As promised, Microsoft has released the beta to Windows 7 to the general public a few hours ago. Don't get your hopes up yet, though, as Microsoft's servers are completely hammered right now - which isn't too hard to imagine, seeing the 2.5 million download limit Microsoft imposed. This probably led to everyone rushing to Microsoft's servers to get their hands on the beta, clogging the servers (2.5m times a 3GB image file, do the math). You will have to be patient, and hope for the best if you want the beta and its product key. The beta will expire August 1st, 2009.
Post a Comment
Member since:
2009-01-09
What did Microsoft expect to happen? Of course the servers are being hammered. Once MicrosoftFT announced they would cap the activation codes at 2.5M, it created this feeding frenzy so that only those who have nothing to do all day but hit their browser "refresh" button constantly will be able to get at it.
This has been nothing but a big publicity campaign. Everyone knows that this is no way to distribute software to IT professionals for the purpose of testing. It's like throwing money into a crowd from the back of a moving truck. "What's the matter? Didn't you get yours?" Of course not. This is ridiculous. There are many other ways that Microsoft could have chosen to distribute this in an orderly manner. They chose this way because they knew it would create the most attention and make the news.
Member since:2009-01-09
Member since:2006-11-20
Member since:2008-07-15
I do have to wonder what the point of the download cap is anyway, as I think you're exactly right. That creates a rush, and for no apparent purpose. It sort of reminds me of the Windows XP EOL situation, they keep extending it, little by little. I wouldn't put it past them to do the same with this download limit.
RE[2]: No Way To Distribute Software
Member since:
2007-03-22
The linked page says "Windows 7 Beta coming soon!"...
Also, the windowsteamblog just posted: "Due to very heavy traffic we’re seeing as a result of interest in the Windows 7 Beta, we are adding some additional infrastructure support to the Microsoft.com properties before we post the public beta. We want to ensure customers have the best possible experience when downloading the beta, and I’ll be posting here again soon once the beta goes live. Stay tuned! We are excited that you are excited!"
(17 mins ago)
Member since:
2005-07-07
Windows 7 x86 (32bit): http://tinyurl.com/8om8uk
Windows 7 x64 (64bit): http://tinyurl.com/8kjak3
Microsoft is also providing a QFE patch for the MP3 corruption issues that have plagued build 7000 [ http://tinyurl.com/a85ks9 ]. It's extremely important you apply this patch as you may lose parts of your MP3s if the patch is not applied.
32bit patch http://tinyurl.com/7dw3ru
64bit patch http://tinyurl.com/7vsw59
[all browsers are fine, except chrome: "Error 8 (net::ERR_FILE_TOO_BIG): Unknown error." lol 
]
Edited 2009-01-09 23:43 UTC
Member since:
2008-03-27
Member since:2007-04-05
Member since:
2007-04-05
Member since:
2005-07-01