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Be Sure to Activate Your Copy of Windows Vista Beta2 !

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Please let us underscore a very important point surrounding Windows Vista Beta2 that can be easily overlooked in all the excitement to download and install the code: it is very important that every user activate Windows Vista Beta2 within the first 14 days of installation. Activation allows us at Microsoft to test our support infrastructure as well as the activation process itself. In addition, we'll be unable to provide you with a copy of RC1 (Release Candidate 1, the release subsequent to Beta2) unless your copy of Beta2 is activated.

 

Second, please take into account that all users of Windows Vista Beta2 will require a product key for installation. Once the CPP (Customer Preview Program) is closed, a customer should not attempt to download and install the bits unless s/he already has a product key. Otherwise, the code will not install.

 

Last, we understand that customers may be looking for faster ways to download Windows Vista Beta2 due to the high demand being experienced and we've become aware of alternative public channels that have cropped up to deliver the product in parallel. We must state that we cannot encourage those interested in using and testing the code to utilize these alternate channels. However, we can recommend that you visit the Windows Vista Beta2 Get Ready web site to either download Beta2 or order the DVD.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    PingBack from http://vista.itberatung-ka.de/index.php/2006/06/14/vista-nur-bei-microsoft-downloaden/
  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Paul Thurrott reports: Just a week after shipping a surprisingly stable, full-featured, and bug-free pre-Release Candidate 1 (RC1) version of Windows Vista, Microsoft has delivered the real thing. At 2:30 pm EST, the software maker unleashed Windows Vista
  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2006
    Sidebar, so you can actually have Vista beta 2 till when?? Let's say, I activate it in November, Till when am I going to have Vista???
  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2006
    It will expire on June 1, 2007 no matter when you activate it.
  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2006
    I get an error when I try to activate...

    Similar to this problem:
    http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.general&tid=f8184196-90a5-47be-8833-9b9d7689921c&cat=en_US_9CA88DDB-D18D-FA0E-A366-6E527B0FBA67&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=en-us&m=1&p=1
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    I can activate Windows Vista earliest in 1 month, will I get the RC 1 nevertheless?
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    Great! Just activated it - thanks for making this beta available to everyone!
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    Thanks for the heads up!
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    i can't even download it yet, allthough i do have a product code, it's now at the 2 gig stage of downloading at a rate of 100kbs ( strange deu to the fact of me having a 20 mbs connection)
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    Just had a look at the seewindowsvista website and the links do look a bit messed up, but surely there's a more important issue at stake here. All these companies that are using Windows Vista to improve the way that they and we do things, aren't they all in breach of their beta software liscencing terms, I thought one of the big no-no's was using Microsoft beta software in a production environment?
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    Thanks for the heads-up, Gaurav Kaushal. We'll take a look at it.
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    super
  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2006
    It's a operating-system the world doesn't need or better should be shielded from.
  • Anonymous
    June 14, 2006
    some feedback on vista? - firstly in one of your earlier posts you suggest people use the feedback form. I can't find a link to it anywhere on your blog. Where is this feedback form? Please, link to it, and link to it clearly. Link to it in the body of that post, and put a permanent link to it somewhere on this blog.
  • Anonymous
    June 14, 2006
    The feedback form is located here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=55160.
  • Anonymous
    June 14, 2006
    Interestingly, when I activated Vista, the [process failed automatically].  
    So I called and went thru the long task of entering a bazillion numbers, this failed also.  
    The woman at Microsoft then talked with her supervisor.  He told me to reboot the computer.  After a restart it showed that Windows had been activated.
    That was all I wanted, but it showed, to me, that the activation process in not perfected [beta also].
  • Anonymous
    June 15, 2006
    i download the beta vista but didnt get nay key so what the way to get the key
  • Anonymous
    June 15, 2006
    Nice OS.
    Let's see if we will really need al these new features. Got a fresh and new system with ATi X1800XT PCX, Dualcore x64 4200+, but Aero was stuttering (drivers all new).  See myself already working again in "classic design". Devices except Printer and scanner recognized. Activation litte ever since without problems. 3DMark2006: 2814 vs 3816 with x64 XP Pro.

    Keep going!


  • Anonymous
    June 15, 2006
    One thing that doesn't make sense is that, while Vista gives me 14 days to activate through the Internet, Asus doesn't seem so interested in making Vista drivers for their wireless cards.
    And so I have no internet in Vista and therefore cannot activate it. I'll have to carry my computer down to where my router is within two weeks and hook up the cable and activate.
  • Anonymous
    June 15, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2006
    wo bekommme ich den serial key von windows vista
  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2006
    who became i the windows vista serial key
  • Anonymous
    June 17, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2006
    I downloaded Windows Vista beta 2 ok but where to get the product key for activation?
  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2006
    Every comment or complaint I have seen on this blog
    is addressed by microsoft from the get go, on the pages
    leading up to the download of Vista Beta.!!!

    Obviously, the printer manufacturers, and others
    haven't issued drivers yet, how could they?

    This beta is for them to have development opportunities.

    Vista Beta is not for people without some tech savvy.

    For sure I'm a microsoft loyalist, because they are
    the best out there.
  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2006
    Thank you to microsoft for giving us the chance to try the new operating system. Installation was easy, all drivers work perfectly and the system is stable. A great improvement and the best way forward. People who do not have activation keys, try downloading the ISO legally
  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2006
    Why could't Vista had been made to use 32 & 64 bit drivers that we already have.
  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2006
    Can't no wifi !
  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2006
    "Why could't Vista had been made to use 32 & 64 bit drivers that we already have."<<<  I Totally agree!!!!!

    Just one problem with his theory, Microsoft would have to go back to the Xp kernel and this would totally defeat the idea behind, under the hood design of Vista.

    Though I would like to se a compatible kernel system between the 2.

    Could this be a possibilty for your team?

  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2006
    I hate vista, it ruins everything on my computer when I try to install, I can't get it working, I tried all the patches, and updates, and every piece of advice that microsoft gave me, and nothign works, I hate vista, I don't like the way it does nothing, and I don't know if you get the point yet, but I hate vista.
  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2006
    Ashwin, of course Vista doesn't ship with antivirus. There are a few antivirus products that work fine with Vista Beta 2 you just have to go look. AVG works fine as well as Computer Associates EZ-Antivirus. I am running EZ-Antivirus on my Beta 2 PC and it runs fantastic.

    http://www3.ca.com/press/PressRelease.aspx?CID=88876

    Billy, since much of Vista's underlying code has changed dramatically from XP's, drivers for XP sometimes don't work. Its unfortunate but its the way it is. For example, Vista's entire graphics subsystem has been pretty much re-written so many of the graphics drivers much be redesinged to take that into affect. Also, Vista's sound stack has also been re-written as well. Microsoft is looking to fix many of the issues between the hardware interaction with the operating system so users don't experience performance issues and crashes like they did in previous versions.

    Kernel revisions won't happen in this release Jonathan as its pretty late in the development process. Its not that the kernel has changed much rather what's been pulled away from the kernel so the system can run more stable without things messing it up.

    jcox, sorry your hate the OS but again - ITS BETA. Not everything is going to work. You are making your opinion of hating Vista based on beta code and that's giving Microsoft a unfair judgement. How about waiting for the final product eh?

    Keep in mind that for many of you experiencing issues, many of the Microsoft teams come here and read your comments gathering feedback on what to improve. I've seen some have great experiences with Beta 2, while others not so great. I've had both types of experiences myself. My Toshiba tablet runs Vista fantastic but my desktop PC is worthless running Vista. But things will improve over time and with all the feedback Microsoft is getting, we're bound to get a rocking OS.

    Think of it this way: Microsoft is getting more feedback than ever before from Vista's beta process than from any other beta for any other version of Windows ever.
  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2006
    Eero Boren, you can get your product key by signing up for the Customer Preview Program:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx
  • Anonymous
    June 19, 2006
    Thanks for the reminder, I had forgotten to activate...oops
  • Anonymous
    June 19, 2006
    Love Vista But the only Prob i have is when i get on the net it takes a few to connect it always says detecting prox settings anyone got ideas i did try a few things like resetiing the proxy but still does it .. and i have nknow clue why everyone is haveing so many problems with act theter beta 2 and i run it on 3 computers on here and no any problems other then i said i have ...
  • Anonymous
    June 19, 2006
    Love Vista But the only Prob i have is when i get on the net it takes a few to connect it always says detecting prox settings anyone got ideas i did try a few things like resetiing the proxy but still does it .. and i have nknow clue why everyone is haveing so many problems with act theter beta 2 and i run it on 3 computers on here and no any problems other then i said i have ...
  • Anonymous
    June 19, 2006
    Geeky, I'm a step ahead of you. I already downloaded eztrust  antivirus trail for 1 yr, but I was surpirised that Vista didn't come with a preinstalled version for like 3 months or so, like the ones you get when you buy a new computer. But I guess its a completly different thing, buying a computer and integrating it in an OS. But thanks anyways. One more question for Geeky, Why AM I NOT GETTING AERO GLASS. here are specs
    AMD sempron 3000+ 1.8ghz
    1.0gb ram
    GFX card with pixel shader
    25 gb hdd free left for me to store whatever I want
    Thats it. But otherwise, the OS works great for a beta, except it crashed 3 times. and I'm afraid it might crash again
  • Anonymous
    June 19, 2006
    you cool if i call u geeky?
  • Anonymous
    June 20, 2006
    Technically, what is says before download is that you can install Vista beta 2 on upto 10 computers with one product key. So, you shouldn't have problems on just 3 computers. But if you are having problems, go ask microsoft
  • Anonymous
    June 20, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 20, 2006
    On a second note why should Microsoft know how to solve every single vista problem after all they are probably still learning the software themselves and since things are always changing sometimes information takes awhile to filter down to everyone in a large company such as Microsoft.  It's amazing how people think ranting and raving will get there problem solved any faster!
  • Anonymous
    June 20, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 21, 2006
    I am having some serious problems with drivers that will not run on the new Vista OS and was wondering if anyone knew how to roll back to the original Windows. I have already tried system restore with no luck. It appears that it will only roll back to a "check point" which is right after i loaded the new OS. HELP!
  • Anonymous
    June 21, 2006
    Activated via the link and got email back thanking me for activating but when I went into my computer settings (for another reason) it was telling me 14 days to activate.  Ticked that now and it changed to a genuine advantage banner so seems ok.  No problems with product key etc from download
  • Anonymous
    June 21, 2006
    I salvaged a download of Vista from a failed HD, did a virtual drive Z, but have no key, guess I can not fly this puppy.  I even ordered a 256 meg video drive to comply with the 128 min for the apple like translucent screen.
    Oh well,
    Liam
  • Anonymous
    June 21, 2006
    I salvaged a download of Vista from a failed HD, did a virtual drive Z, but have no key, guess I can not fly this puppy.  I even ordered a 256 meg video card to comply with the 128 min for the apple like translucent screen.
    Oh well,
    Liam
  • Anonymous
    June 21, 2006
    It is a Vista.iso, 3,276,960 KB, maybe no good.
    Liam
  • Anonymous
    June 21, 2006
    Alex,

    When I did a vista install I chose upgrade and not a full installation so that I could roll back to XP if I needed to, in my add/remove programs which can be found on vista by going to Control Panel > Programs > Installed Programs, there I can click on windows vista upgrade and can click remove to remove the vista os.

    I know Windows XP is still on my hard drive because at start up I am given an option to choose which version I want to start up.

    Hope that helps some.
  • Anonymous
    June 21, 2006
    Alex,

    I take my last comment back as this is not true, I took a look at it and here what I thought was the windows vista uninstaller was actually for the upgrade advisor.  My apologies.

    Also I found that I am unable to boot to my previous version of windows my computer simply quits responding during it's start up.  

    :-(  This kinda stinks.
  • Anonymous
    June 22, 2006
    It clearly states that when you are signing up, that you CANNOT roll back to XP if upgrading..    I am still DL'ing it.  Cannot not wait to try it out on my spare PC.  :)  One question tho about the DVD kit...   Is it just the OS by itself or does it have the Media Center Shell with for testing?  :)
  • Anonymous
    June 23, 2006
    I was able to remove the OS by backing up my saved files, and doing a format of my hard drive followed by a re-install of Windows XP.  It appears that is the only way to go back to XP!  

    Media Center was included in my installation however due to problems with my PC I was unable to successfully run Media Center as it caused my computer to hang and become unresponsive.  

    I liked Windows Vista a lot just had some issues with how my computer ran with it.  

    Awesome program Microsoft is really out doing themselves with this OS!
  • Anonymous
    June 24, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 24, 2006
    How do you activate vista beta2 after your install is up and running. I've been using it for almost two weeks now I think I forgot to activate it necause it tried to remind me the other day. Now what I was looking around for the activate key window. where is it?
  • Anonymous
    June 25, 2006
    Well I have a legit Beta download installed and activated with 4 days to go.  status shows activated and then i was asked to opt in to a data gathering deal and shortly thereafter it says i can't logon unless I activate...and I can't see where there is the option of activating..

    It's a Beta I guess i should cut some slack....but it sure seems that the product is shipped in an "unripe" state each OS.  For once...just once I'd like to see them make a REALLY stable and simple OS for mainstream use.  Windows CE didn't seem to bad...I'd buy that and run it on a PC for daily use if I could gladly exchanging bells and whistles for fewer headaches.
  • Anonymous
    June 26, 2006
    I had mine all up and running just fine, fully activated and sending data to M$.

    Anyone who runs this OS on their main or only computer is a fool. Sorry to the fools reading this.

    I have had a major inconvenience with the installation of two updates, one ends in 46 and the other in 93 and relate to the sidebar.

    Neither would instal, and eventually I chose to instal updates and shut down the computer from the bottom of the start menu. The "off" button, with a shield on it at the time. I've noticed a few of these requests with XP SP2 even.

    So I did that. Now the machine will not boot at all. The disk starts, then goes to sleep. Still spinning. The CDRW and DVD both fire up, but it all just "sleeps". I'm about to do some surgery and see if there is any physical reason, though I doubt it.

    I'll be back.

    Good luck to any fools.
  • Anonymous
    June 26, 2006
    I'm back, and so is the machine.

    MMmmm, very curious, but I am happy again.

    I fiddled inside, but everything seemed ok, but she booted up smooth and clean.

    I am impressed with the overall Vista experience.

    There are a few glitches, OF COURSE, but hey what can we really expect.

    Thank you to M$ for allowing my involvement.

    :)
  • Anonymous
    June 26, 2006
    Thank you
  • Anonymous
    June 27, 2006
    I want to activate my product but I can't.   I am on Dial up in North Idaho.  Windows Vista will not recognize my modem.  I am frustrated.
  • Anonymous
    June 27, 2006
    I want to activate my product but I can't.   I am on Dial up in North Idaho.  Windows Vista will not recognize my modem.  I am frustrated.


    Mike@locascio.us

  • Anonymous
    June 29, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 29, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 30, 2006
    I won't install it until buying new machine.......
  • Anonymous
    June 30, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    June 30, 2006
    I just activated my copy with no trouble. The fact that not all my peripherals works was disheartening, but it IS a beta. However, most of the manufacturers of that hardware are already working on their drivers and some even have links on their company sites to future upgrades.

    As to the antivirus issue...Symantec has a corporate version that works and I am certain they are working on a release for their other versions. I am using avast! and it seems to be functioning perfectly.

    I'm not sure I like all the screen dimming and switching when you try to do something like move folders or delete files. I am logged in as the administrator and feel I don't like being interrupted by the OS asking if I initiated the program and all.

    Overall I have to say I'm enjoying the experience (maybe partly because I really like the color scheme). Thanx MS for the opportunity to give this a try.
  • Anonymous
    July 01, 2006
    Installation problems with hangs at Please wait and black screens seem to plague many, many people and since you can't activate until you install; chicken and egg you know. There seems to be little assistance given to install problems and absolutely zero documentation aid for debugging.
  • Anonymous
    July 02, 2006
    Hey the key is good to load 10  computers, and I missed getting my key....could you send me it.
    ubareit@hotmail.com
    Vista Beta 2 public release build 5348   32bit.

    Would appreciate it, will only load it on one computer.

    And yes it is totally awesome....I love it....fast as all get out.....only took 45 min to install also.

    Hey thx in advance sure hope you can help me out.
    Bart
  • Anonymous
    July 02, 2006
    dang. i got a copy of the vista beta several weeks ago but didn't get a chance to install it until today. now i have a shiny disc and a new hard drive, but it's too late to get a product key! is there any way i can still get this key?
  • Anonymous
    July 03, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    July 04, 2006
    I installed Vista, however, activation needs to be done within 13 days but I get error 0x8007000d activation erroe , error code, help please!
  • Anonymous
    July 18, 2006
    I didn't try to activate until day 15.  I got an activation error somewhat similar to Paul's:  0x800705B4.  The computer is not connected to the Internet, so I tried Other Ways to Activate as well as Reenter Product Key.  Neither worked.  Mouse stayed active, but screen did not change.  Vista hammered the disk for 30-40 seconds, but nothing happened.  Only got the error code once.  Can someone point me to a resource?  Prior to activation error, Vista was functioning perfectly.  I'm dual-booted with XP.  Thanks.
  • Anonymous
    July 19, 2006
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    July 21, 2006
    Any chance I could get some help with my problem  where Windows Vista Beta 2 hangs during my attempt to Validate Windows after the 14-day period has expired?
  • Anonymous
    July 24, 2006
    After hours of trying to get past screwball Microsoft support reps who insisted on connecting me to phone Activation, I finally got relief in the form of Tony, a Vista support tech who knows his business.

    What you need to do is to press F8 to get the Safe Mode menu.  Choose Safe Mode, go into Vista, turn user account control (UAC) off (through msconfig, I think), then go through Windows Activation via phone or Internet, then turn UAC back on after Activation is complete.

    The hard part is getting to someone like Tony.  I don't know why Microsoft doesn't have this solution in Knowledge Base.  

    Anybody else ready for a MacBook?
  • Anonymous
    September 11, 2006
    I downloaded RC1 Friday night and burned the .iso disk.  RC1 wouldn't load, however, due to this error:  "You must make the following changes before installing Windows.  Contact device manufacturer for updated drivers for these devices: IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers: Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller."

    Beta 2 loaded and ran perfectly on this same machine (Asus N4L w/ 945G chipset) three months ago.  No changes whatsoever have been made either to software or hardware since loading Beta 2.  I'm dual-booting between XP and Vista.

    I ran Windows Upgrade Advisor on XP after the error msg was returned.  WUA did not identify any serious errors, except that "Before installing Windows, uninstall Nero OEM".  Nero, of course, is the program I used to burn the .iso disk.  How could Nero, which is loaded on XP, impact anything related to DVD device manufacturer drivers under Vista?

    I'm limited in my ability to run WUA under Vista, because I'm only connected wirelessly, and Beta 2 does not support my Netgear PCI wireless adapter.  So, I can't run WUA under Vista.

    Anyone have any suggestions?  Thanks.