahve an x64 cpu, why dont i have one? -> argh...

what can i expect from windows 2003 r2 (beta1 and 2)?

-fm

#12 briangw on 27 May 2005 - 17:39

I test every other product, but can never get on the OS testing. This sucks!!!!

#13 qdave on 27 May 2005 - 18:30

that is so cool

cant wait for it to be released.

#14 Lasker on 27 May 2005 - 19:05

free windows xp from microsoft.... incredible

I'm also beta tester

#15 jak0bk on 27 May 2005 - 20:15

Funny... a post that isn't bad about Microsoft and there's only 20 (or so) posts about it. When there is a bad post about Microsoft... there are close to 100 replies about how they suck. Ha.

Stupid MS Haters.

Oh yeah... thumbs up to MS!

(4 replies) #16 Kushan on 27 May 2005 - 20:27

This is crap, I was a really active tester (I downloaded it and tested it lots) and they wont give me my free copy.
Also, I'm an R2 tester and they keep sending me emails saying I haven't downloaded it when I've actually downloaded it 3 times now.

Microsoft let me down

#16.1 MrMobi on 27 May 2005 - 21:49

pay them back by warezing it mate

#16.2 Lasker on 27 May 2005 - 21:57

I agree

#16.3 Kushan on 28 May 2005 - 00:43

yess...because I didn't warez their stuff before >_>

#16.4 Bwizzel-B on 31 May 2005 - 19:46

It's a gift, not an entitlement.

/comes off high horse

(1 reply) #17 Tuffgong4 on 27 May 2005 - 23:24

how do you check to see if you will be getting one. I have used a copy of the beta and actively tested it...just wondering how you go about finding out if you get a copy???!?!?!

#17.1 ThunderRiver on 28 May 2005 - 03:29

Typically, with your Beta ID, if you downloaded the beta, you should be fine.

Also, if you received the email from MS about it...that's for sure.

(2 replies) #18 Lexcyn on 28 May 2005 - 02:19

Why couldn't they have done this with the Windows XP beta?

#18.1 mikey1001 on 28 May 2005 - 03:49

What do you mean? They did, but even better. Remember we could download an RTM version and then we got to pick which retail boxed version we wanted sent to our home. With the possible exception of Office 11 (2003) they have been very generous to testers. The Office one was an insult. I submitted 23 or 25 bugs that were legit, but was no where near the top ten or whatever so they sent out a trinket key chain "radio". I would have been happier with a simple "Thank You" instead of an insulting .89 cent piece of crap. But that's just my opinion.

#18.2 werejag on 28 May 2005 - 08:34

that radio was a insult for sure. i turned mine into road hash

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