Windows 7 Official Public Beta

[Snowl]

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/MainFeed.aspx <-- Will have the link to download and get the keys. (is a RSS feed)

As of today, I am running the Windows 7 Beta on several different PCs including my laptop, my work PC, and my PC at home, which I upgraded recently to Windows 7 from Windows Vista SP1. (I’ll be outlining the PCs I’m using to test Windows 7 shortly.) I’m all connected with HomeGroup, I’ve got several different Libraries set up, and I’m loving the new Windows Taskbar. I’ve got Windows Media Center recording my favorite TV shows and my Zune 80 syncing up with the Zune software. And things are even better with Windows Live Essentials installed. I find the Windows 7 Beta to be an amazing beta release and I am extremely excited for you to get your hands on it later this week! I’d like to take a moment to share some specifics regarding the Windows 7 Beta that I think are very important for people looking to give Windows 7 a spin.

On January 9th, the Windows 7 Beta will be available for Windows enthusiasts to download via the Windows 7 page on Windows.com. The Windows 7 Beta is going to be available download-only (we’re not sending out physical media) and available for a limited time to the first 2.5 million people who download the beta.

The Windows 7 Beta will be available in English, German, Japanese, Arabic, and Hindi, and each language will be available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions (except Hindi which will only be available in 32-bit). Because the Windows 7 Beta will be offered download-only, it will be provided to you as an ISO image (an .iso file) that you download. After downloading either the 32-bit or 64-bit ISO image of the Windows 7 Beta, you will be required to burn the ISO image to a DVD to install Windows 7. So you want to be sure you have a DVD burner before spending the time downloading the ISO image.

To burn the ISO image of the Windows 7 Beta to DVD, if your PC comes with Nero or Roxio products – you should be able to burn the ISO image to DVD. If you don’t already have DVD burning software on your PC, you can also check out ImgBurn which is free and can be downloaded here.

The Windows 7 Beta only supports Windows Vista SP1 to Windows 7 upgrades. So if you intend to do an upgrade – be sure it is on a PC running Windows Vista with Service Pack 1. We are not yet announcing anything regarding finalized upgrade paths for Windows 7.

The Windows 7 Beta will be only available in one edition, which is roughly equivalent the Ultimate edition of Windows Vista.

Also, another important thing to keep in mind is that the Windows 7 Beta will expire on August 1st, 2009.

I also need to emphasize that this is a beta of an unreleased operating system. Be sure to backup all your important data. As much as the Windows 7 Beta completely rocks, part of the beta process is discovering bugs and reporting those bugs. Some of those bugs could possibly lead to data loss. I tend to be a risk-taker myself and have gone all-out with the Windows 7 Beta by putting it on almost all my PCs both at work and at home, but not everyone should do this. I recommend using Windows Vista’s Backup and Restore features to ensure your information is backed up before trying out the Windows 7 Beta. Click here for several methods of backing up your data in Windows Vista.

The Windows 7 Beta is targeted toward the enthusiast crowd – people excited and knowledgeable with technology. If you don’t quite understand much of what I’ve written above, it is probably best you don’t try to install the Windows 7 Beta.

If you are an IT Professional, you can visit the Springboard Series for Windows 7 on TechNet (see the Windows 7 tab) on January 9th to sign up for the Windows 7 Beta but also can also get access to dynamic resources including video walkthroughs and the new Windows 7 forums.

Source: http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/MainFeed.aspx

EDIT : Why did MSDN and Technet get Home Premium then :s

Edited January 8, 2009 by Loveheart

[bagpus]

Anyone has Xbox 360 Webcam connected to this? Does it work? I am thinking of switching to 64bit version this weekend.

I installed the 64bit version today and plugged in my Xbox Live Vision Camera and it found and installed the drivers.

No problems whatsoever.

[BajiRav]

I installed the 64bit version today and plugged in my Xbox Live Vision Camera and it found and installed the drivers.

No problems whatsoever.

Thanks :)

[sharp65]

I thought only connect members got home premium, MSDN and technet got ultimate.

[heslo]

Pity UAC needs to be enabled to use the gadgets... will this be the case with the final builds or is it just a bug?

[Unimatrix Xero]

well my Microsoft VX3000 doesnt work in Win7 so ive got no way of talking in TF2 :(

[Roger H. Veteran]

Pity UAC needs to be enabled to use the gadgets... will this be the case with the final builds or is it just a bug?

So far it seems to be designed that way. Gadgets run in Protected Mode so turning off UAC disables that.

[heslo]

I thought as much sadly :( Not to keen on that choice but I can sort of see why they chose to go down that route...

[atleeit]

Last update was Thursday, 8 January 2009 6:48 PM, so we don't have long till it reaches the 9th for download :p i just need another key :)

[BajiRav]

well my Microsoft VX3000 doesnt work in Win7 so ive got no way of talking in TF2 :(

Did you try these drivers?

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/windows7/support.mspx

[George P Global Moderator]

Why is having UAC in Win7 a pity exactly? It only pops up when you install an app or some app tries to change something. Isn't that information you actually want? Or do you not care if some program starts changing things in the background as long as it's one you "trust"?

UAC doesn't popup anymore when you change system settings yourself, so that's not an issue like it might be for some in Vista.

[heslo]

I know when I'm going to install a program, I don't want UAC telling me "are you sure you want to do this"

And before you say, oh, it stops malicious programs installing, blah blah blah... I'm not your average Joe Bloggs who knows sweet FA about computers and need to be baby sat by the OS through everything I do.

All in all though I'm more and more impressed with 7 as I delve further into it! :)

[Inctye]

Last update was Thursday, 8 January 2009 6:48 PM, so we don't have long till it reaches the 9th for download :p i just need another key :)

Just under 6hrs before those keys are up for grabs. The only question is how long will it take for the allotted 2.5million to get snatched?

[9UnknownMen]

Just under 6hrs before those keys are up for grabs. The only question is how long will it take for the allotted 2.5million to get snatched?

Do we a have vBookie. I'd set the Over/Under at 12hrs. :D

[x-scratch]

how do u get the public key what site u sign up on

[Mercellus]

Just under 6hrs before those keys are up for grabs. The only question is how long will it take for the allotted 2.5million to get snatched?

Well, 2.5 million are going to have to sign up as it's only one key per Windows Live ID. I'd give it maybe a day or two, tops.

[DavidM]

I know when I'm going to install a program, I don't want UAC telling me "are you sure you want to do this"

And before you say, oh, it stops malicious programs installing, blah blah blah... I'm not your average Joe Bloggs who knows sweet FA about computers and need to be baby sat by the OS through everything I do.

All in all though I'm more and more impressed with 7 as I delve further into it! :)

I understand why you don't like UAC, but remember for like you there are hundreds who know nothing about safety. It's a small price to pay for your knowledge, and it's so easy to turn off. In Vista I use Ultimate Vista Tweaker to automatically elevate instead of turning it off so when I have to use IE it still runs in protected mode.

I've heard in 7 there are levels of controls for UAC, I can't wait until I can get my hands on a key. (I've already got both x64 and x86 versions, but if I can't send feedback why install them?)

[chuvak317]

I know when I'm going to install a program, I Just under 6hrs before those keys are up for grabs. The only question is how long will it take for the allotted 2.5million to get snatched?

From microsoft.com/windows7:

Want to try the Beta? Come back the afternoon of January 9.

So i'm betting on the over 12 hours range.

[atleeit]

Not sure how long ago this was.

Device Stage – A New Way of Interacting with Devices in Windows 7

Thursday, 8 January 2009 6:48 PM

I don't know what time they are using in the US for 6:48PM

I'm in Australia so in 12hrs its my sleeping time, maybe i will stay awake as i so much want to be the included 2.5 million people :p

Edited January 9, 2009 by atleeit

[NiallG]

I'm guessing they are referring to the afternoon in Redmond time?

[heslo]

DavidM... I understand it's there to protect users who know little to nothing about security on their systems and I definately encourage the development of UAC.. HOWEVER, to be put at a disadvantage for turning it off in Windows 7 by stopping gadgets from being used is what I'm complaining about. Yes there are different levels and it's a good step forward from the over obtrusive UAC found in Vista but it's still not to my liking. I guess I'm just one of those people who likes control over their system...

/waits for some smart ass to tell me to install Linux

[atleeit]

How would they count 2.5Mil downloads? PER IP or if someone downloads 6x connections through a program like flashget does that mean MS will count that as 6? I don't know how they can do that, maybe it's 2.5mil signups for keys.

[sharp65]

How would they count 2.5Mil downloads? PER IP or if someone downloads 6x connections through a program like flashget does that mean MS will count that as 6? I don't know how they can do that, maybe it's 2.5mil signups for keys.

It is, they are giving away 2.5 million keys. The download will stay open.

[heslo]

By the keys they give and by the Live ID's they are assigned to

[WelshBluebird]

Are the keys limited to one computer? Or, if I get one key, can I install it on my laptop and my aspire one?