Windows 7 Beta

[Umbrae]

*EDIT* You have to (it's better?) partition your hard-drive and run Windows 7 along your current OS.

So Microsoft is giving out free copies of Windows 7 Beta.

Normally, you'll have to go to their site, sign up for Windows-Live and go through a whole lot of unnecessary page loadings to get to the files, but some people were kind enough to provide the direct link as well as the BETA codes.

Remember, this is a legit download and not piracy.

The Beta is available for 2 weeks (till Jan 24th) and after that, you won't be able to download it.

Windows 7 Beta itself will work till August 2009.

ISO for Windows 7 Beta 32-bit (English):
http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.isoISO for Windows 7 Beta 64-bit (English):
http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRE_EN_DVD.ISO
32bit:
QXV7B-K78W2-QGPR6-9FWH9-KGMM7
6JKV2-QPB8H-RQ893-FW7TM-PBJ73
GG4MQ-MGK72-HVXFW-KHCRF-KW6KY
TQ32R-WFBDM-GFHD2-QGVMH-3P9GC
4HJRK-X6Q28-HWRFY-WDYHJ-K8HDH

64bit:
RFFTV-J6K7W-MHBQJ-XYMMJ-Q8DCH
482XP-6J9WR-4JXT3-VBPP6-FQF4M
JYDV8-H8VXG-74RPT-6BJPB-X42V4
D9RHV-JG8XC-C77H2-3YF6D-RYRJ9
7XRCQ-RPY28-YY9P8-R6HD8-84GH3
P.S. If you're doing to run it, make sure to read this post first:
It's a critical fix for MP3 files. Make sure you backup your songs before installing Windows 7 just to be safe.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/08/fix-windows-7-mp3-cut-off-corruption-issues-in-wmp-12-with-kb961367-update-download/

[AlucardsFate]

If I still had my laptop...I'd install it on there...to try it...

But I'm down to one computer...I can't risk shit not working now...

[GlassAdam]

Wouldn't you need crazy system requirements or anything? And let's say that I do download this-- how would I choose between my real OS (XP) and this W7 beta? At startup?

[KomodoAce]

Ooh, I'd do this on my desktop that no one ever uses in this house, but it's sorely lacking in the tech department.

But I'd like to hear people's thoughts on it, especially yours umbrae.

[Umbrae]

I added a notice just in case~

The minimun req is 1GB of RAM. The rest you should already have. If you Google it, Microsoft's page tells you all that.

And if you do the partition and whatnot, Windows 7 will recognize that you're doing a dual-boot, so at start-up, it asks you which one you want to boot in to.

I, nor Microsoft, hold no responsibility. If shit goes wrong, you're on your own.

[KomodoAce]

And that's why I'm not taking any chances with the laptops.

[GlassAdam]

I will hold you personally responsible! Okay, I'm not actually going to download it.

But that doesn't seem like much of a system requirement, especially after people said that Vista has some very harsh requirements.

Speaking of.... Doesn't releasing the W7 beta pretty much put the final nail in the coffin for Vista adoption?

[Umbrae]

Vista was a disaster. They're trying to make people forget about it. This whole beta release is so that people can get the word out that W7 is actually not bad.

I only have 512MB of memory, but I shall install this beast to see how good it is. Heard good things about it.

[AlucardsFate]

I have 2GB of RAM...DDR2-800

I just don't wanna risk stuff not working...like games and things...

[KnightAttack]

Vista was a disaster. They're trying to make people forget about it. This whole beta release is so that people can get the word out that W7 is actually not bad.

I only have 512MB of memory, but I shall install this beast to see how good it is. Heard good things about it.

Vista wasn't a disaster, it just wasn't a big upgrade.

It was just like the 98 to 2000 upgrade.

Okay, but it's not much of a change.

And 1GB? Damn. I was going to try and set this up on my home computer [which has Windows 2000], and run it, but it's only got 768MB of ram.

[Hero_X]

i still yet to have try w7 at home... need a new mobo fast

[Fedaykin]

I'm running Win7 right now. Dual boot with XP. It's a very solid Beta and looks like it's going to be what Vista should have been.

[PSRT]

Has anyone here tried gaming in Win7? I'm seriously considering downloading it, but I know it's only beta, so I don't want to spend all that time downloading and creating the dual-boot with Vista just to find out it's broken.

[Umbrae]

I'd so download it if:

a. One of my memories hadn't died
b. Wasn't already doing Linux/XP dual-boot

[GlassAdam]

Wow. This whole time I was assuming that Umbrae had been participating in the beta since Day 1.

[Fedaykin]

I'd so download it if:

a. One of my memories hadn't died
b. Wasn't already doing Linux/XP dual-boot

Triple-boot FTW

[Umbrae]

I thought about it, but I'm not sure how W7 would handle multi-boot setup. I know it's going to over-write the current boot startup, but since it's still a Beta, I don't know if it would recognize the Linux partition.

[Fedaykin]

I thought about it, but I'm not sure how W7 would handle multi-boot setup. I know it's going to over-write the current boot startup, but since it's still a Beta, I don't know if it would recognize the Linux partition.

Hmm. Maybe you could just use GRUB for your bootloader?

[Umbrae]

Good point, but I still only have 512MB RAM.

Saw a good deal on NewEgg for 2GB RAM for only $40. I might purchase it soon.

[Fedaykin]

Good point, but I still only have 512MB RAM.

Saw a good deal on NewEgg for 2GB RAM for only $40. I might purchase it soon.

Oh then definitely don't install Win7 unless you get the RAM.

[Umbrae]

Yeah, the min system req is 1 gig.

So how do you like it? People were really hyping up the new taskbar.

[Fedaykin]

Yeah, the min system req is 1 gig.

So how do you like it? People were really hyping up the new taskbar.

It's basically Vista with certain performance improvements. The 64bit version running on 4 GB is supposedly great, but I'm running 32bit on 2 GB. My install works faster than my XP install even(fresh installs btw).

Even though the taskbar has been hyped up quite a lot, I prefer it a lot more than previous versions. I have always used a dock(rocketdock) in my XP systems but I find no need for one in Win7. I find it to be a great improvement to the UI and window management. Plus the integrated backround switcher and .iso burning are some small but greatly appreciated additions. I suggest you give it a try, at least on VMware if you don't feel like Dual-booting.

[Umbrae]

Tripple-booting now!

XP
Linux
Windows 7

To my surprise, I was able to install W7 even though I had 512MB RAM (min req is 2GB). Now that the UPS has arrived, I can play around with 4 gigs of awesomeness.

Will I ever go back to XP? Let's find out!