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Fixes for the trickiest high-tech hassles.

Vista Beta Available for Download (Not!)

Posted by Steve Bass | Thursday, June 08, 2006 6:14 AM PT

You've probably heard the news. Windows Vista public Beta is available. No, wait, it's not. Like the USB drive Microsoft promised to send but didn't, they're out of bandwidth, so you can't get your copy of Vista.

Thank you for your interest in Windows Vista Beta 2.

We are currently experiencing a high level of demand and cannot process your request at this time.

Please check back later for availability. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Comments (67)

actually you can still get it, if you use a direct link :P - which YES i do happen to have. Yay me.

Jonathan
June 08, 2006
9:39 AM PT

Pls post it here

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
9:42 AM PT

what's the direct link? could you please post it?

mike
June 08, 2006
9:42 AM PT

YAWNNNNNNNN!

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
9:43 AM PT

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_EN_DVD.iso

Enjoy!

Jonathan
June 08, 2006
9:43 AM PT

This is news?

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
9:44 AM PT

look on any torrent site, there are copies all over the place.

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
9:46 AM PT

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_EN_DVD.iso

Rayke
June 08, 2006
9:48 AM PT

Oh my god. How can MICROSOFT, M$$$$ run out of bandwidth? I bet they never released it and is using this to build up hype. >_>

coolbho3000
June 08, 2006
9:52 AM PT

Given the recent drought of sperating systems from MS and all the promised "nifty" bells and whistles, no wonder half the planet wants this. Most of us admins just want it so we can judge how much cash we'll have to allocate for new PCs come next year, a figure which will leave many a CFO flabbergasted.


PS: "(NOT!)" Oh, lord, save us from journalists using hip phrases from 5 years ago. Respectfully, Mr. Bass, please, whazup with dat?

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
9:52 AM PT

Windows Vista Is experiecing many problems as of now- It probably is not a good idea to download the Beta Version.
There have been reports of it screwing up current software installed and messin up files etc.

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
9:53 AM PT

The link doesn't work :(

coolbho3000
June 08, 2006
9:55 AM PT

Great, so how do I get my USB drive? Is there a class action lawsuit yet?

Jeff
June 08, 2006
9:55 AM PT

Can someone post a real direct link? That one downloads a blank file...

coolbho3000
June 08, 2006
10:02 AM PT

Post it here

MTV
June 08, 2006
10:05 AM PT

they wouldn't have this problem if they used bittorrent.

vallarian
June 08, 2006
10:39 AM PT

Anybody got the direct link to Vista64?

James
June 08, 2006
10:40 AM PT

Rayke, thanks for the link!

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
10:50 AM PT

Thats a 3.2GB blank file? Can anyone else confirm? I don't want to dl 3.2GB for nothing.

Wiltony
June 08, 2006
11:14 AM PT

Link doesnt work properly as previously stated. Someone please post one that does download the file.

johners
June 08, 2006
11:14 AM PT

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_EN_DVD.iso

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
11:14 AM PT

Don't use this on a GeForce 2 MX. On several GeForce 2 MX cards the VGA driver randomly overclocks the card beyond belief, sometimes damaging it.

Just thought I'd let you guys know.

Bri
June 08, 2006
11:19 AM PT

it's microsoft windblows...of course it doesn't work!!!!!
if you knew better, you'd be running OSX!!!!

Joe
June 08, 2006
11:19 AM PT

it does actually work, but for some reason not on all system setups. my laptop works, my my g/f's does not. Must be to do with the massive filesize. I have it now, so im happy :)

Jonathan
June 08, 2006
11:24 AM PT

LOL, OSX. You should use AOL and drive a VW too, you friggin idiot, I swear. Get a life -- we already have too many sheeple as it is around here.

The ISO download works, and is not blank. Barring too much traffic, if you can't download it, it's your own fault.

T
June 08, 2006
11:29 AM PT

they do have bit torrets for it(just not the latest) ... people have no idea what kind of bandwith is required to serve so many people. And its not a bandwith issue porbably. It?s probablyy that there are tow many session going on at the same time with mom and pops DSL./Cable connections. It is a 4 gig file. SO QUIT B#TCHING,buy some cheese or wait a little, you will get your crack rock soon enough. Hey BASS... this article is pretty lame... seems that much of the news is a bunch of garbage. you sound like a high schooler with this article.... doesnt say much about me either....then again,its not my job.

Angel
June 08, 2006
11:29 AM PT

Try different browsers or something. Or, better yet, use a download manager to do it. The server limit is pretty much reached, so be prepared to stop/start new sections.

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
11:31 AM PT

I got an 1 MB/s (yes MegaBYTE per second) sustained DL from that link. Awesome.

Tony
June 08, 2006
11:35 AM PT

it is available on alt.binaries newsgroups servers

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
11:37 AM PT

Article is worthless...but the direct link in the comments isin't.

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
11:52 AM PT

Oh please, like your actual programs/games are going to run any better. Go outside, and catch some sunshine! Jeez...

Emmanuel Goldstein
June 08, 2006
11:53 AM PT

Are the above links referring to the 64-bit version of Vista ?

Karl
June 08, 2006
11:54 AM PT

The direct link still downloads me a blank file...

coolbho3000
June 08, 2006
11:56 AM PT

Use the above links to download the file in firefox. I am downloading this version of Vista now that way to avoid getting up in the middle of the night just to get a download slot.

richjames11
June 08, 2006
11:59 AM PT

Aha, I think it's a browser problem. I'm using IE7, I'm going to try Firefox...

coolbho3000
June 08, 2006
11:59 AM PT

coolbho3000,

why not try firefox, another PC or a download manager. As i said before, some configurations, dont seem to like the large filesizes. Not really sure why, but i downloaded it fine and so have others here.

Jonathan
June 08, 2006
12:00 PM PT

Still won't work, I'm trying a download accelerator.

Microsoft, get with the program, use Bittorrent...

coolbho3000
June 08, 2006
12:04 PM PT

HAHAHAHAHAH IT WORKED!!! IT WORKED!!!!

Sorry. I'm using Flashget, and I typed the URL in. TAKE THAT MICROSOFT!

Meh, I'm going to have to buy a cheap hard drive for this, or try to split my hard drive into seprate partitions.

I can't find a free partitioning program... As you can see, I'm not willing to do a reformat.

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
12:06 PM PT

Anyone found out the x64 direct link yet please?

Dave
June 08, 2006
12:07 PM PT

The last Anonymous post was me, btw.

Is it proper etiquitte not to double post on these things, like on forums?

If it is, sorry.

coolbho3000
June 08, 2006
12:08 PM PT

I had the same problem with downloading. I'd get this 1Kbyte iso file, which was useless. I think I've found the problem, though. It's IE7. I was trying to download using Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.x. So I switched back to IE6 and voila!....downloading works. There is a wierd observation, though. The progress bar started indicating progress at "-33%". As of now, with 2.07 GB out of 3.12 GB downloaded, the progress bar indicates "217%". Wierd.

James
June 08, 2006
12:14 PM PT

X64:)

http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_EN_DVD.iso

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
12:18 PM PT

Well it worked for me and im using the latest IE. No idea y it dosen't work for other ppl

Gav
June 08, 2006
12:24 PM PT

dont worry about the 217% and -17% etc lol. that also because i doubt MS bothered to code in support for that large of a file when they designed their download dialog box :D - it works fine though if you leave it running. There are german and japanese versions around too, should anyone require those.

Jonathan
June 08, 2006
12:28 PM PT

Do you think it will be an improvement on my Win3.1 ???? Cant wait to D/Load on my 14Kb dial-up.

amon
June 08, 2006
12:33 PM PT

Downloading at ~350kbps and it's stable. ETA 2:30. I can't wait to try, but again, I'll have to buy another HDD or figure out some way to partition my hard drive without a complete reformat.

coolbho3000
June 08, 2006
12:35 PM PT

is the public beta ultimate? does it have all the features available? ive been using a fake ultimate one for a while, it works well, but i think when i try to activate it, im gonna run into problems, but i like the aero look, the public still has that stuff?

dave
June 08, 2006
12:37 PM PT

use a internet download manager that will support multiple streams. I'm getting a very consistant 530 kb/sec where firefox was getting somewhere around 80. Try "Internet Download Manager" from c-net's download.com

The Steve
June 08, 2006
3:07 PM PT

Google my friends Google!!!!
LINK HERE


http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:mOMnf6h5VqYJ:download.windowsvista.com/preview/beta2/en/x86/download.htm+&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

jpimp
June 08, 2006
3:45 PM PT

How long does is the upgrade supposed to take to install. I have a fast laptop with 1gb of ram and it has been two hours since I started. It is on the very last step but it has been on it for about thirty minutes. I dont think it has froze because I can see my hard drive light blinking rapidly.

tyler
June 08, 2006
4:40 PM PT

Takes a while, especially on a laptop with a slower than average hard drive and processor.

I've got a PC that scores a 6 on the Vista-Spendometer, and it took over two hours.

And for the warez guy asking about it, yes, it's Ultimate.

The other John
June 08, 2006
7:57 PM PT

Download the 3.2GB ISO in about 4hrs.

Terence
June 08, 2006
8:43 PM PT

Just out of curiosity, I tried and was able to start a download right from the page. But I'm still on dial-up, so as if!

Anonymous
June 08, 2006
9:13 PM PT

I used the DL mgr and it worked like a charm. I'm posting from Vista right now.

Spyvie
June 09, 2006
1:18 AM PT

Why is this posting page three Steve?

Doug
June 09, 2006
2:51 AM PT

Download on the site is definitely possible. Just don't use that silly download manager. the links on the right work just fine.

Anonymous
June 09, 2006
5:14 AM PT

Used the link from post No.5 by Jonathan, downloaded in 45 minutes. Thanks, by the way.

RemSteale
June 09, 2006
7:21 AM PT

64 bit link seems broken. Only downloads a 13.5 meg file. Anyone have a working link for the full 64 bit download

Jeff
June 09, 2006
9:57 AM PT

64 bit link is fine if you use a download manager, don't like them myself ether but work great if your going to format. :p

CheGuevara
June 09, 2006
12:52 PM PT

32 bit link doesnt work at all any more; says access denied.

eric
June 09, 2006
1:20 PM PT

yah i have firefox and none of the links are working. they all say acsess denied. idk how to work a download manager so maybe someone can tell me. also how do i revert back to xp once i have vista?
if anyone can help im me on aim at IH8tCalisthenics

mike
June 09, 2006
2:34 PM PT

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:mOMnf6h5VqYJ:download.windowsvista.com/preview/beta2/en/x86/download.htm+&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

Go there use links on right, right click link and save target as... Recommend you use DL manager mentioned here earlier too, or other ones. they are silly tho. :D

Anonymous
June 09, 2006
2:49 PM PT

Thanks to the person who recommended Flashget. Have downloaded and used Nero to burn to DVD. However I was unable to create a bootable DVD as Nero refused with a file bigger than 2GB. Will this work?

Chris
June 10, 2006
10:45 AM PT

I have a few links to the 32 & 64 bits, but they go through the "download manager" version.

No where can I find instructins where to get the download manager. Any ideas on that?

When I first registered I, like probably most, was sent a key.

Will this key work with a direct download, or even a download from the left bottom--use download manager link?

Or is each key only for the downloads where it points you?

I triy to start/register over, I am redirected to a link that tells me I've used all my key allotments & thank you for downloading--although I haven't downloaded anything.

I guess that ok, if the key is product # specific. I know though people are getting different keys, which makes me think that I have to download only the Vista that the email with the key points me too.

Any ideas on these things, or how to overcome?

Thansk

Bob
June 13, 2006
12:26 AM PT

No problem in downloading Vista. Office 2007 also very good. But will stick to Windows 2000.

kapskey
June 13, 2006
5:08 AM PT

I've tried all the links sugested and all I get is 'You are not authorised to view this page. Access denied'.

The download manager they have keeps saying network error, I've tried going back to restart the thing and It says I already have the maximum of 2 key codes in an email (what email??). I have 1 key code from the first time I tried to dl, but that occassion, I couldn't get the download manager, then I managed to get that installed, and that's about as far as I've got.

Any other way of getting it??

seven
June 16, 2006
7:36 AM PT

how do you get a key?

hahn
June 23, 2006
8:34 AM PT