POZ Community Forums
Off Topic Forums => Off Topic Forum => Topic started by: randym431 on June 10, 2006, 04:56:23 am
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Being the tech nerd I am, I just wanted to let anyone interested know that the MS windows new os, VISTA - Beta #2 is now available over at microsoft.com for free to the public. From what I read, its activation is good thru August of 2007. Then, I guess you'll have to either go back to your old os, or buy vista... not sure.
Its a free download, and an .iso file (so you need to burn it to a CD-r using some sorta cd burner program that burns .iso files to CD-r) then use that CD to install.
You can also order the CD from MS for $6 shipping (I think).
When you download it, you are given an unlock or activation "key" code that you need to write down and remember (or print out the code display page).
The MS servers are heavily busy so it can be hard to get thru. They recommend using some kind of "download manager" software that resumes where it left off if you get disconnected. The .iso file is some 3.2MB.
If any of my info is wrong, please correct me, for most of this info is from other forums and MS.
And the problems most are reporting are the normal "drivers not available" for the vista os, even though most drivers should be built into vista for the latest hardware. No doubt most will have some hardware thing that has no vista drivers as of yet.
I have a spare pc I plan to install this on this weekend, and I wouldnt recommend risking your home pc with a vista install, unless all your stuff is backed up first somehow, somewhere.
Sound like fun? :o
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After having problems using the Internet Explorer Beta....I think I'll pass on the Vista Beta. I'm still trying to see what's the big deal. All the big changes they were going to do have now been removed in order to get the thing out faster. That sucks!
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Randy,
I still got windows ME. I was thinking one time at doing the upgrade to XP, but this computer is just too old, and not fast enough.(isn't worth it) Will ,most likely just get a new computer.
Ray
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hehe not to point out a few things...however you will have to burn it to a DVD to create an install disk....and the download is 3.2 gigs...not 3.2 megs. Can we say broadband connection. Yes there are several ways to install it without a DVD player....but I am not going to try and explain some advance techniques.
REMEMBER THIS IS A BETA PRODUCT SO USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
When I beta tested Win XP it was stable and I used it at my main computer....for Vista I have had it on a secondary computer for about a year and half now...however...I am moving towards putting it on my main computers...
Once you register if you have to or if you do not have to register...either way ....they will send you 2 emails and one will also have the activation key at the bottom of it. The key is good for up to 10 different computers to install it on.
Also the system requirements are correct....don't expect it to install unless you have at least 512 megs of ram. Do not expect to be able to use the core of the new system...unless your computer really has 1 or more gigs of ram....you must have a true directx 9 video card with pixal shader 2.0 to use Vista Aero. Vista really needs a beefy computer to shine....if you have one it is a great OS...
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Thanks Trai for the corrections. Thats what I get for posting at 4am. Yes, its a DVD burner you need and DVD media. Also sounds like 1 gig of system mem is ok but 2 gig is best. Seems every time MS comes out with a new os, it requires a major system upgrade too. I wonder when vista will become standard on new pc's sold? That would mean a pretty beefy pc in itself. You wouldnt think maybe vista will just never catch on???
I still understand this vista beta is pretty much the final vista. And the free activation key means your copy is good thru 08-2007.
ps.. (Nice picture!!!) ;)
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Hey Randy, downloading it now ;) Thank god for broadband!
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Never again will I download any BETA program. I've discovered that BETA means it has bugs galore and will probably screw something or other up on your computer. BETA might be ok for people who know how to tweak and adjust these things, but for me? NEVER AGAIN! I had some BETA spyware that has really been messing with my head. Shit, I get confused enough on my own without BETA somethingorother screwing with me too!
Ann
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Just an update. Vista is sure different. Things and settings we were use to, are well hidden. Some I still haven’t found where some are. I'm not sure why they did this?
I installed vista on a spare pent 4 pc with only 256k mem, only a 20gb drive and it already had win2k installed.
Well, 256k is painfully slow for vista. Like start something, and have dinner, and maybe it will have come up by then.
And finding drivers for network cards and video may be a real task. I used drivers for win2k, installed from the orig driver CD or floppy, and vista complained, but installed them. Vista will give you error msgs like "cant install - version not supported", but then give you "install anyway" option, which did end up installing the drivers and they worked.
Vista supports dual booting. I installed it to the same drive and partition as win2k.
That is a no no. But I did it anyway.
Which OS system to boot is asked at bootup, and vista loaded fine. But going back to win2k boot did load win2k but nothing would run.
So you do need to install to a diff drive or diff partition for dual boot. I just wanted to see what would happen.
Well, vista does look cool. And with 1 meg of system memory it might even run smoothly. So I guess I'll have to try it on my
main system, but certainly in a diff partition from winxp.
Both win2k and vista fit on a 20 gb drive. I didn’t think it would.
ps. I agree with ANN. I would try this unless your prepared and have everything backed up that you can not afford to lose.
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Hey Randy.
I installed Vista on my beefy AMD dual core system with 2GB Ram. It ran well and was very cool looking, but many of the programs I use on a daily basis are not yet compatible with Vista and I found it hard to live without them for the sake of a sexy OS. I think Vista will be great, but I will be waiting until it goes retail and most common programs are supported with a vista version.
I can't live without itunes ;) and Vista beta 2 doesn't like itunes at the present time!
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Yea, thanks Matt. I'm with you. I broke up my main drive to a second part and installed. It runs very smoothly. Looks great. But I can dual boot between xp, so no hardship keeping vista. Its so different, like a mystery finding how to do the things easily done in xp. Guess thats why they are giving it away for a year free, so we can experiment with it. If one paid $100 or more for a new vista os, and the changes made them angry feeling taken by ms, then there would have been a lot of bad press. This way, its ours and its free, so go at it ... is my take on their angle. But I do think adding another gig of mem for a total of 2 gig would be worth it. And memory is fairly cheap right now.
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i wanted to wait to buy a new computer till it came preloaded with vista... but sadly, my Vaio passed on... and i'm Dellified now. I don't think I'll spend the money on upgrading when xp works fine-ish. :P Maybe when I buy another computer in a few years.