*DEAD* Free Windows Vista Pre-Release Download for the first 100,000

[Underclocked]

No, it isn't RC1 but it is a huge improvement over the initial public beta. If you are running the initial public beta, just do an in-place upgrade. My beta key did work and the newer release was activated using that same key.

Only two issues, had to remove Avast and get the PC-cillin beta instead and the build didn't like Sun Java so it's gone.

Hey, it was something to tinker with... RC1 may be forthcoming but my guess is that MS wanted a bit larger feedback data base on this build to further tweak the release candidate.

 

[htne]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
this last release was 5552, (only 1 day after 5536) which is what you get from MS D/L site linked here

This statement is a little unclear to me. Is this download straight from Microsoft 5536 or 5552?

 

[araczynski]

speaking of downloads, did anyone happen to catch whether vista will be coming with a built in download manager? some of these damn demos are getting to be a pain in the ass to download in one sitting.

yeah, i know i can install a 3rd party utility/adware/spyware/crapware, but i'm thinking this is something that should be in the system by default these days. like cd/dvd burning, antispyware, virus protection, etc.

 

[Slacker101]

Dead:|

Thank you for your interest in Windows Vista.

The Customer Preview Program is now closed.

We have reached our goal of 100,000 downloads for the pre-RC1 release and the program is now closed. Windows Vista RC1 will be available in the coming weeks. Please refer to the Customer Preview Program website for information, including DVD-burning instructions.

 

[DefRef]

Bleah. Wasted a couple of blanks and the time to DL for nothing.

 

[araczynski]

mine's still downloading, does that mean it won't 'activate' when i choose to burn/install?

 

[GrJohnso]

I'm pretty sure that it's just the download/link that is closed. You should still be able to install from the image you downloaded. At least that's my assumption that I'll put to the test when I get back from traveling in two weeks. I want to make sure I'm around to actually try out this version before it expires...

 

[AMD K9]

My dowload stopped overnight using Opera. When I go to resume, it downloads a 908byte dl and says done... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

 

[Bozo Galora]

the download did close last night, I'm surprised peeps here were still downloading when they said
stopped means stopped, if you have downloaded the full 2.61GB ISO, you can burn and install
5552 is very fast compared to other beta's/official betas. HW support is much better.
5536 was kind of an in house beta, NOT PUBLIC, then MS decided to release it to SUBSCRIBERS, then they found some big thingy and immediately fixed it as 5552, then MS released THAT to 100,000 public users

http://tinyurl.com/e5mgz

Quote:
"According to my sources at the company, Mcft plans to finalize Vista RC1 this afternoon. The build, 5568.16384, will ship internally at the company today and will then be seeded to customers next week if all goes well....

Mcft plans to ship RC1 publicly sometime in very early September, probably right after the Labor Day holiday weekend. It will then finalize Windows Vista in mid-to-late October, and ship it to its volume license customers in November. Consumers can expect to see Vista in retail stores and with new PC purchases beginning in late January 2007. "
----------------------------------------------

There are at least 3 5552 torrents floating around, but they wont max out your connection like the MS server, but like I said "cant you wait 8 days??????" for God's sake.
Others have said they just turn back their PC clock to keep running the prog
VMware is a very smart move, since an UNINSTALL of Vista on a dual boot with XP will usually wreck your system, since Vista has no boot.ini type stuff. You have to use Vista bootpro sw (third party) to do it correctly.

 

[Miramonti]

Does everyone have the same beta key for this or does it require a unique one?

 

[WA261]

It did not close last night. I got mine this morning.

 

[Bozo Galora]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Does everyone have the same beta key for this or does it require a unique one?

legit beta keys were gotten direct from MS from past public beta, they are all different, but any beta key you got should work

and as far as "got mine this morning", guess it depends on what international time zone you are in - LOL
for example - it is now 12:17 AM thurs. in England right now

 

[imported_casey]

Has anyone tried to upgrade using this download? I keep getting error code OX80070241 and it tells me I have nissing files or corrupt files. I then mad another
disk and received the same error. I had no problem downloading or burning the disk. I was just wondering if anyone has been successful?

 

[Bozo Galora]

missing or corrupt files 70241 (very common) usually means a bad Vista download - one that prematurely stopped, or was interupted.
The good news is that there are MD5 checksums for all Beta's, checkable with Nero MD5 verifier.exe utility from their website.
I would never think of trying a Vista install without a MD5 or CRC check.
The bad news is that there is no checksum info for 5552 yet:
http://board.iexbeta.com/index.php?showtopic=23258

As far as "upgrading" a current XP install - is definitely not a good idea.
Remember there have been betas, beta 1's, beta 2's, in house beta's, leaked beta's, official beta's MDSN subscriber and SDK beta's, and an in house that went public beta (5552). (MS is deperate to unviel an O/S that works, since it is now over 2 years overdue, the EU fines, and Linux biting at its heels. Recall thet Gates totally reshuffled the Vista team a while back in disgust.)

There is a validation process for Vista upgrade during install, but this was or was not working/working properly depending on the beta. There are also issues as to whether OEM or Retail or VLK XP installations/CD's/keys will be allowed etc. For sure Vista Retail will be XP SP2 upgradeable on Jan 07

Best option:
Install to vmware (VirtPC) on separate partition - easily removable
(Note: Vista requires 7.5GB MINUMUM Partition 15GB recommended)
second best:
Clean hardrive, one big partition, fresh install Vista, primary active partition
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/top/...indows-xp-and-windows-vista-179906.php
third option:
XP Pro SP2 on HDD0, prim active, Vista on HDD1 primary active.
Fourth best option:
XP Pro SP2, on C primary active
Vista on D, dual boot. Vista bootpro to uninstall
http://www.pro-networks.org/vistabootpro/

 

[dugweb]

I downloaded, and installed... Everything seems to be working great. I really like the feel of Vista.

...But I didn't have a cd-key and it says I have to activate within 14 days. Is there anyone that would be willing to share their old beta key?

 

[HardWired]

Originally posted by: casey
Has anyone tried to upgrade using this download? I keep getting error code OX80070241 and it tells me I have nissing files or corrupt files. I then mad another
disk and received the same error. I had no problem downloading or burning the disk. I was just wondering if anyone has been successful?

Upgraded just fine for me and as stable as can be. I used my previous key direct from MS and had no problems upgrading. While normally they do warn aginst upgrading like this, MS felt it is perfectly fine in this build and the only thing they noted as an issue with upgrading was losing the DRM info on songs you may have bought and had on your HD before the upgrade.

 

[Ladies Man]

Running this now and it solved all my issues I was having with beta 2... Worth the download and install imo

 

[Souka]

What AV app r u using?

Symantec AV 10.1 don't work
Etrust has a AV (free 1yr use iwth vista Beta 2) but its having probs with this Vista pre-rc1 release

Suggestions for free app? or one that'll be free for at least till june 1st?

 

[Bozo Galora]

http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/08/28/HNrc1imminent_1.html

Quote:
Microsoft expected to release Vista RC1 within days
Microsoft is expected to be giving product reviewers access to Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) as soon as Tuesday
By Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service
August 28, 2006

Reviewers will soon be getting their hands on the first release candidate of Windows Vista, which means Microsoft could be on target to deliver the OS to business customers according to schedule before the end of the year.

Microsoft is expected to give product reviewers access to Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) as soon as Tuesday, and the code looks set to drop publicly as early as Sept. 5. Microsoft has maintained it would have Windows Vista RC1 available by the end of September.

When Microsoft makes available the first release candidate of a product, it means the software is in its final stages of being ready to head to the manufacturer. The goal of making RC1 available is to show testers as close to a final version of the product as possible so Microsoft can identify and get rid of all of the last-minute bugs before putting the product on CDs.

"It's like throwing one of those roach bombs in an empty apartment and see what comes out," said Joe Wilcox, an analyst with Jupiter Research of the RC1 testing process. "They're looking .. [to see] if there any bugs hiding in the walls somewhere."

Wilcox said it's likely Windows Vista will have at least two release candidates. If this is the case, the company could make its target deadline of releasing Vista to business customers in November, and consumers in January 2007.

However, if Vista requires a third release candidate because of any problems or bugs that come up during the final testing period, "no way" will Microsoft hit its current deadlines, he said.

~~~~~~~snipped

 

[WA261]

What are you gyus doping about drivers? Do XP drivers work?

 

[Katana]

I used XP drivers for the sound and touchpad on my Dell 9300 and they are working fine. Everything else I used the built-in drivers and they seem to get the job done.

 

[inthell]

i got my copy but i probably wont use it. may be though will see if i get around to it

 

[niji1875]

haha,I have already download from bt, It is really better than before,has less bugs ,sustains more softwares

have no key?u can search on google,the beta2 key works.

 

[MJGunn]

Anyone tried playing a game on this release yet? The benchmarks from beta 2 were pretty bad, wondering if its gotten better yet

 

[dugweb]

Originally posted by: MJGunn
Anyone tried playing a game on this release yet? The benchmarks from beta 2 were pretty bad, wondering if its gotten better yet

I played World of Warcraft on it, and it seemed to play fine... a little slow on the initial load though

edit: also something I noticed, I installed vista on a fresh format of my 80gig, but WoW was installed on my 200gig which wasn't formatted. After the install I just went strait to the program file of WoW, and it started into it just fine. I assumed that I would have to reinstall everything, for some registry issues, but I didn't