Microsoft Windows 7 BETA
Microsoft is allowing 2.5 million downloads of their new Microsoft Windows 7 Beta. They said that due to popular demand, they are going to extend the downloads past the 2.5 million mark for a short time. If you want to try it out, I would suggest you go NOW!! Depending on your network speed, it might take some time. The filesize is 2.43 GB. You will need to know how to burn an .ISO to DVD and a few other things MS says. Make sure you have a DVD Burner before you download the file!! I am currently downloading it and will be installing it on my laptop later on today. They say the BETA will stop working on August 1, 2009.
These are the Microsoft minimum hardware recommendations for systems that will be running the Windows 7 Beta. These recommendations are specific to the beta release and are subject to change:
- Processor: 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
- Memory: 1 GB of system memory
- Hard drive: 16 GB of available disk space
- Video card: Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
- Drive: DVD-R/W drive
- Internet connection (to download the Beta and get updates)
If you want more information, or are brave enough to download/install it, go: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx
Later on this evening I will be installing Windows 7 on my laptop, which is a Dell Latitude D520, sporting the Core 2 Duo (T550 @ 1.66GHz), 3 GB of DDR2 memory, and a 120 GB Hard Drive. It has a built-in Wireless WLAN Mini-Card, which I will be using the Windows XP drivers for it, as well as the other hardware installed. If you want more specs on my Laptop, you can view them here (I upgraded memory and HD as stated above): http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3150 This is important for others wanting to take the plunge, but are afraid that Windows 7 might not work with their computer while it is in the BETA stage.
I’ve been on XP for years and only used Vista on a few friends computers going to windows 7 is a huge jump for me like it was going from windows 98 to XP and skipping all the others in between. Now to find a good dedicated web hosting server might go with a Cloud VPS
For some reason, it wiped my Iron Key drive which had some very important information. Lukily I had it saved somewhere else. The other (Big) issue I had was that my Verizon Wireless broadband card wouldn’t work. That was documented about broadband cards.. So, for now I am back to Windows XP PRO, and will be running a dual-boot of the new Windows 7..
I have to say that the Installation went very smooth. I am up and running with *most* of my devices found and installed.
One note that they did say is that if you use a Broadband card, like Verizon Wireless they have some issues. My card has issues and it’s not running (yet). I will check with Verizon and see if they have a Vista compatable driver for the Aircard. Windows 7 did find my wireless mini-card, where Windows XP didn’t (I had to run my Dell Driver CD).
Windows 7 looks a lot like Vista. I will take a snapshot of what you want. Just let me know and I will take it and post it. Later on I will upload some.
Downloading went smooth. I would strongly suggest you download it from a broadband connection. The download has a Download Manager, meaning that if your download is interrupted for any reason, it will automatically resume where it left off. Very nice feature. Also, if you do plan on installing Windows 7 on your computer, make sure to backup everything!
I burned the .ISO to a blank DVD and am currently now installing it. You have a couple of options:
1) You can have Windows 7 keep the files/programs from your previous Windows, like an Upgrade, or;
2) You can opt for a Fresh Install. That’s what I chose. I don’t like keeping old files which can play havoc with the freshly installed OS.
You might be able to run the DVD from a restart. I went ahead and started the DVD while I was in Windows XP. Windows will also backup your old Windows files and place it in a different folder. I will probably delete it later on since I have already backed up my important information on my external Hard Drive.
More to follow. . .