|  | | Windows 7 Beta Available Now | 
Windows 7 is the next release of the Windows client operating system, built on the secure foundation of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Performance, reliability, security, and compatibility are core tenets of this release as we collect your feedback to meet our engineering goals of making Windows 7 the best-performing and most stable Windows operating system to date. New innovations in the product are designed to augment your ability as an IT professional to better provision and manage increasingly mobile PCs, protect data, and improve both end-user and personal productivity.
Microsoft isn’t providing technical support for the Beta and isn’t responsible for business-related downtime. Don’t install the Beta on your primary home or work computer. When the Beta expires on August 1, 2009, you’ll need to reinstall a released version of Windows to keep using your computer. These are the Microsoft minimum hardware recommendations for systems that will be running the Windows 7 Beta. These recommendations are specific to the beta release and are subject to change:
• 1GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor.
• 1GB of system memory.
• 16GB of available disk space.
• DVD-R drive.
• Internet connection.
Microsoft is inviting IT professionals around the world to work with the Windows 7 Beta in their lab environments and secondary PCs to help ensure smooth adoption when the final product is available and to gather feedback from real-world settings. In order to use this beta, you need to request a product key from Microsoft. Be sure to use the product key to activate the Beta within 30 days, or the Beta’s functionality will be limited. Your product key will work for up to three separate computers.
You can download this file at our downloads section.
Last edited by Regeneration; January 10th, 2009 at 07:56 PM..
| | | | 23 Comments | | | *Downloading*
Let`s see if microsoft is on to something. | | | | After some time of "abuse", it gave me three cdkeys. ROFL. | | | | Lol even the beta has limited functionality without a key. I'm just going to visit distrowatch and try something new. | | | | Am I right that you need to have Vista sp1 in order to use this...I want to put it on my xp computer but don't think I can....? | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by technogiant  Am I right that you need to have Vista sp1 in order to use this...I want to put it on my xp computer but don't think I can....? | No, absolutely not! Just do a Custom Install and it will install a clean version. I just went through this and only got up into Windows 7 about 10 minutes ago. Used a freshly formatted HDD and clean install.
I'm trying the 64-bit version, BTW. | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Dyre Straits No, absolutely not! Just do a Custom Install and it will install a clean version. I just went through this and only got up into Windows 7 about 10 minutes ago. Used a freshly formatted HDD and clean install.
I'm trying the 64-bit version, BTW. | thanks....great likewise i want the 64 bit version....off to the download section then.... | | | | | | | | It looks like Vista but they improved a lot of things. I'd name it Vista SP2, they better give free to Vista owners. No way I'm paying for Vista SP2. | | | | Haven't used it more then a hour and already BSODED on me. | | | | Installed the 64 bit version....my chipset drivers wouldn't install but it seems to be working okay....had problems with "authority" installing spybot search and destroy but found the handy little fix program....wouldn't autoplay when I tried installing "fear" but navigated to the setup file and it installed alright.....I'm quite impressed with how snappy it is, well pleased, but still early days yet. | | | | Damn this sucks. The new taskbar is a joke, I always created folders on the taskbar to quick launch so thats not really a new feature for me. The entire interface and folder view looks too noobish. I'm sure a lot of people will like it, but I'm better off with Windows XP. | | | | I've not had much time with it so far. I do have the 64-bit version installed. Some of the default settings are simply not to my liking and, apparently, after sitting for a few hours while I was away, it went into a deep sleep mode and wouldn't come back up. My mouse was 'dead' and I had to do a restart to get things back up and running.
I have had few odd things happen, too. Writing an email from my G-mail account, one line wouldn't auto return and it kept stretching across the screen.....one long.....line. I had to do a hard 'return' to get things back to looking right.
One other thing...and, I seem to recall this being a problem anyway, but, I tried running 3DMark2006 and, after the CPU tests I get an error and it won't proceed with the test. Wasn't this a problem under 64-bit anyway? I'm not sure.
And, yeah, the way the 'folders' in the task bar work is something I've not seen until now. I wasn't sure where certain browser pages were until I went hunting and clicking. | | | | I seem to be having a problem with the DVD...are there any hardware properties or bios settings I need to change for a 64 bit OS ? | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by technogiant I seem to be having a problem with the DVD...are there any hardware properties or bios settings I need to change for a 64 bit OS ? | Except of 64-bit processor, you need to update to the latest BIOS, enable Memory Remapping and change (if exists) HT Precision Timer option. |
Last edited by Regeneration; January 11th, 2009 at 08:42 AM..
| Quote | | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Dyre Straits One other thing...and, I seem to recall this being a problem anyway, but, I tried running 3DMark2006 and, after the CPU tests I get an error and it won't proceed with the test. Wasn't this a problem under 64-bit anyway? I'm not sure. | Install the latest 3DMark06 patch and then install 3DMark hotfix. | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Regeneration Install the latest 3DMark06 patch and then install 3DMark hotfix. | Thanks, will do so. | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Regeneration Except of 64-bit processor, you need to update to the latest BIOS, enable Memory Remapping and change (if exists) HT Precision Timer option. | Thanks I'll have a look at that. | | | | with the 64 bit OS..in the bios settings for the primary hard drive should 32bit transfer be enabled or disabled? | | | | I have to say it works pretty good. I have had no issues except when trying to get my wireless USB to work. This is what Vista should have been. | | | | Took me 8 minutes to connect a network printer.  This takes less than 2 minutes on previous systems.
EDIT: I picked up a new HDD today and did a fresh installation of Windows7 Beta 64-bit. The new HDD definitely is much perkier than the previous one I used.
Also, I had a Device problem with the SM BUS Device. Downloaded the latest Intel.INF, extracted it and then ran a manual installation from Device Manager. That took care of all the problem devices...so far.
UPDATE: Installed "The Witcher", patched it, registered it, upgraded to the EE version. Been playing for a couple of hours non-stop now without the first hint of problems. Looks and plays fantastic! |
Last edited by Dyre Straits; January 12th, 2009 at 10:08 AM..
| Quote | | | | | Dose anyone know when microsoft is about to publish it's new windows based on new Kernel? | | | | I had the same issue with the SM Bus Device. I downloaded the chipset utility and just ran it in Vista Compatibility mode. Worked like a charm. | |
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