We downloaded the win7 beta and are dual booting it. I really like it so far. Has anyone else tried it?

I have been using it for about 2 weeks now (I am running the 64 bit version). It is great. It truly is what Vista should have been. All of the little quarks in Vista that drive me (and most others) up a freakin' wall are fixed or gone all together! It is extremely stable and I have had very few problems with installing programs. The program compatibility utility is spectacular!

I loaded it last week and have been mostly happy with it. There's a little quirkiness with the sound and video and I've run into some issues while browsing with IE8, but nothing serious. For a beta, it's very stable, even on my older hardware.

Are you on a domain, a workgroup or a "Homegroup"?

I didn't realize the beta was already released. Is there anyway for the general public to get ahold of it?

You can just DL it straight from MS website.

It's an open beta:
Download the Windows 7 Beta (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx)

I have been using it for about 2 weeks now (I am running the 64 bit version). It is great. It truly is what Vista should have been. All of the little quarks in Vista that drive me (and most others) up a freakin' wall are fixed or gone all together! It is extremely stable and I have had very few problems with installing programs. The program compatibility utility is spectacular!
I'm one of those in the HATE Vista camp, but I really am liking 7. We are running the 64 bit version also. If you have kids it has some cool parental controls on it.

Lifehacker (http://lifehacker.com/tag/windows-7/) has some tips and tricks for windows 7 also.

I didn't realize the beta was already released. Is there anyway for the general public to get ahold of it?


We have clearly heard that many of you want to check out the Windows 7 Beta and, as a result, we have decided remove the initial 2.5 million limit on the public beta for the next two weeks (thru January 24th). During that time you will have access to the beta even if the download number exceeds the 2.5 million unit limit.

Make sure you write down the product key and enter that or the beta will be good only for 30 days

I'm one of those in the HATE Vista camp, but I really am liking 7. We are running the 64 bit version also. If you have kids it has some cool parental controls on it.

Lifehacker (http://lifehacker.com/tag/windows-7/) has some tips and tricks for windows 7 also.
Same here. I still haven't given up my machines running XP and Red Hat. I tried Vista a while back, but it ran afoul of the hardware I was running it on and I really wasn't impressed. Windows 7 is much better and is what Vista should have been. Vista is the Windows ME of the current day and judging soly by my experience, 7 should do well when it's released.

BTW, that's a great site southerskye. There's always something useful to be found there. :tiphat::)

Should I get 32-bit or 64-bit?

Windows Vista Home Premium w/ Service Pack 1

Compaq Presario SR5613WM
AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+ 2.30 GHz
3 Gigs of RAM (capable up to 4 Gigs)

When the Beta is done, will our copy still be valid and updated?

Downloading the both of them right now to be safe. Never know when its not available anymore. lol

I did notice something that I want to warn anyone not yet downloading it.

Before you click Download, save the key to a notepad file or write them down. After you click Download, the page refreshes with a different key. Save that key just in case.

Thunder looks like you have a 64-bit proc, so go with that. It'll actually allow you to utilize your RAM to the fullest should you ever go above 3GB (32-bit cannot read more than that).

I would only run the 64-bit OS if you have programs that run 64-bit or you run a large amount of RAM (More than 4 GB). All of our production computers at the office are 64-bit but we have 64-bit native versions of Revit, 3DSMax and Photoshop. For the most part they run great but we have had a few issues with 32-bit software and drivers running on 64-bit OS. Some of those issues are on our XP 64-bit boxes, we have had less issues with the Vista 64-bit boxes, they might have most of them sorted out in the new version though.

I am building a new Core i7 computer at home (i7/920, 12GB RAM), it will be 64-bit but it is meant to be a dedicated Revit/3DSMax computer, everything else I have is 32-bit even though I have two 64-bit capable processors.

After talking to some tech friends, they suggested that I stick to 32-bit for now, since I only have 3 Gigs of RAM, I don't plan on maxing it out anytime soon. I'm fine with Vista, but this is a chance to get a free Windows 7. Now I have some serious thinkings to do.

Anyone know how long the given Product Key will last for registration?

In the Vista computer info, it does say the RAM is 2.93 Gigs.

Is it possible to install 7 on a different partition and still be able to keep Vista?

I'm a bit worried that Microsoft Office XP Professional and Adobe Photoshop 7 (plus sum other softwares) may not run on 7. Lucky enough to have them runnin smoothly on Vista.

Downloading them both right now. Can't sleep, so sitting here. lol

Compaq says this computer supports 4 Gigs memory sticks (2 of each). Is that limitation because of the computer or Vista? Will I be able to have 8 Gigs (4 of each) for 64-bit 7?

bluedogok, that's true, I would normally use 32-bit, but after researching on Google, I found this...

Windows 7: Why You Should Go 64-Bit With Windows 7 (http://i.gizmodo.com/5133771/why-you-should-go-64+bit-with-windows-7)

They're saying Microsoft is pimpin 64-bit over 32-bit.

Got lots more to research. lol

Is it possible to install 7 on a different partition and still be able to keep Vista?
You should be able to set up a dual-boot system with it. I have thought about setting it up on another drive.


Compaq says this computer supports 4 Gigs memory sticks (2 of each). Is that limitation because of the computer or Vista? Will I be able to have 8 Gigs (4 of each) for 64-bit 7?
That is a computer limitation, inherent in the processor/chipset/bios of your motherboard. I don't know that there is 4GB memory (per DIMM) on the market right now. I know I have yet to find any in DDR3 which is what my new computer will take, I can use 6-4GB DIMM's (24GB total) but right now all I can find is 2GB DIMM's.



bluedogok, that's true, I would normally use 32-bit, but after researching on Google, I found this...

Windows 7: Why You Should Go 64-Bit With Windows 7 (http://i.gizmodo.com/5133771/why-you-should-go-64+bit-with-windows-7)

They're saying Microsoft is pimpin 64-bit over 32-bit.

Got lots more to research. lol
That's why I was saying the new version may have some of those quirks that I have run across on XP64 and Vista64 ironed out.

Have not downloaded the beta yet (probably do that tonight), but what smattering of feedback I've read in the media has been unyieldingly positive. Best comments are in the area of speed improvements - W7 apparently notably faster than Vista, and that's just in a beta. HW compat apparently improved as well.

Must admit, I've never heard/seen quite this much advanced positive pub for a Win OS

Anyone know how long the given Product Key will last for registration?

I'm not positive, but I think I read that it would be good until September '09.

I think its August.
Thunder, look on Lifehacker. It tells you exactly how to set it up to dual boot with vista.

Here's the Link (http://lifehacker.com/5126781/how-to-dual-boot-windows-7-with-xp-or-vista)to make it easier for you. Lifehacker has loads of info and sometimes its hard to find what you are looking for.

Thanks for the help ya'all. :-)

In addition, due to the expiration on August 1, 2009 you will be forced to erase everything and reinstall Windows Vista (or other OS) from scratch. Therefore, once again, do NOT install this beta on a production, mission-critical machine.

Windows 7 Beta 1 is now AVAILABLE to the public... - CNET Windows 7 Forums (http://forums.cnet.com/5208-19411_102-0.html?forumID=151&threadID=324913&messageID=2950639&tag=forums06;forum-threads)

Does that mean when the Beta is over and the official is released, we will not be able to keep it?

Yes, that's what it means.

From Lifehacker

Despite having "more than enough beta testers and feedback," the Windows 7 team is extending the availability of the free preview download through Feb. 12, with two firm deadlines. Here's the breakdown: Both the 2.4GB downloads (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx) and the activation keys (http://lifehacker.com/5128193/how-to-get-your-windows-7-beta-product-key) are still available, but are limited now, as today is the last day of the no-limit downloading Microsoft enacted after the first day went a little bit haywire (http://lifehacker.com/5127866/in-2009-microsoft-still-underestimates-the-web). If you grabbed a key but not the download, or the other way around, here's the dates you should mark down:


New ISO dowloads not available after Feb. 10: But those who "already started their Windows 7 Beta download and have not yet finished will still be able to finish their download and are encouraged to do so," according to the Windows 7 team. We're assuming that means those with registration keys can jump in and grab their file, but registration keys will stop being available after this day.
All downloads stop after Feb. 12: Even if you've got a key handy, Microsoft will not be providing the ISOs for download. You'll have to look to BitTorrent or other file-swapping locations; from what we've seen, registration keys work on non-official "M1" betas.

Inspired by the deadlines to jump on the beta bandwagon? Don't give up your working system, which might be all you have left after the Win7 beta expires on Aug. 1. Instead, check our guides to installing the beta as a dual-boot with XP or Vista (http://lifehacker.com/5126781/how-to-dual-boot-windows-7-with-xp-or-vista), on a Mac with Boot Camp (http://lifehacker.com/5131766/install-windows-7-beta-on-your-mac-with-boot-camp), or alongside Linux (http://lifehacker.com/5129223/multi+booting-windows-7-with-linux).

Yep, when the beta test periods ends later this year the version of Windows 7 you have will probably lock down and stop working. There is no word yet if MS plans to release the production Windows 7 before the beta test ends so that you can pay for it and keep/upgrade what you already have.

They also have not yet announced pricing for Win7.