Windows 7 Beta

Cannonade · 11:56 AM

I've recently been testing the Windows 7 Beta, just to see how it works. I have to say, it's very impressive and I believe it may well put Windows back to the top of the list for usability. As far as a beta goes, it is incredibly stable and the only problems I've had so far are with networking (but that's my University, not my computer), but I can still get online with no problems. For those with their own network, you'll have no problem.

Here's a link to the download if anyone would also like to test it:
Download the Windows 7 Beta

I'm running it as a dual boot with Windows XP on a second hard drive and I can easily use both OS's at the same time. As for drivers, they're all there. Windows 7 update picks up hardware and downloads beta drivers for them and, from what I can tell, their graphics drivers seem perfectly fine for gaming. Most programs work fine, I've had no trouble with AVG, Firefox or VLC player.

It's a lot faster than Vista, so if you only have 1GB of ram, that will be plenty. I run with 2GB DDR 333, which is certainly nothing special! If anyone is interested, I'd highly recommend testing it - it finishes on the 1st August I think.

- Cannonade

ShinigamiX · Jan. 29th, 2009, 12:47 PM

I need some help. It's not letting me go any further than the sign-in screen.

deadManN · Jan. 29th, 2009, 01:29 PM

i have , but i didn't install, becuz i update my vista as long time ,and many program , and in bit turrent many turrent in seeding and ..and ..and ...

Cannonade · Jan. 29th, 2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinigamiX

I need some help. It's not letting me go any further than the sign-in screen.

I'm not sure about that one... I haven't had any trouble so far.

Is it throwing out any kind of error messages at the sign-in screen?

ArTex · Jan. 29th, 2009, 06:29 PM

have you tried play any games??? Do video card drivers work on windows 7 beta? I was thinking about trying it. But no use if drivers don't work on it since My main PC is strictly a gaming rig.

RazerRD · Jan. 29th, 2009, 07:40 PM

i ain't gettin the beta...but let me get this straight...

so Windows 7 is the OS after Vista? Vista's successor?

Cannonade · Jan. 29th, 2009, 08:24 PM

I haven't tried games yet, but the Windows Update automatically finds hardware drivers. Mine picked up drivers for my 8800GT, my Realtek network card and my SB Audigy. Everything seems to work fine.

Yes, Windows 7 is the successor to Vista (which is actually Windows 6 I believe). However, if you ever tried the beta or release candidate 1 for Vista, you'll be surprise at how stable Windows 7 is compared to that! It is exceptionally fast - the install only takes about half an hour.

However, I've heard warnings about an initial problem with Windows 7. Don't try to play any mp3s (or maybe anything else) BEFORE updating!!! Do all the Windows updates first before playing music. Apparently, it makes them all unplayable and they can only be restored using the windows restore service. Don't worry though, after the updates, all is well!

Ghaskamin · Jan. 30th, 2009, 10:02 AM

I have been running Win 7 open beta since they released it. I am on the 64-bit version, and to my surprise it is actually working very well! First of all, it's unbelievably stable to be a beta. Second, it's far more stable than XP or Vista 64-bit that I've tried earlier. My computer (running a laptop) isn't really designed for 64-bit OS, because some drivers aren't supported I think. I decided to try it out anyway, because if it didn't work, I would just have to reinstall it again, but fortunately everything is working!

Even 32-bit programs and drivers are working well (I had to manually download a few drivers). Games are working really well, much better than my experience of Vista. Win 7 is delivered with DirectX 11, although I don't think it's any different from 10.1, not much anyway. Nothing I have tried yet, didn't work. Even games/programs that didn't work in Vista works for me now.

They are saying Win 7 is 100% compatible with drivers that worked in Vista. I even got some drivers for XP to work, which had no support for Vista (USB digital-TV reciever).

So far only positive things for me. They even let me try some anti-virus programs for free for 3 months, because I'm trying their Beta. My friend had some problems, though. He is running the 32-bit version of Win7, but I'm not sure that's what caused the problems. iTunes didn't work for him, but it does for me. Also, he had some problems with his audio-card after an update, but he was able to do a recovery and make it work again.

Anyway, something he noticed about games was that in XP, the video-settings for Fallout 3 were automatically set to Low, but when he tried it in Win7, it was set to Medium.

ShinigamiX · Jan. 30th, 2009, 10:14 AM

I finally got it working and I am astounded at how much this is an improvement over Vista. It's much more compatible and it doesn't drain your system resources. The simplest way to put it is that It is a 100% improvement over vista. I have always been a strong advocate for XP but this actually might cause me to finally upgrade.

blitz88 · Jan. 30th, 2009, 05:35 PM

o: Sounds cool, I might have to check it out.