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ibook_steve · Jan 9, 2009, 10:05 AM

Since the new build of Parallels supports it, I'm actually going to try to get the beta and install it today. Always interesting to see what's on the other side of the fence. I feel safer having it in a VM container than using a BC partition. Anybody else?

Steve

TheoCryst · Jan 9, 2009, 12:20 PM

I was thinking about installing it on my old MacBook, but I haven't gotten around to downloading it yet. Anyway, the only problem with using VMWare/Parallels is that you don't get any of the new Aero crap, which is pretty much the biggest difference between it and Vista.

mduell · Jan 9, 2009, 12:45 PM

Getting the beta is proving difficult... "Server is too busy"

Maflynn · Jan 9, 2009, 01:05 PM

I'm trying but I too am getting the same error message.

Art Vandelay · Jan 9, 2009, 02:03 PM

Are you trying to get it from MSDN or from the Windows 7 website? MacNN is reporting that the beta has gone public but the page still indicates to come back later today.

I downloaded build 7000 last week and it runs fairly well in Fusion.

ibook_steve · Jan 9, 2009, 04:00 PM

You can download directly from the Wired links:

http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/...-get-your.html

But you still need to get a key at

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx

which hasn't updated yet.

I don't really know or care about Aero since I've used Vista a grand total of about 15 minutes since it came out. I just want to see what's different between this and XP.

Steve

seanc · Jan 9, 2009, 04:11 PM

I was able to get to the a beta page on Technet earlier, but now it just says coming soon.
I was getting slow loading and then a 404 when it was 'working' so I guess they are inplementing more servers as mentioned here

Downloading the ISO now, bit slow though

ibook_steve · Jan 9, 2009, 04:17 PM

The Wired links are fast. At work, I was getting 2 Mbps. I got the whole 2.4 GB in about 30 minutes!

Steve

seanc · Jan 9, 2009, 04:23 PM

Hmm, ok. It'll probably speed up when I've finished copy files via FTP then.

Here's what the Technet page looked like:

Cold Warrior · Jan 9, 2009, 04:51 PM

I'm getting about 230 KB/s using the Wired 32-bit version link. YMMV. Still no luck with a key though at the Windows 7 page. I plan to install it as a VM in Fusion really just to check it out compared to XP pro, which I use at work and at home (only occasionally).

seanc · Jan 9, 2009, 04:52 PM

I plan to put it on my PC to see what it's like, if it's good enough I'll take an image (clone) of my PC at work and upgrade Vista to it.

Art Vandelay · Jan 9, 2009, 05:05 PM

I'm getting 8.9 MB/s on the 32-bit Wired link. I downloaded it in about 5 minutes.

Cold Warrior · Jan 9, 2009, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

I'm getting 8.9 MB/s on the 32-bit Wired link. I downloaded it in about 5 minutes.

Damn. It's after work though and of course everyone else in the neighborhood on cable is home. Typical slowdowns for me. Normally it's x3 faster.

seanc · Jan 9, 2009, 05:34 PM

If it makes you feel any better, mine 'completes' after 200mb.

Art Vandelay · Jan 9, 2009, 05:40 PM

The latest at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx

Thanks for your interest in the Windows 7 Beta. The volume has been phenomenal—we're in the process of adding more servers to handle the demand. We're sorry for the delay and we'll re-post the Beta as soon as we can ensure a quality download experience.

Cold Warrior · Jan 9, 2009, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by seanc

If it makes you feel any better, mine 'completes' after 200mb.

Mine just did the same thing after 400 MB. I'm going to try again.

seanc · Jan 9, 2009, 06:01 PM

I give up. Only problem is that I don't want to sleep through the 2.5m license keys!

Cold Warrior · Jan 9, 2009, 06:05 PM

Screw it, I'm just going for the torrent copy. It's the same build. It'll be valid for 30 days without a key.

seanc · Jan 9, 2009, 06:12 PM

Speaking of which, what is this build? 7004?

Art Vandelay · Jan 9, 2009, 06:16 PM

I'm not having any problem downloading it from Wired. i just tried again and was getting over 9 MB/s and it successfully completed.

Wired links to build 7000. I'm curious if this is what MS is seeding as the public beta.

Cold Warrior · Jan 9, 2009, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by seanc

Speaking of which, what is this build? 7004?

Wired says it's build 7000 on their page.

Art Vandelay · Jan 9, 2009, 06:24 PM

NeoWin also has direct links to MS for the images for 32-bit and 64-bit. I was getting 11 MB/s for these when I tested it just now.

seanc · Jan 9, 2009, 06:24 PM

Ha, thanks guys. I've been reading things that said it was 7004 and I didn't bother do look at wired

seanc · Jan 9, 2009, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

NeoWin also has direct links to MS for the images for 32-bit and 64-bit. I was getting 11 MB/s for these when I tested it just now.

Interesting, considering they're the same as the ones on Wired.
I'm beginning to suspect you have some caching going on.. you're not in a school or university are you?

Art Vandelay · Jan 9, 2009, 06:31 PM

Funny, for some reason I didn't notice before that they were the same. Never mind.

I work at a community college with a direct link to a university backbone. So, I get crazy fast downloads. My downloads will be even faster next week after they upgrade the edge switches to gigabit this weekend. It's insane seeing how fast downloads are on my servers that are gigabit.

Art Vandelay · Jan 9, 2009, 07:25 PM

I'm home now and even at home I'm getting a sustained 1.7 MB/s throughput on the 32-bit image. That's the fastest sustained download I've ever had at home. Usually, top sustained speeds are 800-900 KB/s. I guess Comcast is making progress in their upgrades around here.

ibook_steve · Jan 9, 2009, 07:36 PM

Now the question is: will Microsoft ever give out the keys?

Steve

ghporter · Jan 9, 2009, 08:00 PM

Waiting on the download myself. This is tedious but hopefully worthwhile. Now, about those keys... Where on the Win7 site do they even mention them?

Art Vandelay · Jan 9, 2009, 08:02 PM

They don't mention the keys directly on the Win7 site but it's presumed that you will obtain them through a link on http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx eventually.

ibook_steve · Jan 9, 2009, 08:03 PM

They're supposed to be at the site I linked earlier, the main Windows 7 site.

Steve

64stang06 · Jan 9, 2009, 08:09 PM

I'm brave but the download keeps crapping out around 400MB or so. I don't remember the servers choking when Vista went beta; then again, I can see why.

ghporter · Jan 9, 2009, 08:42 PM

The main page shows the same thing that the TechNet page says-too much demand and they're working on adding more servers...

I wonder if they'll reconsider the number of keys they'll give out. If they manage to get WAY more than 2.4 million downloads, I can see crowds—angry crowds—heading toward Redmond with pitchforks and torches...

Cold Warrior · Jan 9, 2009, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by 64stang06

I'm brave but the download keeps crapping out around 400MB or so. I don't remember the servers choking when Vista went beta; then again, I can see why.

That's happened to me at least three times already. At least the torrent is doing well. It started out slow but as I've acquired more pieces it has gotten faster. It'll be done in a hour or less.

ibook_steve · Jan 10, 2009, 12:28 AM

Well, I still can't get a key, but I installed the 32-bit version in a Parallels VM to run unactivated for 30 days. I've got to tell you: I had zero problems installing Windows or Parallel Tools, and Windows 7 is...not that bad. It's actually running quite smooth with 1 GB of RAM on my 2.33 MBP. I haven't had a chance to install any applications yet, but I'm quite surprised how smooth its been.

I'll keep you posted.

Steve

seanc · Jan 10, 2009, 05:42 AM

OK, so I've been to bed and woken up again... expecting this to have been put live while I was asleep.
Nope.

Trying the download from Wired again, things in general seem faster today. Right now I'm getting 450kb/s.

seanc · Jan 10, 2009, 10:34 AM

I've got keys!
Just waiting on the download now - the opposite of everyone else it seems.

Art Vandelay · Jan 10, 2009, 11:32 AM

Where did you get the keys? The Win7 page still doesn't have a link.

seanc · 11:39 AM

I was blog hopping and found some links

Go to http://profile.microsoft.com and sign in with your Windows Live ID

Now visit http://www.microsoft.com/betaexperie...s/default.aspx for 32 bit keys
or http://www.microsoft.com/betaexperie...s/default.aspx for 64 bit keys

You must be signed in first otherwise you'll get dumped to the Windows 7 page.

It seems to be giving out the same few keys to everyone, but perhaps that's what they're doing.

Art Vandelay · Jan 10, 2009, 11:40 AM

I just found the links on NeoWin and have my keys now.

64stang06 · Jan 10, 2009, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

I just found the links on NeoWin and have my keys now.

Art Vandelay · Jan 10, 2009, 12:10 PM

Looks like the download is now available from the Win 7 site. Going through the process now to see if the keys are different. Waiting for an email verification message.

ibook_steve · Jan 10, 2009, 12:17 PM

First page refresh of the day and I got a key!

Steve

Art Vandelay · Jan 10, 2009, 12:18 PM

Still waiting for the verification email.

Art Vandelay · Jan 10, 2009, 12:31 PM

Still no verification email but I went through the process again and got the keys. They are the same keys as the ones linked by NeoWin.

Wiskedjak · Jan 10, 2009, 01:13 PM

No verification email. Got the key straight from the site.

driven · Jan 10, 2009, 02:05 PM

I downloaded mine from MSDN. I'll be installing it either tonight or tomorrow morning.

ghporter · Jan 10, 2009, 04:05 PM

Got the key, downloaded the .iso. Now I have to get a few things done on the Mac side before I can reboot on the XP side and do something with it.

Cold Warrior · Jan 10, 2009, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by seanc

I was blog hopping and found some links

Go to http://profile.microsoft.com and sign in with your Windows Live ID

Now visit http://www.microsoft.com/betaexperie...s/default.aspx for 32 bit keys
or http://www.microsoft.com/betaexperie...s/default.aspx for 64 bit keys

You must be signed in first otherwise you'll get dumped to the Windows 7 page.

It seems to be giving out the same few keys to everyone, but perhaps that's what they're doing.

These instructions didn't work for me but these did:

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/0...ows-7-beta-key

Cold Warrior · Jan 10, 2009, 06:41 PM

Got a key and the download finished early this morning courtesy of bittorrent. I haven't installed yet because I worked today and still have a 3 hour drive ahead of me tonight. Sunday seems like a good chance for me to try this out via Fusion.

seanc · Jan 10, 2009, 06:44 PM

The servers and key pages are online now anyway - have been since about 10am Los Angeles time