The Downloadsquad Windows 7 rundown

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Beta, Windows x64

The Downloadsquad Windows 7 rundown

by Lee Mathews Jan 10th 2009

Friday, January 9th 2009 was an intense day on the web, and with good reason. It was the day Microsoft had chosen to release Windows 7 for public beta testing, and the public was all over it.

With no specific time given for working downloads, eager testers began hammering MS web servers at the crack of dawn and worked them like a rented mule. Later on, direct links to the ISO files surfaced, and people were off and downloading.

We've covered Windows 7 quite a bit before - here's what else you can find on Downloadsquad:

For even more articles, have a look at our Windows 7 tag page.

Tags: win7, windows-7

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

gonintendo said 10:19AM on 1-10-2009

I finally got the key (i was using the torrent version). All you need to do is go to technet, log in, copy and paste this into the address bar: https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/scripts/gcs.aspx?Product=tn-win7-64-ww&LCID=1033
and refresh. (I set auto refresh to 10 seconds because at 5s, i got the page and didn't have time to copy and paste because it had refreshed)
Make sure you have some minesweeper open, because it'll be a while.

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/01/10/psstheres-how-to-get-your-windows-7-beta-key

El Taco said 10:50AM on 1-10-2009

Thanks! I saw instructions like that on another website, but they weren't very clear. I got it 1st try!

P.S., that link is for 64-bit. If you want a 32-bit beta key, change the 64 in the link to 32.

gonintendo said 11:32AM on 1-10-2009

x64 keys work on x86 and vice versa, fyi.

chrisaroz said 10:56AM on 1-10-2009

I was lucky enough to have a MSDN subscription from my job and have been running it for a few days.

It's fast. Faster than Vista for sure. And polished. I've been able to crash Windows Media Player once, but other than that it's been running great.

Buddy said 11:23AM on 1-10-2009

the keys are universal now!

Jon said 11:54AM on 1-10-2009

product key: 7xrcq-rpy28-yy9p8-r6hd8-84gh3
product key: rfftv-j6k7w-mhbqj-xymmj-q8dch
product key: d9rhv-jg8xc-c77h2-3yf6d-ryrj9
product key: 482xp-6j9wr-4jxt3-vbpp6-fqf4m
product key: 6jkv2-qpb8h-rq893-fw7tm-pbj73

product key: tq32r-wfbdm-gfhd2-qgvmh-3p9gc
product key: gg4mq-mgk72-hvxfw-khcrf-kw6ky
product key: 6jkv2-qpb8h-rq893-fw7tm-pbj73
product key: 4hjrk-x6q28-hwrfy-wdyhj-k8hdh
product key: qxv7b-k78w2-qgpr6-9fwh9-kgmm7

gonintendo said 12:13PM on 1-10-2009

Aren't the keys only good for 10 installs each?

Jash Sayani said 1:57PM on 1-10-2009

Those guys are giving the same keys to all the ppl !!!

chrisaroz said 12:44PM on 1-10-2009

Anyone else's Windows Gadgets not working?

NukeAssault said 1:16PM on 1-10-2009

Mine work fine.

Jon said 10:48AM on 1-11-2009

You have to turn UAC on .. at least to the lowest level .... then they will work .. weird bug

Ubh said 1:45PM on 1-10-2009

Thanks for all the links dls!

set said 2:04PM on 1-10-2009

DownloadSquad, you need to fix your Windows 7 post tags, because not all posts are under all the tags:

Windows7
windows-7
win7
win-7
Windows 7
(there are also caps variations, which might not make any difference)

Adam said 2:29PM on 1-10-2009

Installed it on an old computer and other than a graphics card issue that doesn't let me run the Aero effects seems to run pretty smoothly. If I had more time to tinker around I am sure I could figure out the problem. Perhaps next week.

Also, I was able to get my own key by going to the Microsoft Web site. I had downloaded the beta the other week via a torrent. All seems to be working well now that it is activated.

Jash Sayani said 2:56PM on 1-10-2009

If you guys are done with the download, here's a simple tutorial to dual boot Windows 7 with your current Windows, in just 3 steps!!

Tutorial: http://www.jashsayani.com/dual-boot-windows-7-with-current-windows/

Zman said 4:17PM on 1-10-2009

Anyone else having problems installing it in Virtual Box 2.1?

I'm running Vista 64 with a 64bit processor, and I've tried to run both the 32 and 64 bit versions

the 32bit does nothing, and the 64bit one says I need a 64bit processor to install it.

Jenn said 9:57AM on 1-12-2009

I had no trouble getting it to run in Virtual box. I believe I used the 'Other windows" setting as it was the only one that could accept 1gb of memory.

I used the 32(bit?) iso file and mounted as cd drive. I gave it 20gb or hard drive space (dynamically changing). It installed for me no problem.

I use a Toshiba satellite laptop with 2gb of memory, core 2 duo. I am not sure of the graphics or video cards. Hope this helps! If there is stil trouble, reply and I can followup with a screen shot of the vm settings.

Jack said 11:32PM on 1-10-2009

I can confirm post above lists the same product key I have....good now to test it :)

blogward said 6:26AM on 1-11-2009

Running W7 on an 800Mhz Centrino, 512Mb Compaq TC1100. No Aero, but smooth as silk, and the battery life has gone up by about 40%. Have Microsoft got it right at last? Gasp!

chrisaroz said 10:26AM on 1-11-2009

That's the most incredible real-world review I've seen yet. Incredible!!

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