Well, actually not quite. The number of product keys the company will offerfor Windows 7 Beta downloads is limited. For the 32-bit version they are:
6JKV2-QPB8H-RQ893-FW7TM-PBJ73;
TQ32R-WFBDM-GFHD2-QGVMH-3P9GC;
G4MQ-MGK72-HVXFW-KHCRF-KW6KY;
4HJRK-X6Q28-HWRFY-WDYHJ-K8HDH; and
QXV7B-K78W2-QGPR6-9FWH9-KGMM7,
while for the 64-bit version they are:
7XRCQ-RPY28-YY9P8-R6HD8-84GH3;
RFFTV-J6K7W-MHBQJ-XYMMJ-Q8DCH;
482XP-6J9WR-4JXT3-VBPP6-FQF4M;
JYDV8-H8VXG-74RPT-6BJPB-X42V4; and
D9RHV-JG8XC-C77H2-3YF6D-RYRJ9.
12. Need an incentive before downloading, what's in it for me?Microsoft allows testers to download and use Windows 7 Beta completely for free in exchange for the feedback offered via the testing process. In case you are unconvinced to try the build, here is a taste of what
Windows 7 Beta has to offer in 75 screenshots.
13. What are the hardware requirements for running Windows 7 Beta?The minimum specifications for the operating system are: 1 GHz 32-bit or64-bit processor; 1 GB of system memory; 16 GB of available disk space;Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (to enable the Aerotheme); DVD-R/W Drive; and Internet access, according to the software giant.
“The hardware setup we’re recommending for the Windows 7 Beta is meant for average computing tasks, such as web browsing and word processing. If you plan to play games or run other hardware-intensive programs, you might need to test the Windows 7 Beta on a more powerful computer. It might also be possible to run theWindows 7 Beta on a less powerful system than the one we recommend, although we can’t guarantee the results,” Microsoft revealed.
14. Can Windows 7 Beta be used indefinitely?No. Windows 7 Beta, as all Microsoft pre-release software which is offered for free ahead of RTM, is time-bombed. In this context, Windows 7 Beta will expire come August 1, 2009.
15. What will happen with Windows 7 Beta after the August 1, 2009 expiration date?“The Windows 7 Beta expires approximately six months following its broad public availability, in order to give structured time to gatherfeedback from customers for a quality release,” a Microsoft spokesperson unveiled to Softpedia.
16. How to install Windows 7 Beta?
The operating system is offered packaged as an ISO image. All that users have to do is burn a DVD with the Windows 7 Beta bits. Installing the platform is a simple enough process, and
this article will guide you through it in 45 screenshots.
17. What is the first thing users should do after installing Windows 7 Beta?Install
this update that is designed to resolve an MP3 file corruption issue in which Windows 7 manages to lose seconds of audio from MP3s, but also additional problems related to Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center.
18. Where do I go if I am an IT Pro or a developer?IT Pros should go
here, developers
here.
19. How do I keep Windows 7 secure?
Microsoft has worked with members of the security industry in order to producesecurity solutions tailored to Windows 7. At this point in time the Redmond company is recommending
products from AVG, Kaspersly and Symantec.
20. Is Microsoft offering any downloads related to Windows 7 Beta?Of course. In addition to Windows 7 Beta users can download the
Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows 7 Beta), the
Windows 7 Beta (7000-0-081212-1400) Language Interface Packs, and the
Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1: BETA.
21. Is there something that Microsoft prohibits users from doing with the Windows 7 Beta?While the software manufacturer is allowing testers to install as many copiesof Windows 7 Beta on as many virtual and physical machines as possible,the company is only permitting the bits to be deployed on testing machines and not in production environments, while prohibiting any benchmarking.
22. Should users expect to run into problems with Windows 7 Beta?Well, it is a Beta release after all. Windows 7 is still under development and, as such, users should expect the operating system to misbehave.Microsoft has published the Release Notes and additional resources designed to inform them of the glitches associated with Windows 7 Beta.
23. What's next?
“The feedback we get in the early stages of Beta will help enable us todiscuss the next Windows 7 milestone. Our goal with Beta is to collect feedback and refine the features so we can deliver a great product that meets our customers’ needs,” a Microsoft spokesperson stated for Softpedia.
Users must understand that Windows 7 Beta is feature complete, even though Microsoft still has a few aces up its sleeve and is promising that it will bring to the surface
features hidden inside the operating system ahead of finalization. Windows7 will move from Beta to Release Candidate and will subsequently be Released to Manufacturing.