Newest beta of Vista available for download

Sargeras · Post by **Sargeras** » June 8, 2006, 1:05 am

MSBlog is reporting that Microsoft plans to release Windows Vista Beta 2 to the masses today. Although the downloads are not yet available, the access denied page is evident that indeed, the files will be up later on.

The release is reportedly 5384.4, the same release given out at WinHEC 2006, to no ones surprise.

Update: Everyone can now download it

http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=33514

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 8, 2006, 1:38 am

Or straight from the source : )

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/g ... eview.mspx

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » June 8, 2006, 2:08 am

Funny stuff. Makes me go through all the garbage, windows ID's, verification emails, etc, then tells me:

Thank you for participating in the Microsoft Windows Vista Customer Preview Program.

You have received the maximum number of Product Keys available for this program.
Note: Windows Vista Beta 2 can be installed and activated on up to 10 PCs using with one Product Key.

So I guess the maximum number of keys available (in Australia) is zero.

Next fake email address I make I guess I'll pretend I'm in the US.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 8, 2006, 2:13 am

Zed Newell got his ok!

The download servers appear to be swamped. Now that I have my key though I can grab the ISO off the newsgroups speedy-like later.

Sargeras · Post by **Sargeras** » June 11, 2006, 6:43 pm

Anybody have it installed? Thoughts? Comments?

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » June 11, 2006, 7:05 pm

Call me wierd, but i noticed that so far, just about every Windows release need a service pack or 2 to work properly. So no "beta" software from MS for me, i think i do betatesting enough for them by running the release version of a Windows version.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 11, 2006, 7:05 pm

Sargeras wrote:Anybody have it installed? Thoughts? Comments?

I installed it yesterday. The install went smooth although the process took an hour and 20 minutes. Most of that was copying files and expanding them from the DVD.

Seems nice so far. The new IE 7 is almost good enough to use except you can't open search results into a new tab. How retarded is that?

I'd already used Windows Media Player 11 but it's well done IMO.

I looked around but couldn't find how to search for my other computers in my network. That part has changed quite a bit.

The Media Center part is nice. I haven't tried streaming to my Xbox 360 yet though.

The whole OS is pretty polished at this point. In the short time I played with it before heading to the bars, I couldn't find whatever that feature is that lets you scroll through your windows in a 3D-like fashion.

Windows Explorer is nicer. There's also a search window at the top of every window so you can filter stuff and find what you're looking for easier.

No crashes so far and the OS seemed snappy although I have a pretty nice computer. Vista seems to have a bunch of small improvements that will take awhile to appreciate. I hope Microsoft wises up and provides an option to open search results in a new tab as EI7 is ready for prime time otherwise.

I haven't checked out the games that come with Vista yet but hear they're better than XPs!

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » June 11, 2006, 10:37 pm

Does it have a system command to paste without formatting? That's all I want out of a new OS right now.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » June 11, 2006, 11:33 pm

Winnow wrote:
Sargeras wrote:Anybody have it installed? Thoughts? Comments?
I installed it yesterday. The install went smooth although the process took an hour and 20 minutes. Most of that was copying files and expanding them from the DVD.

No crashes so far and the OS seemed snappy although I have a pretty nice computer. Vista seems to have a bunch of small improvements that will take awhile to appreciate. I hope Microsoft wises up and provides an option to open search results in a new tab as EI7 is ready for prime time otherwise.

I put it on a 120Gb IDE (PATA) I had spare, took about 45-50 mins from booting off the DVD to first boot into the interface. By far and away, their best install ever; asks you almost nothing and does so up front, including the CD key.

Had several lockups if I tried to do two things at once, like .. watch some pr0n I just downloaded and browse for some more

Worst of that was it was complete system hangs, so no data going to Big Brother to work that out.

I also managed to crash Explorer, which turned into a 5 minute journey of shit while I waited for Windows to detect that it had crashed (2 mins), and it to restart Explorer once it had detected it (3 mins)

As to IE7, yes, you can put the 'classic' menu back, but who the fuck thought now was the time to change something that has been the same since what, Windows 3.1? I guess we *really* need those 20 rows of pixels to make the next toolbar fatter and with more pointless glow effects.

It really is very pretty. I suspect that has cost us some of the features we actually wanted, like the new file system, but it does look slick as duck shit. Part of that is they've finally adjusted to the fact that people have bigger/sharper monitors, so you can have bigger icons. Part is simple things like shipping with some high-res wallpaper so you're visually fooled into thinking their line of shit about working some kind of magic with wallpaper is true. Swirling aether in a dialogue box is way cooler than an hourglass turning too

The new group policy is fanfuckingtastic for administrators, and there will definitely be some people that will want to roll it out just for that... in 18 months time, after the first service pack.

The constant hand holding is going to drive the libertarians nucking futs. =) I was already pretty irritated that there was constant interruptions to confirm actions that it should be clear I initiated; like typing MMC into a run box, yes I *want* MMC to be allowed to open you fucking idiot. (Apparently my OS has turned into a snivelling 18 year old waiter that can't think for itself at all and has to ask me every 5 minutes if there's something it should be doing.)

But the worst, was trying to install AVG 7.1.394 which is "vista aware". Vista told me point blank that it wasn't goint to install AVG 7.0 and suggested cancelling or contacting the vendor (who had already said it was ok w/ Vista). In order to over-ride this nanny, I had to start up the local group policy, dig through what is an impressively long list to find the compatibility engine, disable it, and start again. (None of which was offered as a solution to my problem by MS, they couldn't possibly have made a mistake and black listed an application that works....)

When release means Beta, you really do know you're in for a crotch kicking party installing an MS Beta...