Filed under: OS Updates, Microsoft, Beta
Windows 7 Beta gets official this Friday

During his keynote address at CES tonight, Steve Ballmer made it official. The Windows 7 public beta will be made available for download on Friday, January 9th, 2009.
If you've been leery of downloading the version that's been all over the torrent trackers since last week, get your download manager ready and keep your browser tuned to Microsoft's Windows 7 page for the genuine article. Technet, MSDN, and TechBeta members have already been given access.
I've had my share of problems with the leaked version and am hoping that the official release is either a slightly newer build or at least free of the issues that I've had so far. Internet Eplorer 8 hasn't been working 100%, and Explorer itself has stopped responding repeatedly when I've tried to extract large zip archive or move multiple large files onto my flash drive.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brent Schmidt said 1:32AM on 1-08-2009
I also hope that they've fixed the glitchyness issue that I've been having every now and then. The window open just gets a couple lines messed up and I can see the desktop and what not. Just hit the Windows Start menu icon and it seems to fix it, but yeah... other than that been loving it.
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shamon said 2:12AM on 1-08-2009
i will download this on my other laptop
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ryzza007 said 6:01AM on 1-08-2009
My only -ve experience with Win7 Beta is IE8. 50% of the pages don't load - even with its compatibility thingo. I'm now using a plain-jane Firefox v3.x which is annoying simple tasks from IEPro are missing and I haven't had a chance to find the Firefox plugins that do the same thing (assuming they exist)
I somewhat hope that I'll be able to use IE7 in Win7 - but that's highly unlikely.
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Jash Sayani said 6:26AM on 1-08-2009
Hi Lee,
Great news... By the way, I had a question. Does it support Aero on a netbook install?
I am using the Acer aspire one.
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Lee Mathews said 9:09AM on 1-08-2009
I can't speak about the A1 specifically, Jash, but on my Wind (with 1.5gb ram) all the Aero interface features ran nicely.
Jash Sayani said 10:01AM on 1-08-2009
Thanks for the response Lee. If it works on the MSI Wind, then it should definitely work with the A1. But just wanted to conform, the Wind has Intel 950 GMA, right ?
Thanks.
Lee Mathews said 10:02AM on 1-08-2009
It's an intel 945, Jash!
Henryk said 7:19AM on 1-08-2009
Hate 2 burst any1's bubble, but I read on the Windows 7 website that the beta acts like an upgrade 2 Vista sp1; that leaves us xp users with, well, the torrent. Hope you find that fact useful.
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Jash Sayani said 9:43AM on 1-08-2009
Yup, it upgrades the Vista SP1 installation, but XP users can do a fresh install.
Jon said 7:37AM on 1-08-2009
So this is not a Clean install ? it will just update my current Vista .. humm .. I will have to downgrade my Vista SP2 then upgrade .. weird
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Marc said 8:10AM on 1-08-2009
No, you will not be forced to do an upgrade only. Those who intend to upgrade will only able to upgrade Vista SP1.
Its also only available to the first 2.5 million people (unless you use torrents of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)))))))))))
http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/MainFeed.aspx
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Burrens said 10:44AM on 1-08-2009
I am a MSDN subscriber but I don't see the download link on the site anywhere.
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GGates said 10:48AM on 1-08-2009
Check this link out:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/securedownloads/default.aspx
Burrens said 10:50AM on 1-08-2009
Nevermind, I found it.
Derek said 2:54PM on 1-08-2009
I attempted to upgrade from Vista SP1, and well, it didn't work too well. I couldn't open control panel, My Computer, My Documents, etc. Also, I was connected via wifi, with an actual IP address, but couldn't load any pages.
Ended up doing a clean install, and it worked great. Extremely happy with its performance. It makes serious leaps and bounds over Vista.
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vikki said 8:31AM on 1-09-2009
hey folks
what about non msdn subscribers?
when we going to get windows 7 beta ???
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Dragon_master6981 said 8:42AM on 1-09-2009
Hello People,
I have a few questions to ask.
Do you think this will actually work better then Vista ?
Why can't Microsoft, actully fix all the kink's in the os. b4 they let every one have it or put it out for sale. I have had so much trouble with vista, i am honestly thinking of going back to windows me, or windows xp pro. does any one know if there is a link to download a free trial of it or if the vista user that have had so much trouble, with vista will be getting Windows 7 for free. because that is what i was told. ? don't get my wrong i like Vista, but some times I think that is better off, being used as a coaster for drinks.
if some one could give me a link to download it or if it is able to download I would appreciate it.
Thanks!
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