Just as many are waiting for the Windows 7 beta to be announced at CES, we have a Microsoft blog saying its available on MSDN!MSDN subscribers should get hold of Windows 7 beta shortly and keys are being posted to MSDN and TechNet accounts at the moment. Ballmer is expected to announce the availability initially to TechNet and MSDN customers only with a public beta to follow by the end of the week.
If you are a MSDN subscriber, can you see Windows 7 listed in there already?
Edit: The build is now available on MSDN and TechNet and will be available to the public on Friday 9th January.
Removed.
Last edited by shockz on 08 Jan 2009 - 06:30
C'est cette nuit!" == Win7 beta on MSDN, tonight.
It doesn't say it's already available, just saying it's expected tonight.
Not on MSDN or Technet (yet)
I was tempted to get the new x64 torrent but I'll wait to get the official, fast x64 version.
It is updated programatically with the site.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscripti...n-downloads.rss
*downloads now*
No MSDN here
x64 - en_windows_7_beta_dvd_x64_x15-29074.iso - 3,230.10 (MB)
Accessibility
Microsoft Narrator does not read information from the command line properly. This issue may also affect non-Microsoft screen reader applications.
To correct this, always run the command prompt with administrator privileges.
Apple iTunes
This issue only applies to 64-bit editions of Windows 7.
If you attempt to download and install Apple iTunes, the 32-bit version will be installed instead of the 64-bit version. This will prevent syncing with iPhone.
To avoid this, install the 64-bit version from the following location: http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/itu...ndows64bit.html
Backup
� When you attempt to restore files backed up from a Windows 7 computer to a Windows Vista� computer using the Restore wizard on the Windows Vista computer, the restoration fails.
To work around this, in the location where the backup file is stored, locate the Mediaid.bin file, which is in inside a directory that has the same name as the computer. Move the Mediaid.bin file up one level, so that it is at the same level as the directory with the same name as the computer, but not inside it.
� If you attempt to use a system image backup as a restore point, System Restore will stop responding.
To avoid this, do not choose system image backup as a restore point. To ensure that you are not using a system image backup, in the System Restore wizard, check the Type column and confirm that the backup type is something other than Backup.
If this has already occurred, restart System Restore and attempt to restore from another restore point that is not a system image backup.
� If you create a system image backup using the Windows Backup wizard and then either change the disk layout on the system or add new hardware, you will not be able to re-image the computer using the system image backup.
To avoid this, use Create a system image in the Backup and Restore control panel (if available in the edition you are using) to create the system image backup instead of the Windows Backup wizard.
If this has already occurred, there is no workaround other than to mount a virtual hard disk for the latest backup and attempt to retrieve user data from it.
BitLocker Drive Encryption
BitLocker Drive Encryption is not supported on drives that use the extended file allocation table (exFAT) file system. Use BitLocker Drive Encryption with drives formatted with FAT or FAT32 instead.
DirectAccess
In certain editions of Windows 7, configuring the Name Resolution Policy Table for DirectAccess can cause the computer to stop responding and repeatedly restart.
If this occurs, delete the Name Resolution Policy table from the computer. There is no other workaround at this time.
Internet Explorer 8
� If you attempt to print a PDF document from the browser using the Adobe� Reader� plug-in, the operation fails.
To avoid this, save the PDF document to disk, and then open and print it using the standalone Adobe Reader, Adobe Acrobat, or any application capable of viewing and printing PDF files.
� Feeds (such as RSS or Atom) may not update properly in the background.
To correct this, open a command prompt and run the following commands:
msfeedssync disable
for /f "tokens=3" %i in ('reg query hkcusoftwaremicrosoftfeeds /v synctask') do schtasks /delete /tn "%i"(If you receive an error, you can safely ignore it and proceed to the next command.)
reg delete hkcusoftwaremicrosoftfeeds /v synctask
msfeedssync enable
You can then confirm that the issue has been fixed by running the following command and confirming a result of SUCCESS:
for /f "tokens=3" %i in ('reg query hkcusoftwaremicrosoftfeeds /v synctask') do schtasks /run /tn "%i"
�
Language packs
In some editions of this Beta release, Windows Update will not show any language packs as available for this Beta release.
If your edition is affected by this issue, there is no workaround at this time.
Mobile broadband software
Some mobile broadband software does not install correctly and some devices are not detected or cannot connect to the Internet.
For a current list of devices known to connect to the Internet with this Beta release, as well as simple workarounds for other devices and software, please refer to http://blogs.technet.com/teamdhcp/archive/...s-not-work.aspx.
MP3 files
When MP3 files are added (either manually or automatically) to either the Windows Media Player or the Windows Media Center library, or if the file metadata is edited, several seconds of content may be permanently removed from the start of the file. This issue occurs when files contain thumbnails or other metadata of significant size before importing or editing them.
To avoid this, ensure that all MP3 files that may be accessed by a computer running Windows 7 (including those on removable media or network shares) are set to read-only. To do this, in Windows Explorer, find the files, right-click them, click the General tab, and then select the Read-only check box. Then back up all of the MP3 files prior to using Windows Media Player or Windows Media Center.
If some of your files have already been affected, you may be able to recover the data by using the Previous Versions feature. To do this, right-click the file name, click Properties, click the Previous Versions tab, and in the File Versions pane select the most recent previous version.
Power Management
In some editions, the computer is not configured by default to require a password upon resuming from the sleep state.
To correct this, use the Power Options control panel to enable the Prompt for Password on Resume setting.
Routing and remote access
� Only 64-bit Connection Manager profiles are supported; these profiles will not work with 32-bit operating systems. To create a 32-bit profile on a 32-bit client computer, use the Connection Manager Administration Kit.
� Users connected through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that uses Internet Key Exchange version 2 will not be able to seamlessly switch the VPN connection from one network to another when they restart the computer. To correct this, the user should manually start the Routing and Remote Access (RRAS) Mobility Manager task before attempting to switch networks.
� The status of dialup multilink VPN connections shown in the View All Networks window is not accurate. To check the status of dialup multilink VPN connections, use the Network Connections control panel (ncpa.cpl) instead.
� If you use international characters for authentication credentials in a username for Password Authentication Protocol (PAP), Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP), or Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol Version 2 (MS-CHAPv2), Network Policy Server (NPS) for Windows Server 2008 R2 is unable to authenticate the credentials. To avoid this issue, do not use international characters in a username for PAP, CHAP, or MS-CHAPv2. (Authentication works if you are using NPS for Windows Server 2008 R2).
Setup
The system will not prevent you from formatting the System partition. You will receive an error stating that the system partition cannot be formatted, but the operation will proceed anyway, with resulting data loss and the inability to boot the computer.
As you prepare your system, ensure that you do not format the System partition. If this has already occurred, use the Windows Recovery Environment.
Storage
If you upgrade to this Beta release, any favorite iSCSI target connections are not retained and the configuration information is lost, so that disks connected with the iSCSI initiator are no longer accessible.
To avoid this, note the configuration of your iSCSI-connected disks prior to upgrading to this Beta release, and then add the connections back to the iSCSI initiator once the upgrade is complete. If you use advanced connections with Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) security, you should also note advanced setting information, including the CHAP secret.
If this has already occurred, reconnect to the iSCSI targets and mark them as favorite connections.
Video drivers
Systems which use XDDM drivers may completely stop responding in certain scenarios. The computer will not respond to CTRL+ALT+DELETE and you will have to cycle the power to restart the computer, with the attendant risk of loss of unsaved data.
Some activities which have been demonstrated to trigger this issue include, but are not limited to:
� Using Winsat.exe or using the Rate and improve your computer's performance tool.
� Changing multi-monitor configurations
� DVD or other video playback
To avoid this, do not use XDDM drivers, but find an appropriate WDDM driver instead. If your video chipset does not have a WDDM driver (such as the Intel 915), use a VGA driver or an GPU that supports WDDM drivers.
If this issue occurs at setup, either avoid unattended setup or uninstall the XDDM driver and use a VGA driver until setup is complete.
Windows Media Center
� Windows Media Center does not recognize certain ISDB-T or ISDB-S tuners because they lack the required Protected Broadcast Driver Architecture (PBDA) drivers.
Use only the tuners that are supplied with the computer by the original equipment manufacturer.
� Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) content does not play back on Windows Media Extender devices.
There is no workaround at this time.
� If you start a Windows Media Center session and do not press any keys, the screen saver will not activate.
To avoid this, select any item from the start screen.
� If you have recordings scheduled and the Windows Media Center enters the sleep state repeatedly, you may encounter a number of issues, such as a video overlay error when you attempt to watch live TV, no available disk space when you attempt to save files, and recordings deleted because of low disk space.
To avoid this, use Power Management to disable the sleep feature on the computer while Windows Media Center is running or if a recording is scheduled.
If this has already occurred, restart the computer and start live TV in Windows Media Center.
� If you have upgraded a Windows Vista computer to Windows 7, you may not be able to burn content to a DVD from Windows Media Center.
To correct this, use Regedit.exe to add the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionMedia CenterExtensibilityEntry Points{1beb699f-dc1e-41a7-a31a-d4b339d21f42} "AddIn"="SonicMCEPlugIn.SonicDiscWriter, SonicMCEBurnEngine,Culture=Neutral,Version=6.1.0.0,PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"
� If you have upgraded either a Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 computer or a computer running an earlier release of Windows 7 to this Beta release, using the Guide Search in Windows Media Center to search for Title, Keyword, Actor, or Director will return no results.
To correct this, reconfigure Task Scheduler.
To reconfigure Task Scheduler
1. Exit Windows Media Center and start Task Scheduler by clicking Start, clicking Administrative Tools, and then clicking Task Scheduler.
2. In the Task Scheduler Library, point to Microsoft, point to Windows, and then point to Media Center.
3. In the middle pane, scroll through the list of Windows Media Center tasks to find RegisterSearch.
4. Right-click RegisterSearch and click Run.
5. Close Task Scheduler and wait a few minutes before attempting to use the Guide Search.
� If you attempt to use Windows Media Center immediately after installing this Beta release, you may encounter setup errors or playback failure or Windows Media Center may stop responding.
To avoid this, install the following update (either with Windows Update or directly from these links) before you use Windows Media Center.
For 32-bit editions of Windows 7: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...ba-67b859a242b7
For 64-bit editions of Windows 7: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...c8-5dc63d55626d
Windows Media Services 2008
Streaming Media Services technologies are not available in this Beta release. This includes the Remote Server Administration tools for Windows Media Services.
You should not upgrade the operating system on a Windows Vista computer that is a critical component of your streaming network infrastructure
Windows Search indexing
If you use a computer that has Windows Search enabled (Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP with Windows Search installed) and have chosen a custom index location that has a path name longer than 128 characters, the indexer will not start after you have upgraded the computer to this Beta release. Search functionality and some library views are affected.
To avoid this, move the index to a different location that has a path name less than 128 characters long before you install this Beta release as an upgrade.
If this has already occurred, use the Restore Defaults button on the Advanced Options pane of the Indexing Options control panel to reset the indexer.
Last edited by Skwerl on 08 Jan 2009 - 04:08
Yes
I am downloading it now.
I am downloading it now.
same here
I've always liked Vista, but I have to say that I am impressed with Windows 7. For those of you waiting to finish downloading, or awaiting the public beta, here are some of my thoughts regarding my first few minutes with it.
[*] It took 21 minutes between booting from the DVD to when I could use the start menu.
[*] All of my devices were installed except for a Pinnacle ditigal TV tuner which was picked up by Windows Update immediately after. I had no issues adding the machine to my domain.
[*] I use this machine solely as my home theater PC, so I was happy to see that it's a bit easier to change the DPI settings.
[*] Logging on and logging off is VERY fast!
[*] One of the first things I noticed is how much polish has been put on this OS. The startup animation is no longer a crappy progress bar, but some swirling balls of light that turn into a pulsating Windows logo. Goodbye 1999.
[*] The start button is very attractive, and the rest of the UI has a very nice, finished look to it.
[*] The new device manager is a big improvement.
[*] UAC feels sort of...missing. I know this will make a lot of people happy, but it makes me feel a ill at ease now that I know where to expect the notices and none pop up.
Yes. It installs Ultimate.
Well, Ultimate is what I ended up with from MSDN.
Anyone else seeing this?
The download button grayed out isn't waiting for the official time. I downloaded it about 9 hours ago when it went live. But just checking for the keys now I see the download option is now grayed out. Might be they are overloaded.
Yeah its the same as the one on the torrents. The patch for the mp3 corruption problem is also on MSDN as a seperate download.
http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft....s-working-on-it
Good find Slimy - Thanks!
EDIT: I just made the connection (Slimy = Emil Protalinski) duh...lol
Last edited by paratrupr on 08 Jan 2009 - 18:39
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