Vista BETA Available for Download!

Message

JHEM · #1 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:12 am

Microsoft releases public download of Vista!!

After months of limited testing, the Beta version of Windows Vista is publicly available for download.

Enjoy.

James

#2 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:32 am

You know what they say about the cat.................

I've got a spare hard drive so I figured: What the heck?

I ordered the DVD $6.00 + tax $.029 + S&H $4.00 = $10.29

2-4 weeks for shipping.

The beta version is only available for a limited time - until Microsoft sends out their allotment of copies. This beta version will expire on June 2007. At that time it may require a clean install for the retail version.

ARD · #3 Post by **ARD** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 12:54 pm

I ordered two.
Now I need to get a bigger HD for my A31.

#4 Post by **KristianJ** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:00 am

I decided I might as well order a DVD - A$13.20 (only charge is shipping) Now to get that 80GB drive that brentpresley's selling...or at least I would if I could afford it...

440roadrunner · #5 Post by **440roadrunner** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:14 am

Well, it might be "available for download", but it's not "available" --- for "download" that is. I've tried now 5 or 6 times and get server busy errors. I did finally order 2 DVD's. I'm not sure I'm happy with how I almost missed the product key at the bottom of the page.

Website · #6 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:18 am

Sweet....downloading now!!

Nice to try this 100% legitimately...I was getting ready to "test" on a "borrowed" copy....just to see what Aero Glass Interface looks like in person on my PC.

#7 Post by **dorronto** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:54 am

Gee, must be nice to download the 3.2gb program. With my cable modem, Microsoft estimates something like 34 or 54 hours!!!!!!!

That seems to be a bit long in the tooth....What's your internet servers rate of transmission? How many gigs per minute?

I would like to download but it would take way too long...

Have fun

Ron

Website · #8 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:01 am

It told me that it would take about 2.5hours. I have 3MB cable internet.

EDIT: Just checked....2 hours and 2 minutes remaining. BTW, I chose the option of using my own DL manager, instead of theirs, since it was telling me that the server was busy.

borez · #9 Post by **borez** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:18 am

I've managed to install the 32bit edition (thanks to that fat bandwidth pipe from my company), and I must say that I'm rather discouraged by the beta.

Not that it doesn't work (abeit with a little errors here and there), but the main thing is that most of the Thinkpad softwares (which I love) do not work with Vista.

Here is a list of programs that do not work with Vista (Thinkpad T43). I've tried to use the Windows XP SP2 Compatibility Mode where possible.

Software Installer: installs, but doesn't seem to obtain updates.
AC 4.12: Runs and installs, but keeps thinking that wireless radio is off.
Intel Proset: Doesn't work at all, no adapter detected
Active Protection: Works
Keyboard Customizer: Doesn't load, some error msg (forgot)
UltraNav: error messages when loading, screws the Ultranav up.

I'll probably keep that CD aside until some time later when the programs are ready for Vista.

JHEM · #10 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:12 am

dorronto wrote:Gee, must be nice to download the 3.2gb program. With my cable modem, Microsoft estimates something like 34 or 54 hours!!!!!!!

You must have inadvertently left it at DIALUP to see that download time estimate Ron.

Shouldn't take more than 6 hours on the slowest cable connection, more like 3 or 4 max with Comcast, Optonline, etc. at 3MB.

I think it took about three hours to download with my FIOS connection, not sure as I started downloading it and went to bed.

Regards,

James

#11 Post by **dorronto** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:49 pm

James,

I looked it up again at Microsoft and at my connection speed of 256k, it would take 54 hours. Someday I'll upgrade to 3MB.

Maybe when both kids are married!

Thanks,
Ron

DIGITALgimpus · #12 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:50 pm

VMWare install only for me... so far seems extremely tedious... just about everything I try to do I get asked multiple times "are you sure" "do you trust yourself" etc. etc.

Why couldn't they just adopt the UNIX permissions model... sigh.

icantux · #13 Post by **icantux** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:21 pm

DIGITALgimpus wrote:
Why couldn't they just adopt the UNIX permissions model... sigh.

hee hee... they just might someday... then patent it (like the 3,000 other piece of code)... and then turn around and sue all the *nix developers for infringement... LOL!

ARD · #14 Post by **ARD** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:28 pm

440roadrunner wrote:Well, it might be "available for download", but it's not "available" --- for "download" that is. I've tried now 5 or 6 times and get server busy errors. I did finally order 2 DVD's. I'm not sure I'm happy with how I almost missed the product key at the bottom of the page.

I didn't see a product key when I ordered the DVDs.
Can you elaborate, please?

JHEM · #15 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:18 pm

dorronto wrote:I looked it up again at Microsoft and at my connection speed of 256k, it would take 54 hours.

Who the heck is your cable provider Ron, Samuel Morse?

The slowest service Comcast offers in the Delaware Valley is 3MB.

Have you checked your speed lately?

Regards,

James

christopher_wolf · #16 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:35 pm

JHEM wrote:
dorronto wrote:I looked it up again at Microsoft and at my connection speed of 256k, it would take 54 hours.
Who the heck is your cable provider Ron, Samuel Morse?

Regards,

James

I was actually going to say AOL; but I guess even Morse would have them beat.

#17 Post by **dorronto** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:56 pm

Hey, give me a break..I live in northeastern PA. (originally from NYC) and I did, James test my speed........235kbs....

Maybe not as fast as other people, but still better than dial-up!!!

I'm happy with it, even if Samuel Morse can download faster....

dot-dash-dot
Ron

Website · #18 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:02 pm

dorronto wrote:James,

I looked it up again at Microsoft and at my connection speed of 256k, it would take 54 hours. Someday I'll upgrade to 3MB.

Maybe when both kids are married!

Thanks,
Ron

My DL rate was 324K, and my friend was getting as high as 348K, but it only took me two hours and 52 minutes to complete....he was right at 3 hours and some seconds.

@ 440roadrunner: I recommend that you DL it by NOT using their DL manager. I tried several times through their manager and it wasn't available (I forget the exact wording). Finally I got through using the other option (ie. not recommended, per M$)

Website · #19 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:04 pm

ARD wrote:
440roadrunner wrote:Well, it might be "available for download", but it's not "available" --- for "download" that is. I've tried now 5 or 6 times and get server busy errors. I did finally order 2 DVD's. I'm not sure I'm happy with how I almost missed the product key at the bottom of the page.
I didn't see a product key when I ordered the DVDs.
Can you elaborate, please?

It was at the botom of the screen in an orange box, HOWEVER, they also email the CD-Key in the confirmation email that they send afterwards.

#20 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:55 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote:
ARD wrote: I didn't see a product key when I ordered the DVDs.
Can you elaborate, please?
It was at the botom of the screen in an orange box, HOWEVER, they also email the CD-Key in the confirmation email that they send afterwards.

I didn't see it either, and as I went to print out the conformation form at the end, my browser crashed (I was using Opera 9 beta). I have not yet received any e-mail with a product key, and when I went to the microsoft vista community forum, I found the following:

>I downloaded Windows Vista Beta 2 from the Microsoft website, but I never
>got
> a product key. What do I do?

It was on the page just before the page with the download links. It had a
CoA there.

Most people don't read the pages, clicking through them as fast as possible
to get to the download.
It appears you just went right past it.

Despite postings to the contrary, you will not receive an email with an
activation code.

Bobby

I'll check some more posts, but it doesn't look good at least for the downloaders. I am still hopeful that the DVD they send in the mail will come with a product key.

microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups

dsvochak · #21 Post by **dsvochak** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:07 pm

If this version expires in June, 07, what does MS accomplish by making testers enter a product code and/or activate?

JHEM · #22 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:44 pm

dorronto wrote:Hey, give me a break..I live in northeastern PA. (originally from NYC) and I did, James test my speed........235kbs....

Sorry if you thought I was picking on you Ron, I was simply appalled!

NEPA explains everything. You should have seen the hurdles I had to clear just to get cable TV at my mom's house in Wilkes-Barre! Or DSL at her retirement home.

Regards,

James

JHEM · #23 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:46 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote:It was at the bottom of the screen in an orange box, HOWEVER, they also email the CD-Key in the confirmation email that they send afterwards.

Write it down! Most printers won't print the characters in the orange box.

Regards,

James

Website · #24 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 5:03 pm

Interesting that the users in that forum, and I guess here as well, aren't getting an email from Microsoft. Here is a portion of the email:

**********************************
Please keep this e-mail for your records.
**********************************

Thank you for your interest in Microsoft Windows Vista Beta 2. This email contains information on how to access the download and the Product Key (below) you will need to install Windows Vista. You may install Beta 2 on up to 10 PCs using the same Product Key.

It goes on with more information, and sure enough, the very last two lines of the email state:

Product Key:
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

For obvious reasons, I have "x"'d out the real number.

#25 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 5:34 pm

JHEM wrote:Write it down! Most printers won't print the characters in the orange box.

I was NOT expecting the product key to be posted on Microsoft's site after I ordered the DVD. I still kinda wonder if it was. As such, I only scanned the shipping and billing portion of the confirmation page. My plan was to print it out, then view it more thoroughly afterwards. Too bad my browser crashed and closed when I tried to print it.

On the other hand, if I was downloading Vista, I WOULD be looking for the product key to be displayed or else a notice made that it would be sent to my e-mail.

I do not think it is very smart on Microsoft's part to put the product key at the bottom of a page (if this is the case). This is vital information that should jump out at you, regardless if you scroll down the page or not.

440roadrunner · #26 Post by **440roadrunner** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:48 pm

Just more usual drivel from MS. I keep getting "server busy" on either download option. guess I'll have to get up at oh-dark-thirty

JHEM · #27 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:58 pm

GomJabbar wrote:I was NOT expecting the product key to be posted on Microsoft's site after I ordered the DVD.

The DVDs come with their own product key, the one displayed onscreen is only for the downloaded version.

Regards,

James

#28 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:17 pm

440roadrunner wrote:I did finally order 2 DVD's. I'm not sure I'm happy with how I almost missed the product key at the bottom of the page.

JHEM wrote:The DVDs come with their own product key, the one displayed onscreen is only for the downloaded version.

These two quotes do not seem to agree, but to me, JHEM's post makes sense. That's what I would expect.

JHEM · #29 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:10 pm

GomJabbar wrote:
440roadrunner wrote:I did finally order 2 DVD's. I'm not sure I'm happy with how I almost missed the product key at the bottom of the page.

JHEM wrote:The DVDs come with their own product key, the one displayed onscreen is only for the downloaded version.
These two quotes do not seem to agree, but to me, JHEM's post makes sense. That's what I would expect.

I've just gone through the complete DVD order process and there's no product key displayed at any time.

Regards,

James

#30 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:28 pm

JHEM wrote:I've just gone through the complete DVD order process and there's no product key displayed at any time.

Whoopeee

[At least now I know I'm not waiting on a frisbee]

Vista BETA Available for Download!

Vista BETA Available for Download!

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