hi, thanks for the update, ive been trying to download all day, and all i got was server busy.  ill keep checking back for updates

Why?

Logistically speaking, bit torrent would have been a life saver here.

How long?

I hope you guys do it soon. And Hopefully I can get in.

I just wanna get the key... I can wait a few days to download so it doesn't take forever....

Oh and PS. Thanks for keeping us updated!

been up since 6:30am AUS ESTD time waiting for this ...the old F5 key is abit worse for wear :P ...Any time lines?

I guess it's time for coffee while we wait :)

Look at the response! Everyone who hasn't tried it will definitely like it.

I was very impressed when I tried it, and honestly decided to buy it as soon as it came out - based only on what I saw and how fast it performed.

Of course, our Action Pack with probably have it, so I might not even have to :)

pls   key key key

It's great seeing everyone so excited! I will be posting an update to the blog once everything is officially live for everyone.

I'm from Romania and it's close to midnight here. Thank God it's Saturday tomorrow, otherwise I would have missed this.

Hope you guys have some spare servers and quick configs because millions wait for you!

Although, torrents would have helped, we just need keys :)

Cheers

I think the 2.5 million keys are going to go quicker that a U2 concert :P ...

Feels like where all waiting in line for the ticket agency to open ...

Got a feeling alot of us are going to miss out. :(

So, how many keys are left?  Did anyone get to actually get a key?  

As a previous commenter said, bittorrent may have saved the day here.

Ok... are we talking about hours, days, weeks?

waiting

This is exciting, but it would be nice if there was more information, so we didn't have to sit in front of the computer all day. The keys will go fast. I hope I get one.

It is very disappointing for me to see that anouncement... If you people there in Microsoft couldn't estimate that there would be such big interest in the beta, how are you supposed to know what we want? Come on, instead of telling people about it on the official Windows 7 webpage, you post a blog notice here.

Is that how Microsoft value its customers? Even the uncertainty of when it will be released is bad enough to drive people mad.

Please pay attention, instead of getting excited! We are NOT excited, we just want something works properly and we want what you promised...

i have it downloading from microsoft but how do we get our keys?

However, if you have the .ISO download already you can go ahead install and run Windows 7 without a key for 30 days.

is there any set time (or estimate) when 7 will be up for download?

can someone tell me where it will appear when it's working?

windows7.com?

i have the download started now how do i get a key....

Please don't be excited by what happened! We want something works properly and we want what is promised. Instead of telling about this notification on the main windows 7 webpage, you people are posting a blog here.

Is that how Microsoft value its customers? Hiding the facts between the lines of a blog post? And you just say nothing about when it will be ready or what exactly you are doing to add some additional infrastructure support...

People want what they are told, not the shiny words telling nothing.

The anticipation is killing me. I only wonder, if the link is being posted on the windows site, why is everyone flocking here? I estimate only 3 more hours until the beta launches.

I either cannot access microsoft.com or I cannot access this blog. At least one of them is not available. Though I'm looking forward to download this Beta, I think it is a little bit embarrassing for the world's biggest and most known software developer ;-)

I've been checking the main site on and off for awhile now and have not seen it updated, Where excatly are they going to post the link to download the Windows 7 Beta and get a key?  I'm dieing to give this version of Windows a try to review for my site.

How did you start dowloading your copy when the official public beta is not live yet?

I honestly don't think I have been more excited for a Windows Beta OS than I have of Windows 7. I actually like Vista and can't wait to see the improvements that Windows 7 makes :)

Come on guys, it's now 09.30am here, and I've been up all night waiting for this to go live :(

What was wrong with the way you did it for Vista, where you'd send us a link to the ISOs and a product key if we were successful applicants?

At this rate, I'm going to have to go to bed, and then the site will go live, and then all 2.5 million keys will get snapped up in my sleep - which is what I stayed up late to avoid! :(

I am excited to get this download

It's 1am here in South Africa and I am almost using matches on my eyelids. Only worried about the size of the download as broadband prices are a bit high down this way

Where did you started downloading it?? i have hours waiting for something in the microsoft windows 7 page

God bless the Microsoft TechNet :)

Where´s the link?

Anybody?

for the people that have started the downloaded, from where did you start the download?  i haven't seen a download link on the windows 7 page.

Thank God! It took me forever to even get on this blog for an update!

Yeah where do you go on www.microsoft.com/.../windows-7 to download the ISO file?  Thanks so much.

Yeah where do you go on www.microsoft.com/.../windows-7 to download the ISO file?  Thanks so much.

Yeah where do you go on www.microsoft.com/.../windows-7 to download the ISO file?  Thanks so much.

dreadVista how did you get the beta i still cant see it at www.windows7.com could you let us know where you got it

worth the wait, is has to be vista a lot better, as some one said.

Well, it looks like Windows 7 is off to a good start. As with previous versions of Windows, the hype exceeds Microsoft's ability to execute. Classic "over-commit and under-deliver."

Let's hope that Microsoft gets its act together before the RCs are released.

Still unable to download Windows7 after trying all day.

Is there still a problem?

Where do I get a key once I have the download?

Man, I thought it would be crowded, but I didn't think Microsoft would be hammered like this!!!  Must be all the Mac users ...

Where do you begin to download windows 7 beta. I hear everyone saying they downloaded it and need keys, but where do you begin the download

I AM DEEPLY UPSET that i can not get access to the beta, it is important that me and my associate get a copy as being in a leading IT Company in the UK AND a microsoft partner, we feel that we should not only understand the potental of the new OS but report bugs we find through vigorus testing on several development units.  How come they did not issue a beta release to partners prior to the public release??

Is there any updates or a time frame we can expect the key registration to be opened back up?

dreadVista, you will have to wait for us to officially go live with the Windows 7 Beta via Windows.com and register to get your product key.

Microsoft spends a great deal of money on public opinion surveys and SHOULD have guessed at the popularity of Windows 7. While waiting to release it to beef up the infrastructure supporting the download may be a responsible thing to do, it would have been more responsible to PLAN THE RELEASE so it would have gone out when it was stated by Microsoft Execs at CES. I'm disappointed, and many others are too. The delay is going to hurt the credibility of Microsoft statements, and in the long run will, IMHO, make a lot of people skip buying the version 7 and keep plugging with XP.

All the promises of wonderful things with Windows ME, and I was burned then, it was the biggest waste of money I have ever seen in my checkbook. With today's economy, I don't know if I want to risk it,

Sign me John "I'll believe it when I see it!" Mood

AA4PC

Oops, somebody left the floodgate open.

Brandon thanks for the update. I'm sure the keys will be available in the very near future.  If not this week end possibly early next week for the people who need them.

PEACE!

Why not just host a torrent for the download?

If it goes to a few more hours then Europe won't get a look in with the beta since the Europeans will be in bed just as the U.S log in for the evening,

I have been trying all day to get Windows7 beta.

Is there still a problem? How long can I expect to wait until I can get the download and where do I get the key for it?

how did you get the download dreadvista.. could you link it?

Im just waiting on the Windows 7 .........just wait ...wait

Im just waiting on the Windows 7 .........just wait ...wait

Ok, I am on the site and I see no download link. Where is it? Other are already downloading. Can we get some info please?

I have waited for 8 hours now. Lets get the going, please.

Let me say thank you for your update first.

But I have something to tell you...

Because you are saying first 2.5 mil people to serve "Windows 7 Beta", that is WHY it creates heavy traffic at once.

Couldn't you learn anything from last Vista beta distributions?

If you leaned something from it, you could expect this...

Hope you leaned something this time and make a difference for next time.

Hey shadow_shooter you can keep comments like that to yourself...  I'd rather them take a little extra time now to make sure it is right rather than have to come back later and fix it.  You know what they say, if you have time to do it a second time you had time to do it right the first time.  And though this could be considered the second time, think Vista, much of the problems there were caused by bad drivers from hardware vendors...garbage-in = garbage-out ; )

Sometimes it's all in the details...no rush, but hope it's posted soon.

this is SO CRAZY, i just want a key and a download

Hey shadow_shooter you can keep comments like that to yourself...  I'd rather them take a little extra time now to make sure it is right rather than have to come back later and fix it.  You know what they say, if you have time to do it a second time you had time to do it right the first time.  And though this could be considered the second time, think Vista, much of the problems there were caused by bad drivers from hardware vendors...garbage-in = garbage-out ; )

Sometimes it's all in the details...no rush, but hope it's posted for public download soon.

Any news?....poor people in Europe will have match sticks under their eyes after all this!...saying that i was up til 1.30am this morning myself!....zzzzz

"Excited" it's not the perfect word now. I'd rather use some other adjective, even if English is not my mother language.

Guess this time I'm going for the 'crack/keygen' way, or am I supposed to stay awake till next Xmas in order to be an honest person?

Really appreciated. Here it's half past midnight, what's the point in keep telling "stay tuned"?

I'm very impressed.

Now ...its ready ....we must now wait for adding servers ...

Where on the Microsoft site are the download links at?

Am I missing the right feed?  I don't know how dreadVista started the download.  I don't see anything on the windows 7 page either.

"Excited" it's not the perfect word now. I'd rather use some other adjective, even if English is not my mother language.

Guess this time I'm going for the 'crack/keygen' way, or am I supposed to stay awake till next Xmas in order to be an honest person?

Really appreciated. Here it's half past midnight, what's the point in keep telling "stay tuned"?

I'm very impressed.

I've noticed that they have put an update on the Windows 7 page now.

Hopefully this will be opened up for downloading again soon. I'm about to run out of bonus download time today...

anyone know if its started working yet?

Let me say thank you for your update first.

But I have something to tell you...

Because you are saying first 2.5 mil people to serve "Windows 7 Beta", that is WHY it creates heavy traffic at once.

Couldn't you learn anything from last Vista beta distributions?

If you leaned something from it, you could expect this...

Hope you leaned something this time and make a difference for next time.

How Much longer :(

2 words

VERY DISAPPOINTED!

Also, AMEN to the torrent idea.

And to quote Microsoft on the Windows 7 page: "Want to try the Beta? Come back the afternoon of January 9. And remember—this is just a preview. There's more to come. "

It's almost evening in Redmond Washington, (it 's 15:46 in Redmond) do you know where your download is?

what happend i thought vista was going to be the last os you ever had to buy

I arranged things so I could be here all day to get a key...now I have to go home empty handed to no internet for the w/e.

So not only have I nothing to show for it, but I've wasted several hours.

There's gotta be a better way, can I still get a key?

Downloaded OS, just waiting on when we can get keys

Any ideas? tonight, tomorrow, next month?

Windows 7 !!!  I was invited through connect... are the ISO files the same?

Very Dissapointed to hear the delay, but i guess these things happen.

I havn't even got the iso downloading and have been waiting for the link like most people, all day.

I would like to think that due to the amount of interest that this Beta has generated, Microsoft will review the amount of downloads (keys) they will issue.

For some reason I cannot see all of the comments...they just stop at dreadvista.  I can't see my last comment.

Can anyone tell me where to find the download on the windows 7 page?

this is insane, i just want a key, and a disk(download) all i want

gm, dread: technet.microsoft.com/.../dd353205.aspx

You can't get keys (or the download) at the moment, until they put the beta back up.

why i don't see all the posts?

Guys, take your time. I already know Windows 7 is a treat, and am downloading through the direct links.

:)

Still waiting, hopefully we'll see something soon.  So much for my plans tonight.

I must say, having to wait is a bit frustrating, but I understand why.

Let's just hope I can get there in time.

Once again Microsoft shows how out of touch they are with their user base.  This is just one more instance of why people will choose a MAC operating system over Windows.

I am excited to get this download

It's 2am here in South Africa and I am almost using matches on my eyelids. Only worried about the size of the download as broadband prices are a bit high down this way.

Any word on a time?

hmm I wonder how long the wait will be ... Been here now since near 3 1/2 hours .. :P

dreadVista said that he has the download stared. Why don't you guys share the link!

Hy!

I'm waiting here in Austria(next to Germany) since 7 o'clock. Now I'm getting a bit tired. So please get it online!!!! Please!!!

Greets

chucknican

it says there are 100 odd comments and yet i can only see like 20, where art they all?

Can we please get an eta, its 12:00am in uk and i want to know if its safe to go to bed =)

Are there any updates?

it says there are 100 odd comments and yet i can only see like 20, where art they all?

Any news yet!?, i saw there was a link but you took it down again?

Time to give the torrent some love.  

It isn't like it isn't already on bittorrent - MS might as well benefit from it.

And ya, the big question on everyone's mind is about how to get the key, not the download.  Getting the download is pretty easy.

... waiting for a key

Well. I am officially giving up. its 1 a clock in the night in denmark GMT+1 now and still no signup.

Thanks for giving the european customers a chance... NOT :-(

volta ainda hoje? kd as kay ?

Ok so when did the beta get posted the first time? I've been watching the Windows 7 page all day long and refreshing like a mad man and nothing has updated. It just says "come back the afternoon of January 9th" and then 5 minutes ago I refreshed and they're talking about adding servers and reposting the beta. What gives?

Well. I am officially giving up. its 1 a clock in the night in denmark GMT+1 now and still no signup.

Thanks for giving the european customers a chance... NOT :-(

Dang where are the rest of the comments?

so what is the actual link to the download or key.

i've never seen it anywhere

Wow, I sat on this site all day, "www.microsoft.com/.../" refreshing it every few minutes and it kept saying the beta was going to be in "the afternoon".  I went out to get a cup of coffeee, came back and saw the notice that due to heavy demand the beta was going to be re-posted.  Did it really crash out in 30 minutes or was it available earlier at another site?

Please, can you plz say when the keys will be out?

is the beta download up yet?

i can't find it anywhere :(

This is getting a bit absurd.

Most of the people require only the key.

We don't care about the download experience as long as we waited for more than 4 hours for this, don't you think so?!

I agree with Bryant: a bit torrent would have been helpful.  Moreover, I await other info, but I saw no evidence that MSFT gave serious consideration to the many folks, via connect.microsoft.com, who volunteered to be testers.

Could you at least give some time frame when it will be available? It is frustrating to just sit and keep refreshing the screen.

Any idea how much longer we'll have to wait, it's past midnight here now, and I have forums to tale care of.

Exactly - after all, the actual iso has been available all day (all it took was a google search and there it was).

I've been trying (and getting more and more frustrated) trying to get an 'official' link so that I can get a legit copy with a key.

Why couldn't an automated e-mail service have been set up to handle keys - and the download could then have been spread over time instead of everyone and their brother trying to connect to get both at once?

Anyone have any idea whats going on?

I got the the very last page and i got an error, now that is very unfair. Clicked submit and got server error, Now i have to go shopping, how do i know the 2.5mil keys won't be gone by the time i'm back?

mp3industry@hotmail.com

where is th elink to all of this ??????????

I've just read this over at  microsoft.com/windows/windows-7

"Thanks for your interest in the Windows 7 Beta. The volume has been phenomenal—we're in the process of adding more servers to handle the demand. We're sorry for the delay and we'll re-post the Beta as soon as we can ensure a quality download experience."

When was a link to Windows 7 download posted? I've been refreshing that page all afternoon and saw no Beta posted. Did I miss something or wasn't any link posted at all?

I didnt see any link yet on windows 7 site. can anybody shed some light from where i can download this.

Any sort of timeline as to when Windows7 Beta will be available for download??

Now I see why customer service in this country is a lost art! You mean to tell me with all the people at Microsoft, no one could be continually updated this site with pertainent information????? I am sure you value your time so what makes you think that 5+million people don't have anything better to do with there time than sit all day in front of the PC monitoring this website???? A response would be greatly appreciated, but really not expected

I find it difficult to believe that Microsoft did not realize what would happen when they published that only 2.5 million keys would be available.  They should have know that at least 5 million people were going to log on to the site this afternoon to download the new Windows 7.  People are not getting aggravated with Microsoft and they are losing more valuable market share with this debacle.

I along with millions of others have been sitting in front of our PC's all darned day for what?  I know, I know, we should have done something else.  And lose a chance to get the next operating system that Microsoft says is going to blow us out of our chairs?  No way.  But come on Microsoft, give us a break and give us a time so we can get on with our lives and come back here at the specified time and download Windows 7 Beta.

I hope this happens soon, because I have waited all day since the announcement on the Windows 7 page to get this.  I wish Microsoft had done this like they did before, when you got an invite to try it in your inbox.  To think I may not be able to get a key and the download befuddles me, as I have over the years, tested nearly every operating system from Microsoft since they began public beta testing.  Anyhoo, I continue to wait for information regarding Windows 7, as it promises to be a major step forward in the evolution of Microsoft OS's.  I can't wait to see this one from what I have read about it and have seen in video presentations.  I certainly hope it is worth the wait...

Thanks for your interest in the Windows 7 Beta. The volume has been phenomenal -- we’re in the process of adding more servers to handle the demand. We’re sorry for the delay and we’ll re-post the Beta as soon as we can ensure a quality download experience.

Still waiting........

I can't wait for the beta to be released. My finger is on the trigger*.

*trigger being F5.

Really where is the link?

It is just strange that there is no information about how long we are supposed to wait. Hours or days or what? It is 2:21 AM here in Finland! Damn...

Hope it is released before I have to leave so I can get this!

that means???? what time does it goes public?? :D

I can't read all of the comments.

This blog is just a little bit slow.

Still nothing going on?!

Mr. Blanc can u make a ETA on the Download and Serials ? just past 1.24am CET and i bet im not the only one waiting to sleep.

Thanks

I'm here all the day...from where i can download?

Iam still waiting

Poor planning for the Windows 7 beta response. Better be an improvement over Vista Ultimate. I have three PC's running Ultimate and not a day goes by that I haven't experienced problems and frustration. If 7 works it should be free to Ultimate users as we've already paid for it.

Why is it that I can only see the first 20 comments to this?

its very late now in the uk n ive got work tomorrow n now ive got to go to bed i will probably miss all the beta downloads n my only option will be torrent. o well better luck next time. :)

more news?

Is this still on for today?

why can`t I see all the comments???

Still waiting

i got both 32 and 64 a bit downloaded got the key as well but how do the others get threes i mean the public?

I hope it comes soon :P the tech page changed saying the exact same message on the windows 7 site

Maan this is too much... Waiting from the morning... Is this really happening from Microsoft.... Or is there something wrong other that server issue....

Anyway I have to wait... I will wait... Because it seems this one is cool maan...

this is indeed DISAPPOINTING!!! Microsoft, the world's biggest and richest software corporation, can't even spare enough servers for the beta of its next major version of Windows OS? this is a JOKE!!! I'm sure Microsoft can easily handle much much more traffic than this, considering it has enough servers for Windows Live, XBOX Live, Windows Update, etc. etc. So either Microsoft is really way too stupid to know what its users want, or this is just some pre-planned marketing crap!!!

Is there a good reason why you don't use torrents? It would sure make the process a lot less painful, and take up a lot less time for those who would like to test their software on the new release.

THANKS, IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT UPGRADE.

Yeah, I have to agree with the posting of lil blurb in a blog and the rest of the world finding out by frustration and giving up.

Why does it just say Windows 7 coming soon on the Windows 7 Technet page? Couldn't you guys get something a little more informative up there?

We will wait, of course, but you guys don't really help yourselves with events(planned even!) that you can't support. With the way Vista has disappointed, of course there is going to be HUGE response to a free download and keys for said download.

Maybe someone should explain EXACTLY what having a key does for you and what happens on August 1, 2009? Do the people with keys basically get a free copy of Windows 7? Will people with keys have to actually buy it when it comes out?

There isn't a lot of information out here, but there is a ton of speculation. Can you guys please post answers to these questions?

I went to install X64 version and it told me the "keyboard filter" on my brand new HP DV5T "may not" work after installation. I stopped the install, but I can't find any info on if this will negatively affect my keyboard. Can you answer that for me?

I really wish when you guys schedule an event and say you are going to give something to people that you actually follow through and are able to competently support it.

As someone said, it really makes us wonder if you really do not have any idea of what we want.

Release the beta and keys and let's get this party started!

Is it just me or can no one else see all the comments I'm only getting 20.  I've tried with multiple computers and proxys.

wheres the keys ? link i got one my mates asking..

got both downlaoded..

Looking forward to seeing if I can get a key for it!

So, at what time is it ready?

ETA?!?

I have been waiting all day too, at work and at home trying to get the 64 bit version. Please get hot soon!!

Man, hope this comes out before death do us part. ;-;

@dreadVista

Huh? oO

download started?

I'm with MooLaboo on this one. Can we get a time estimate?

Should I be pulling an all-nighter, or should I wait until tomorrow or next week before I start checking again?

Hello, sorry for asking such a dumb question, but where is the download link for this BETA?

I've tried looking all over, and well.. it's all been to no avail.

People are saying they have it downloaded and all, so.. why can't I find it? :P

If any one could provide me with the direct URL it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

- Trev

HI, first thanks for the beta, i have the download, i get the link in a blog not from TN or Windows 7 web page, please someone know how to get a key

I was expecting the beta to be out about an hour and a half ago, what is going on, any updates?

how many time ?

In Australia here.Been up since 6am trying to get this.Already got the ISO just need a key.Looks like it will be a fun afternoon...sitting  here waiting....and drinking beer

This beta looks great so far. Hopefully it comes back up so I can get my hands on it.

tell me how this happend????

img234.imageshack.us/.../64keyok1.jpg

Where are all the comments?

Its 2:40 AM (10th January) here in Finland. I think they should at least post some time! It initially said 9th January. And then it said the afternoon. And now It is like almost 5 PM Pacific time :S

I agree with the person who said this isn't excitement. This is just... annoying!

Thanks for your interest in the Windows 7 Beta. The volume has been phenomenal—we're in the process of adding more servers to handle the demand. We're sorry for the delay and we'll re-post the Beta as soon as we can ensure a quality download experience.

I need time! I am from slovakia and here is 00:48am.

I was not expecting this from microsoft. There is word call Performance and load testing.............

Please let me have like for download

would like an email when the keys are going to be allotted.

Still nothing?

Any updates? Have you gone for a nap? lol

Half the planet are up late waiting on ya Brandon! XD

Slainte!

To all those wondering how much it takes to crash the M$ servers - I'm guessing they're running Vista - so a cough or a funny look would do it.

(they should be running a Linux/Unix system) The whole team responsible for this download should be canned...with extreme prejudice.  Actually being stuffed into cans would be warranted.

There should be a class action suit over this release debacle.

And of course the final should be a free upgrade for Vista - we were told we were getting what this is suppose to become when we bought vista (over 50 copies of Vista for me) and we're entitled to what we bought!!!!!!!!!!

There should be a multi Trillion $$ lawsuit if there is even a penny charge for Windows 7 final.  

How come I can't see all the comments? Any new info?

can we get time? here is 00:55am

What a complete mess by the people at MS. It's almost 12pm  where I am now. I can't risk sleeping or I'll miss out on the beta. And I have been on that Windows 7 site refreshing for the last 4 hours.

They should have known this was coming. Typical, I wanted to like Win7 but this farce has already dampened my enthusiasm for it.

And Brandon Le Blanc why aren't you commenting on it more? We know you're watching these comments. Is the problem that bad that you just wont mention it?

Why cant I see all the comments?

Ya me harté, métanse su windows 7 por el culo, como siempre, las fallas son su constante.

Calm down people it's just a beta...

Microsoft's bandwidth is being swamped, there's hundred of thosands of people currently downloading the beta, and probably a few million were constantly hammering F5 on the TechNet site trying to get a key.  MS only has so many servers to spare to this, they just can't pull servers from other tasks to keep up with this.  Give it some time, they'll get it working.  On the bright side, I've only got another 2 hours left on my download.

So what's the deal?? How are we going to get the keys. Have been on this site all day.

I've been checking both the Windows 7 webpage as well as the TechNet site. So far, there's nothing at either one! If they don't get it up soon, maybe it's time for a Class-Action Law Suit against Microsoft not following through on what they promised. That call "Breach Of Trust".

how do we get a key?

ROFL @ you who can't see all the comments.

Anyway could you plz tell us if it's hours or days we'r talking about?

Hey there Brandon LeBlanc.

How much longer are we going to have to wait?

Can you give us an estimate on how long is it going to take?

Would I be being cynical if I thought this may be a publicity exercise to gain headlines. There is no such thing as bad publicity!

Is this for everybody or is it for IT pros only?

I was in the CPPs for 98,XP,and vista. I would like in on 7.

at least tell us what DAY it's coming out so people don't waster even more time than they already have on this mess.

Is there a reason that not all comments can be shown?

Sometimes there are pages of them which is very helpful but most times only the first page is shown.

Hard to see if someone has an answer to my comments.

How about a ballpark of when you're going to have the servers up? It's funny on your other blog you were asked twice if the server was going to be able to handle all the requests and yet no one on your team took this into account.

How about giving us a time frame to work with, nobody cares about a OFFICIAL answer, just give us a ball park time frame. I know myself and probably many other people don't feel like clicking refresh to find out Microsoft is going to wait a week before launching the beta again.

Why don't you have someone do a quick script let us send in the e-mail addresses and then send us our keys. I've been waiting over 5 hours now; this is ridiculous.  

When this starts can we just register and download later at our own leisure or do we have to download it right away

Why do Microsoft constantly shoot themselves in the foot with stuff like this?

The plus side is while waiting (rather impatiently I might add) I stumbled across the funniest blog I've ever read. Here's the link to give you something to read while we wait.

www.drunkenmischief.blogspot.com.

Hurry up Microsoft, I trust you'll make this worth the wait!

god damn it now this page wont load properly so i cant see whats going on

why don't i see all the comments?

For those that don't want to hang around here all day, I am updating my website/blog with all the lastest news from Microsoft on the Windows 7 Beta. Just an option, doesn't really matter. :]

But, I can not wait for this to come out. Does anyone know if it will be dual-bootable with Windows XP on a fresh install?

I'm downloading as well, and hoping to get the key separately later on.  Hopefully it won't suddenly "appear" and then run out right away!

This is really annoying...

Where is the download already??  My F5 key just broke off my laptop...

The download stops abruptly. I have tried three times now. This sucks

im looking for the link can anyone help?

i have downloaded and installed on my machine. but where to get the key!

Hi,

Can we please at least have access to the key registration site?

Regards,

Shane.

Can we get an answer if its today or tommorow so I stop wasting my time

Why 2.5 million keys only? Typically "Public Beta" means "for everyone." It seems like a strangly random number to put out there. With so much interest you'd think that Microsoft would extend the number of invites to compensate.

I'm really wishing my MSDN subscription had been renewed more recently so that I would have a better chance.

For those that don't know; MSDN subscribers already have access to the ISO.

Seriously? Why can't I read the comments? MS can't even make a blog work?

deadscenekid No, from what I read it is only able to upgrade Vista SP1

What is wrong with this site?  I type and type and then get an error.

G'day, im from australia, is this available to me? people are saying they have been trying to download, i can't see any link yet?? hope i can, i loved vista, and this looks awsome

Thanx mate

whats the eta

0000000000000

most likely Vista users looking for the light of day

At the rate they are going probably 2010 we should be able to get the first beta. Linux is starting to sound better and better.

dreadVista - Where did you get it to download from I've checked (or thought I did) every possible place for a link and keep refreshing and don't see anything

I am sad to say but I see these kinds of tricks played out daily  in the Internet Marketing arena, and to put it bluntly I am getting a bit cheesed off with it all!! I thought Microsoft would have planned this down to a T!

Am I doing something wrong?  I can't see past the first ~40-50 comments...

Can somebody at least give a rough estimate as to when the download will be available, I have three kids I gotta keep an eye on and this isn't helping the situation much...

Dude... GIMME KEYS... Why don't you guys ever release in torrent to save your servers?

well, microsoft huh! you guys have money to buy more servers, so i guess it's cool with you..

but seriously, I couldn't sleep... checking the site for every 30 minutes.

I will Definitely need to take some kind some drugs to be able to keep doing this!!!

why would we need quality download experience for? I don't really understand. All we want is to part of the 2.5 million. I don't care less if the download is slow.

I wish people would stop criticizing microsoft for not being ready. First of all. It's a beta. A beta is not for the general public, and since the reputation they got for Vista they figured no one would really want to. I guess. It does suck. But don't gripe, just keep refreshing and watch some TV or something.

MAC

MAC

MAC

MAC

MAC

I have 0200 in the UK and am off to bed. You should have dealt with this better I feel. I have vista (sp1) and use it with no problems. This was an ideal opportunity to upgrade for me. Waited all day for something you should have dealt with months ago. Not happy.

I've been checking the website since 12 am. But I haven't seen any link to the download. Is the link on the homepage of Windows 7 or there's another page for it?

Yen a marre d'attendre

7

7

7

7

I am calling BS. All the blogs, and the wire are picking up that Microsoft had such an overwhelming demand for the "new and exciting" operating system that it crashed their industrial servers. Blah, blah, blah. This sounds like a pathetic attempt for attention from Microsoft. Free publicity on our dime I guess. I wonder how many work hours were lost today? Arrgghhhh

Man...everyone downloading the 32-bit version...I pulled down the 64-bit in 20 minutes...my download of the 32-bit started out nice at 2.* MB/Sec, but quickly tanked...at 159KB/Sec...if it weren't for the fact that Virtual PC 2007 doesn't support 64-bit guest OS I'd skip the 32-bit altogether...checksums would be nice

oh my gosh...so I got to wait this whole night????

I am not angry about this because we have to thanks to MS

But I hope they will finish getting ready to this fast....

and I hope I will get this beautiful Beta....

a....but how to get the Key?

Are we able to use it through August 1 without key????

Yeah this is getting to be re-god-damn-diculous!

samcar455 - How could microsoft not foreseen this coming when there own clients did? Take a look on the other blog two days ago this question was posted to Microsoft. Don't believe me look for yourself.

windowsteamblog.com/.../information-on-downloading-and-installing-windows-7-beta.aspx

Posted on:  January 08, 2009 at 12:02AM  

Thanks Brandon,

Your summary sounds great  . .   I trust MS servers will be able to handle the Download avalanche later today  -  already 3pm on 8th here in Oz,,

daveb..

@Zhade

Where did you get that screenshot?

No, the beta will only last 30 days without a key.

Will this ISO install on an empty partition to dual boot or will it only install over Vista?

Will this ISO install on an empty partition to dual boot or will it only install over Vista?

jcseto... really? thank MS? we´re going to be paying for this!

Still no luck? Any updates?

I think there is a deeper under lying thing going on here.

Im still debate which Ver. 32 or 64. But a key would be nice.

I can see it now. One guy installing Win 2008 servers with regular coffee breaks.

2:20am in UK and still no word, i know we are not paying for this but some update would be nice..

FYI for those that are asking about the downloads, here's where I got mine the have x32 and x64. I don't think it's any different then what they are releasing on here, however I could be wrong about that. If I am please let me know..

lifehacker.com/.../windows-7-public-beta-will-actually-be-available-at-noon-pst

it's 6:30 their time. No wonder they aren't saying anything, they all went to dinner. They already got there updates last week so they could care less.

Lifehacker is doing a better job at keeping people up to date than you guys are.

What sup with that?

You guys need to start informing people better.

You haven't update your blog in a long time now and people are watting for the product keys.

UPDATE...

I have to agree with those above that posted about not worrying about the download experience, just wanting to be one of the 2.5 million.  That's the real reason people are refreshing like mad.

This has been an exercise in incredibly poor communication.  It's clear from the 'heavy traffic' coming to your website that there are quite a few people waiting for this, and yet you give one fairly meaningless update.  People want to be part of this beta, but you're in turn wasting their time.  

Where did you found th edownload link.. been looking all day and i never found it..

I thought it was going to be a brief delay, I don't fully understand why this delay was set in motion in the first place, did you only expect like a few thousand people to want it? The server's will still struggle under the amount or people that are going to download it, and i'm a little frustrated because I skipped my last 2 college classes today, waiting to stick my foot in the door this afternoon under I saw there was a delay, I didn't mind thinking it would be an hour or two, but I have to work tonight at 11 eastern time, and if the beta's not released in the next hour i'm afraid of not being able to receive it and I just don't find it fair because you gave us a date and a time and its only open to a LIMITED amount of people and you delay it by hours, and now even though I was on time I may still not have the chance to enter the beta, you should at least allow us to receive the keys so you know your foot is in the door.

I know its a bit ridiculous but be patient people. I'm sure theres some possibly good reason why Microsoft hasn't released it yet....

just imagine, the tech guys adding the additional infrastructure getting typical Microsoft BLUE SCREENS ................

so we can all guess, whats the best possible experience........

considering 2009........ where ppl believe that things move fast........ but after almost 7 hrs of waiting, it seems that the infrastructure MS installing is coming from a far place on donkey cart !!!

Cooper55, sorry you feel Lifehacker is doing a better job keeping you updated.

When we update you - we want to make sure the entire process is online and working. Unfortunately we're not at that point yet and some things (like getting product keys) may or may not work or may work sometimes and not other times.

I have no ETA on when everything will be online at Windows.com for you to start downloading and accessing product keys but I can assure you when we have another update I will be posting it here in comments or as a new blog post.

We are fully committed to keeping you updated which is why we made this post earlier today. When we have more to add we will do so.

I apologize for the delay and it is great to see so many people excited to test out Windows 7.

Thanks and stay tuned!

Found it on google

It is just insane. It is like 6:30 PM there already! It is 4:30 AM here in Finland!

I am pretty sure this is just a marketing gimmick. Soon you'll see this in the news and Microsoft will gather a lot of publicity for the new OS.

For all of you that says to be patient I'll repost what I did earlier. Sorry my patience ran out hours ago... 9 hours 32 minutes waiting for this BS...

samcar455 - How could microsoft not foreseen this coming when there own clients did? Take a look on the other blog two days ago this question was posted to Microsoft. Don't believe me look for yourself.

windowsteamblog.com/.../information-on-downloading-and-installing-windows-7-beta.aspx

Posted on:  January 08, 2009 at 12:02AM  

Thanks Brandon,

Your summary sounds great  . .   I trust MS servers will be able to handle the Download avalanche later today  -  already 3pm on 8th here in Oz,,

daveb..

"considering 2009........ where ppl believe that things move fast........ but after almost 7 hrs of waiting, it seems that the infrastructure MS installing is coming from a far place on donkey cart !!!"

That would be Afganistan....maybe the Taliban server is down?

"considering 2009........ where ppl believe that things move fast........ but after almost 7 hrs of waiting, it seems that the infrastructure MS installing is coming from a far place on donkey cart !!!"

That would be Afganistan....maybe the Taliban server is down?

"considering 2009........ where ppl believe that things move fast........ but after almost 7 hrs of waiting, it seems that the infrastructure MS installing is coming from a far place on donkey cart !!!"

That would be Afganistan....maybe the Taliban server is down?

Well can you at least confirm if there are definitly only 2.5 million keys. It is really late here in Ireland and I just want to know if i can to bed or not!! I appreciate the situation you are in but it would help!

Brandon - Why dont you stop copying and pasting? Guess you haven't been reading your reviews here? Nobody is excited any more we have lost our patience hours ago! Is it going to be tonight that you release this, tomorrow, next week, or next year?

There is no way you do not have an idea time frame after 9 and a half hours. My butt is getting sore now and my index finger is tired of hitting F5!

Also, please answer this - How could you not have predicted problems with your servers when other users did and the question was even presented to you two days ago.

I'll refresh your memory -

windowsteamblog.com/.../information-on-downloading-and-installing-windows-7-beta.aspx

Posted on:  January 08, 2009 at 12:02AM  

Thanks Brandon,

Your summary sounds great  . .   I trust MS servers will be able to handle the Download avalanche later today  -  already 3pm on 8th here in Oz,,

daveb..

dave99md, first off - I need to ask you to be a little more constructive with your comments please. Secondly, I'm not copying and pasting anything I write here. I'm not sure I follow what you mean by stating its been 9 1/2 hours. As far as I know, it's still Jan. 9th here in Redmond and I didn't give out a specific time here in my blog posts on when we'd go live with the Windows 7 Beta.

My guess is that servers will not be up for a couple more hours (11:00ish Central Time)...they will let us know whennthey are close though...

if your computer doesn't support areo, will windows 7 look like vista basic?

Been up since 6am here..its now 1.10 pm on 10 Jan.

Guess i will have to have ANOTHER beer.

Getting sick of the refresh button

Is the beta going to be up at some point today?

Guys, suffice to say there are problems (both with server capacity and apparently the product key distribution / generation).  You can stop pasting the comment about making sure the server capacity is adequate.  

Please Brandon, when you know something precise do not write it in the comments but make a new entry in the blog. It's not easy to read comments here, sometimes I can only see the first page. Thanks.

Like a beer Brandon?? :-)

i got up this mornin, played on sum xbox live and been  waitin at this computer since exactly 12:01pm  but i understand you guys put a lotta work into what looks like an amazing products i would like you to email me personally if you can and notify me when it is ready good luck and i can't wait:-) PS. i see you got alot of people for copyright infringement lmao nice, i hate when people try to cheat the system and ruin the surprise

I don't mind if I don't get a key if everyone else's feedback makes the product better... I just want to be sure that when I buy the final version it is as good as possible.

Keep up the goodwork!

almost 3 am here in UK :(

got fed up with f5 a while ago now actually got greasemonkey for firefox (addons) and got the auto refresh plugin userscripts.org

kinda handy auto refreshes everythin every min :)

but yeah beer sounds good

It's 3:50 AM in France

I want to sleep

Please

I agree that the nay sayers should withhold judgement...nothing productive can come of your comments.

I'm sure they are working diligently to get things online, but as with most things in the computer world it takes time...and many, many hours of frustration...comments like yours simply add to that frustration.

Show a little class and if you don't have anything good to write, don't write it at all....

what kind of problems will I be helping microsoft out with and do I have to report to them on a regular basis

that's not a bad idea for the add-in..

I installed it on an old AMD 1.8G with 1G of RAM last wednesday nite,and she is working great,including using some of the OLD drivers for Soundblaster...this IS one COOL version of windows .

AND it took just 1/2 to install...has not knocked back any of my programs as incompatible :-)...so far

They wouldn't put it up in the middle of the night in the US, would they?

After reading some comments I'm convinced this was a total marketing move to increase the hype over Windows 7.

"The volume has been phenomenal—we're in the process of adding more servers to handle the demand."

Mozilla Foundation, a much smaller, open source company, handled 8,002,530 downloads in 24 hours (check their world record: www.spreadfirefox.com/.../worldrecord), yet Microsoft can't handle 2.5 million in one afternoon. I just can't be mad at Microsoft right now because I'm too busy rolling on the floor laughing.

it's 5 AM on January the 10th. i'm going to sleep... if i wake up to late...it's the fate....

keep up the hunt guys...

and Brandon ... be happy ... a lot of people are waiting :)

chris212 - I doubt you will be required to report them on a regular basis, but if you run into problems it would be in your, and everyone else's, best interests to report them.

People at Microsoft think this is a clever marketing strategy... they are just looking at the number of comments and the clicks and pageloads per user, and thinking it´s "exciting" and a big success... This is not smart marketing in any way. What you MS people should be providing is an experience, not this absurd expectation. This has turn from excitement to a big big annoyance. Shame on you.

4:51 AM in Finland! I really think this could have been handled in a much better way! It isn't surprising to have so much traffic you know? It is Microsoft!

My guess is firefox didn't have nearly the number of people trying to get windows 7.  Realize that although they are limiting the keys to 2.5 million, they are allowing more downloads than that.

Well you have to remember though that Firefox was a rather small file, versus the couple of gigabytes that Windows 7 is...

still nothing?

alexcastro - I believe 2.5 million was just the limit on the number of licenses.  I can gaurantee you that more than 2.5 million people/bots are hitting their servers...

lorddspartan, I know that the difference is huge and there is no comparison. But... Was this not known? Was it not known that so many people will try to download it? It is understandable when something unexpected comes up and acts as an obstacle but something like this was expected and it should have been addressed. Heck, it wasn't just expected, it was INEVITABLE!

Any word on if the build 6801 Keys that we received in October at PDC will allow us to use this Beta?  Also, will the ISO upgrade me from 6801 or do I need to do a fresh install?

Brandon,

Eagerly awaiting the "Dowload Now" link button going live  !  I have been playing with Windows 7 for a few days now, and I love it! I hate seeing my 30 day timer running out though....

tbh microsoft should really use the bittorrent protocol i know lots of people have mentioned it but when you are distributing ~3 gig iso's to 2.5 million people minimum (coz im sure many will download without a key) using http is just asking for trouble, if the actuall downloads were on bittorrent the microsoft servers would be free to cope with the product key requests + torrent trackers etc.

I am pretty sure it is a marketing move because a company that creates an operating system can surely design a mechanism (well in time) to handle such distribution.

Honestly, why not just have unlimited downloads and use torrents. Huh, Microsoft? The future is bit torrent.

www.neowin.net/.../psstheres-how-to-get-your-windows-7-beta-key

Simple just refresh till you get a key.

I must say, for MS to be wanting people to enjoy their product and come back for more, they are doing a very poor job at it. They have had many days and weeks to perfect this system and add servers.  They know perfectly well that people, when hearing a new beta for windows and a free public download, they will want to have this product. And to put a limit of 2.5 million downloads; this is ridiculous.  Again, MS is not doing a good job at getting customers to come back.  I believe that this was a big publicity stunt to turn people to MS, but in turn back fired and people are now irritated at them.  

the thing is, all we're hearing is that there are "technical difficulties". I realize that you're probably extremely stressed and tired at this point Brandon, but here's the type of update that I'd like, using a hypothetical scenario:

We are currently working to increase our servers by 50%. They are at the facility and powering up, so they should be ready to go within 2 hours. Also, we are working to fix a problem with our key generation software, because we now want to offer it to 5 million instead of 2.5 based on the overwhelming, exciting response. Our coders are working on this right now, but I don't have an estimate on how long it will take to get the code straightened out. I will update again once the servers are online, but we won't be releasing the Beta until both the servers and keygen are up and working, so expect another 2 hours delay at least."

as far as i know the isos arent the issue, i still have no problem accessing the disc images, the key generation is the only thing that i cant get, there are several sites that offer the direct links to the MS images, and i download at 2.5M / sec no problem, if the download servers were dying youd think id get a few dozen k/sec.

I am so excited and thanks for keeping us posted!

fordgt, if they had unlimited downloads, Windows 7 wouldn't have this hype. For instance, I wouldn't be up at 5 AM because of this! I'd say "Ah. I will just get it whenever I feel like it! (which may be never)". They have to make people believe that it is scarce! Just like what Gmail did when it was launched!

You had to get a Gmail invite or you weren't cool enough! :P

i got a key why didnt you yet by refreshing this one site

it would be nice to have some more details about the progress of the "technical difficulties" im sure everyone on this site would appretiate some more details.

The problem here is that it's now 2:03am in the UK and we have not had any word.  

I just know that if I go to bed and wake up tomorrow, the entire 2.5 million keys will have gone.

By the way, can anyone tell me which build this is? Is it "Windows 7 beta 1 Build 7000"? I was thinking I should also download it from somewhere else and just get the key from here. Would that work or is the ISO given here different?

my only concern is that its past 10pm est now, they planned for 3pm est, if i goto bed, and wake up and am past 2.5M then im screwed, its better to just delay it 24 hours than delay it an unknown amount of time, then we would know, or say atleast:

"it wont be before 12pm est saturday" or even sunday, i dont care if you make it 7 days from now if i have atleast a faint idea

For those saying the server capacity couldn't possibly be the issue, or are comparing 2.5M (hell, even 500k) downloads of a 3GB file to 8M downloading FireFox... you need to think a bit more logically.  The comparison to Firefox isn't even close in terms of bandwidth required.  And I'm sure the download speed of the ISOs would be significantly slower if the download links were more transparent.  

Shan Rizvi, you have a point, but us all complaining or reiterating the point that Microsoft messed up is not helping the situation. I agree that they should have prepared but what has happened has happened...and now we painfully wait :(

Brandon,

I understand That you guys are working hard to resolve the problem, but I was wondering if there was any chance of a kay waiting list or some way ro resolve the conflict. Also, is there any chance that the number of available keys might be expanded due to the added grief and setbacks? And finally, The MP3 issue with build 7000, will it effect your files if you perform a direct upgrade and apply the patch without touching them, or is their still a chance of running into major problems?

www.microsoft.com/.../default.aspx

thanks for the update.

hopefully it will be on in 2-4 hours :]

@ttoastt: i wasnt implying that the server capacity wasnt the issue, i was just saying that the bottleneck right now must be elsewhere, if you cant find the download links, you have no purpose using this beta. they are transparent enough for anyone who would be qualified to properly test

i guess im doubling back on my previous statement, but oh well

so, still the waiting game?

so, still the waiting game?

mckooter, I never blogged about a planned specific time for the Windows 7 Beta release today.

ttoastt, great points about bandwidth.

Sitting here in a meeting with lots of awesome people - hoping to have an update for you very soon.

try it again

Hmmm, when I go to this link:

www.microsoft.com/.../default.aspx

It says:

Error

The site is currently experiencing technical difficulties, please check back in the next business day.

**** Sooooo, should I give up for today? Is the "next business day" when we can get keys? And is the next business day Monday? Saturday?  >.<

I must admit, I too have been waiting at my computer since about 7am this morning. The only time I was away was for a brief dentist appointment. I'm about to either have to leave or make me a killer margarita to get through this.

I truly appreciate the "possible" chance that I may participate in the beta, but I think everyone is just frustrated with having no clue whether they should continue on with their life and go out and get some much needed fresh air and stretch their legs...or sit and wait. A small word of time/encouragement might at least give people a bathroom break....

Stike 1: Can't get Beta 7

Well MSFT 2 more strikes and then your are out!

JL

www.microsoft.com/.../gcs.aspx when you get the error screen, hit F5 like crazy. It apparently works for others, hasn't worked for me yet.

Some tea and lot of wait. :D

Hope the update you get will be good for us.

"if you cant find the download links, you have no purpose using this beta. they are transparent enough for anyone who would be qualified to properly test"

I am not sure what you mean by that mckooter. I know it is available elsewhere on the internet but I just want to make sure that it is the right version (I think it says it is but...). Unless you meant the link is transparent ON the Microsoft website :S

I have the download, in fact I already have it installed on a computer that I just built. I just wish I had a product key! I don't think 30 days is enough time to evaluate especially since I have dedicated this computer to Windows 7, that's what I built it for, just to run the beta and then the actual when it becomes available. I don't know why I was able to download it but not register?

Shan: yeah, that came out wrong, im not really meaning what i said, i was just implying that the download servers are up, and the link (from is from the MS server) is available many places .  Somehow when i clicked add i realized that I typed before i thought, excuse that, it sounds too rude and accusatory of the testers, im sure MS wants all levels of testers as each type of user tests different areas. i wish there were an edit button, i guess ill just live with my post being on record as it is and apologize for it now

hope everything is going well for microsoft's HQ.

What a bunch of liers these guys turned out to be.

Where and when can I get the product key?

????

im very disspaointed... im pressing F5 since 6 hours ago!. please man, publish it now. its about 3am in my countr and i want to sleep!

Forgive me, but isn't the answer to this simple?  Why not drop the 2.5 million limit that is forcing a lot of us to stick around and instead provide a date range during which the public beta of Windows 7 will be available.  A great number of us will simple disappear and wait until tomorrow or some other day.

Damn. They can't even make a blog work! I can only see the first comments page!

lmfao - im one the phone with microsoft and the rep just told me their is no such version as MS 7...  Thanks for the laugh microsoft ........... did get the customer service number that is handling this though if u wanna call and let them here it is 800-642-7676

all i need is a key, i have had the iso on connect and didnt know lol.  How can i get a key for x86 and x64?

Excellent, I just got a key, took about 100 refreshes but I got one.

Isn't there a way to just separate the key generator from the actual download? It causes too many inconveniences and I've been trying to get to the key for the last 19 hours

where is the download website ?

Tomorrow at noon they will have it avalible approx

still waitng

Any progress?

where will the link be because i have found many possible places

hi so where is it????????????????

Wow, this is really becoming quite ricidulous. Does it really take that long to add some servers? Can't believe you guys are saying we are excited, more like disappointed.

Brandon, As you are no doubt aware of the many people waiting for the post, would it be possible to maybe give some sort of a guesstimation on when it maybe posted??

Is there any chance that more downloads will be available?

Justa a thought, but perhaps NEXT TIME Microsoft might want to give a window of time (eg 3 days) in which people could download the product (eg Windows 8 beta??)

That way there would not be the strain on servers, and people would not have to sit around waiting forever for something which we do not even know will happen or not.

I have now been refreshing the Windows 7 page and the blog page for over 22 hours waiting for something to happen and have not had any luck.

I sincerely hope I end up getting a copy of the beta and the key - otherwise I am a day behind on everything I should have done today (including a night's sleep)

Cheers

rozzie

Melbourne Australia

Sad all it took was two phone calls, after waiting hours for your response. Tomorrow approx noon it will be up online... If anyone wants to confirm the information so you know I'm not making it up call 800-642-7676, say ur a business customer to the auto machine and then it will ask if u have a contract on file, say no, then say yes that you want to set one up, 30 seconds later you will have an american rep on the line unlike the foreign activation centers...

Is anyone else having trouble seeing comments right now?  Is it just because the site is really busy?

seems the commenting system is still a bit messed up, i havent been able to get past the first page for a while now, i see the # counting up, but i cant get to them...

wonder if anyone can even see this

Comments browsing seems to be broken again

ich just can see the 1st comment page, please poste updates on teh blog itself and not in teh comments

Thanks Brandon

But when you say "We want to ensure customers have the best possible experience when downloading the beta, and I’ll be posting here again soon once the beta goes live." perhaps you could also give the millions of bleary eyed people hanging out here (a) some idea of the time this will happen and (b) what chances are there of getting a key ie how many have already gone etc.

MS will not have many excited or happy customers if millions of them have stayed up until the early hours of even worse - not slept at all - waiting for something that is not possible.

Cheers to all those fellow insomniacs!

rozzie

Melbourne, Australia

is anyone else having problems reading the comments

Does anyone know of why sometimes you cannot navigate through the comments?

Hi does somebody knows how long we can use the beta after installing it? I heard it will stop working on the Aug.1. 2009... is that true?

windows 7!

what is going on with these comment system? a few minutes ago i could navigate  to page 32 and nov i can even see a link to that page of the comments.

IT's HERE!!!

I've been pressing butons for hours.. The link from Microsoft for the 32 bit is:

download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso

It's 2.4GIG and will take me 12 nours on 512 broadband.. cheers

john in Aus

I look forward to downloading the beta release.

Any chance you will tell us wether or not it will become availible sometime during the night?

I have been trying continuously for 12 hours to get this download started, but have been unsuccessful so far. I would have thought that with the BILLIONS of dollars at Microsoft's disposal, they would have already had sufficient infrastructure in place to handle the demand, unless they did not have the confidence in their product or the foresight to think there would be a demand.

it new 4:57 am here at germany and i cant even see the comments anymore :(

Excited that I'm excited?  Gimme a break!  Everything is "Delayed so I can have a quality download experience" - TOO LATE!  Just do what you said you would do, Microsoft.  I've wasted an entire day standing outside your velvet rope waiting to catch a glimpse of Windows 7.  Super frustrating.

so when is this thing going to be up? and could you fix the comments so I can see all of them?

Congratulations MicroSoft, - Windows 7 is now available to the public for testing. Thank you.

1. "very heavy traffic" this is what Bit Torrent is very useful for.

2. "multi casting " - didn't you guys at MS create the term ?

3. 5 Hours after the comment " Due to very heavy traffic ..", Brandon, you are too busy to post another update ?

4. We are excited , we ' bleeding edge, early adopter geeks' can get a leaked copy from torrent sites, but some of us would prefer a legitimate 'MS test original ISO'

Requests:

1. Update every 2-3 hours, even if it is just to say: " no ETA yet, its coming"

2. Post Key information, so that so many blog questions can be answered, even if it is just to say : " No key will be made available, you have 30 days to test from instal "

3. Pat yourselves on the back, pat each other on the back, you want to look back on these times one day with positive memories.

Thanks Again !

DVC

Delgato Vis Celeritas

if beta is not promised at time then what do we expect of final version

Microsoft - plz this time do not make mistake

we all  really want to make Windows 7 " full of promises not free from promises"

i hope this works ........

...and an other question, how do i se if the 64bit version will work on my PC? is there any tool in Vista to veryfie?

Website still says that the downloads are down but I have a download started from Microsoft's website...it is going really slow however. I also noticed that the downloads could not start in Chrome but they did start in FireFox.

I was hoping the torrent links would be faster but they are not either >.>'

blog site isn't even working right, lmao....   FYI....    

tomorrow approx noon it will be up online... If anyone wants to confirm the information so you know I'm not making it up call 800-642-7676, say ur a business customer to the auto machine and then it will ask if u have a contract on file, say no, then say yes that you want to set one up, 30 seconds later you will have an american rep on the line unlike the foreign activation centers...

How do I get a key?

how we will know when it becomes available ??

@ Brandon LeBlanc.

If you are/do read this then please take notice of the follows:

> When trying to read the comments on this bolg, I am not able to go to any other page then the first one.

> The first page has the 20-30 odd posts that were made first. The other pages and the LAST PAGE that has recent comments is not available!

> So whenever you are posting new comments we are not able to access them.

> This is not only my problem. There are MANY other people experiencing the same.

>>> *So if you have any major update then please post it as a new blog or something!!!

this site is buggy (doesnt shows all coments), msft servers are down, we cant get keys, and life is good :p

if they use torrent...

I agree with Alex I want to sleep too

Can you not pull the 2.5 million keys and let it be full public beta.  At least then we can go to bed knowing we can safely get a key when it's up and running?

Hmm... would seem that a lot of people are having trouble seeing anything past the 20th comment

IT"S HERE:  2.4 GIG

You can use it for 30 days with no key. If you have a key. It will expire on August 1..

If you want the 64 bit link: download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRE_EN_DVD.ISO

Has there been any updates?

not to flamebait, but I'd love to see the geographic map of where these keys end up :p i reckon asia atm.

and with that i give up and am going to sleep. (UK).

what the differeent with the december release? erm.. can u give me the iso file name and the build code

update.

<b> HELOOO..   IT"S HERE </B>

I've shown you where the 2 LINKS are. I Have just tried it AND IT WORKS...  the 32 bit and the 64 bit..

Read the comments fellas.. and then go and get your copy from MS...

i still can t acces the content pages. i have tryed it from my windows mobile phones opera mobile browser too but  the page has the same "bug". i can only see the first page of the comments.

Iv Verified My email! Iv Downloaded the iso,

Now Someone Please tell me Whether Iv reserved a key, coz i dd verified my email, earlier yesterday... ? So i can get the key after the rush ?

CAN SOMEONE PLs HELP ME ?

Sure would be nice to have a status on the Windows 7 page

0

why can i not go to any more pages on these blogs other then the first

This is stupid... Microsoft can not even create a blog that works properly and keeps u stuck on the first page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hello

Alright, I've been trying for the last 20 minutes just to see the most recent page in this blog, but all I get is the front page with no option to advance to the next page. This is ridiculous.

what a wasted day

why cant i read more than 20 comments?!

:[

How do u get the download? I have been sitting here, refreshing the page for like 4-5 hours and waiting. I need help! How do I get windows 7!?!? AAHHH!!!

how come i can never see the comments thread?

tired

Where is it?

please repair the comment system

Got the comments thru as RSS now ...this is stupid when you cannot even read the blog pages

so, continue the waiting game?

still waiting...damn

cant veiw all comments?! help please!  

Waiting...

=\

Great release! I appreciate the attention to detail and how users typically work. I've had some time to play around with the beta and found some undocumented features with remote desktop. Our company uses VM Ware ESX Servers to host our dev environments and uses RDP all the time!

One thing I would really like to see is the apple equivalent of "spaces". Basically the ability to organize widgets and other desktop items better. My desktop can get so cluttered, that any help you can give me would be a big help.

Here are my initial thoughts:

dot-net-sam.blogspot.com/.../windows-7-beta-thoughts.html

Brandon,any news from your meeting????

To all leaving comments - we are aware not all comments are showing up and it is hard to track comments. I am trying to follow everyone's comments to the best of my ability but may not be able to respond to everyone.

I know everyone is asking about an update on Windows 7 Beta availability. When I have an update to give - I will post it to our blog as a new blog post.

In the meantime, I ask everyone to continue leaving comments if you can and make sure that you are both respectful and constructive in your responses.

Thanks!

any update? only need x64 key now

Cant see last pages. Do you?

I have a crack that is supposed to remove the activation altogether...might have to try that :-(

only can see the first page of the comments

rghhhhhhh

Is it just me or this thing is not working anymore? I can´t see the comments except page 1

Microsoft Download Manager has worked great when I've used it in Connect - Maybe this would be a good tool to use too...

When, When, When.. Is this going to be days away, weeks away, hours away? Will there be another warning before it goes live?? Please keep us updated with an estimate.

can't read

can't read

This is freeaking me out!!!!

Plz some on etell me how to access all the pages????

Mail me at > jeet1991@gmail.com

PLZZZZZZZ some one tell me what was the last post from Brandon!   PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Brandon,

Was the infastructure discussed at the meeting?

I wonder how Brandon's meeting is going

what the hell is happening. Can't even read this blog. This is terrible. there goes 10 hours of my life that I will never see again. With my luck by the time I wake up there will be no more licenses left. Thanks Microsoft

Thanks for your interest in the Windows 7 Beta. The volume has been phenomenal -- we’re in the process of adding more servers to handle the demand. We’re sorry for the delay and we’ll re-post the Beta as soon as we can ensure a quality download experience.

I sure think not many of us, if any, are still excited now...

please update the frontpage, i cant see the comment, not even the one im writing

What the...? I can't read the other comments...

I don't remember the Vista Beta's being this hard to coordinate...

I can understand high demand degrading performance, but this is a little sad.  It seems project management at Microsoft hasn't improved since the Vista fiasco that started in the longhorn days.

If Microsoft can't scale their systems for demand, even when scheduled well in advance - why would a large enterprise choose the Microsoft platform to run their business?  SAP, Oracle and IBM don't have much to worry about.

I know itsa probably alot of work but .... a few million people are waiting ? ^_^

what a slap in the face

im waiting,how long more????????????,i spend all day trying to download the  7 beta..............so pleassseee

ok, this is friggin insane!  i am ashamed to say that i sat in front of my computer pressing F5 approximately every 30 min to an hour for nothing.  Microsoft, you are an extremely dissapointing entity.  For God's sake, you even commented on how you listened to your customers, yet you lie and waste our time by giving false information then missleading information, then no information at all.  I'm giving up,  i'm going to bed, i'm that tired.  Some other poor shmuck will get my key for the beta and you know what i really don't care right now.  this has been a truly dissapointing experience and i sincerely hope that the official release of Windows 7 is not as dissapointing as my wait in line for the beta.

mmm cant see more than the first page??

I would like to get into this beta as soon as it goes live again.

Thanks for your interest in the Windows 7 Beta. The volume has been phenomenal -- we’re in the process of adding more servers to handle the demand. We’re sorry for the delay and we’ll re-post the Beta as soon as we can ensure a quality download experience.

I need to remind folks to please be constructive and respectful with your comments. Thanks!

where can we find the activation key?

Wow disinformation. No DL no Key Microsoft does it again....

Please Please start using Bit Torrent, show that it is very useful for business, and legitimize its existence. Thank you, and I can't wait to try out Windows 7.  I love Vista 64-bit post-SP1, and Win 7 should be even better!

i think i found a sit where you can download it im not sure if its ligit though here it is

www.downloadwindows7beta.com

Is to me, or,...

I cant "browse" comments on this post

Time for another beer...my shout anyone want one??

man i cant see the comments :[

i want to read updates!

when is he going to do it its past 12:00

Microsoft....bump

Tomorrow approx noon it will be up online... If anyone wants to confirm the information so you know I'm not making it up call 800-642-7676, say ur a business customer to the auto machine and then it will ask if u have a contract on file, say no, then say yes that you want to set one up, 30 seconds later you will have an american rep on the line unlike the foreign activation centers...

time for my third cup of coffee

For those of you that do not have the ISO yet her are the links:

32 Bit:

download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso

64 Bit

download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRE_EN_DVD.ISO

...Still need the key tho

You are also "Working on" getting the beta out "soon".

Since I can't see the comments, I'm not sure if somebody has already posted a similar comment, but I would much rather your team spend their time working on the Win7 beta stuff than fixing the comments here.

greenkid336600, different group of people working on bugs for this site - don't worry, we're not distracting from the real issue here ;-)

@dave99md - clearly microsoft is doing something right, or you wouldn't be so intent on getting a copy of Win7

I haven't gotten a key yet, but from others' posts here and elsewhere here's what I do know:

MS is having a meeting as I type and will release their results as soon as they are able.  In the mean time, the download link is:

download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso

and the key generator *should* be at

www.microsoft.com/.../default.aspx

In the mean time, just go to YouTube or something and burn some time.

Iv recied a mail saying  ,

"Final Step

To verify that you own this e-mail address, click  > "

so I clicked and Entered my Personal data and continued,  

So will a KEY be reserved to me ? So that I can get it after the RUSH, >

Thank you,

Only took you three hours to realize a problem with this site, lmao

This is supposed to give you 120 days:

www.computerworld.com/.../article.do

Wow first the Beta bombs then the blog does....OK really I think Bill Gates could afford to upgrade from 486 servers running windows 3.11. They had to expect this kind of response. Bit Torrent would have been the best bet to release this.

Any new news on the time frame? Have to sleep sometime ;)

Dear god, what is happenning here?! First we can not get the key, now we can't even see what's new with the other people!

OK I loaded it what now?

Well this morning i got to register but did not get to the product serial key and download link. I just hope me and those people who registered in the morning should get a notification or

a chance to get the key

i'm living in china and waiting for over 14 hours...Just want to be one of 2.5million...But the download still not working...so sleepy and tired...

You will get your key here when it opens again

technet.microsoft.com/.../dd353205.aspx

Remember, you need to have a windows live account to be qualify for a key.

Hey jing spare a thought for me...been up 12 hours and have had to drink beer all day :-(

that should be :

technet.microsoft.com/.../dd353205.aspx

Thanksgiving black friday or what?

its now 6:51 am here in germany and i will go to sleep. hopefully you will allow more than 2,5 million downloads7keys.

Typical, wait and wait, how can I sell stuff like this. Not off to a very good start, sound familiar. How long will the actual launch be delayed as well?

EPIC FAIL

Subcribe to the RSS feed and VIEW the comments thru there

I kike it...so far. Very fast to load. Now all I need is a key...☺

It is now 12 hours pressing F5 and reading RSS. Maan, I am tired now... Hope we won't be disappointed once we get the Beta after almost half a day's wait.

Brandon can you tell us a time and can you update the situation... It will be apprecaited....

...you see there was these 2 blokes standing at a bar...

One thing is wait in queue knowing that the store will open on the specific time (Apple/iPhone). Another thing is stay in the queue without knowing whether the store will open or not (Microsoft/Windows 7).

More than 4 hours, still no more servers.

What are you guys adding iMAC's ????

I want to know if I've another chance for take windows 7 or this is the end?

I try all day and nothing !! :(

Brandon, could you update the post stating that comments can be view by subcribing to the RSS feed and VIEW the comments thru there.

thanks

You can edit and post an update to the blog, yet you're having problems with people not being able to read all the negative replies that im sure were written?

That's sad man, there's no way u have tech probs on a blog like this. Just trying to keep us from talking and speaking the truth.. I tell you - you PR people are as bad as HR.

Where can I get Windows 7 and Key??

Please tell me...

any update on when the beta will be availlible for download again?

Did the Beta go Live? Or am I still in Luck, Bad timing here in SA

Is there anything left to get here? Keys?

For those of you still looking for the ISO here are the links:

32 Bit:

download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso

64 Bit

download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRE_EN_DVD.ISO

Hey Brandon any update?

For those of you wanting to chat, we have made a chat room:

pub8.bravenet.com/.../649049100

We would appreciate it if Brandon or someone else from MS could drop by!

We continue to work to add servers to Microsoft.com to support the demand of the Windows 7 Beta. Part of adding servers is also network configurations to ensure everything works correctly. We'll update the blog once we're confident in everything.

Brandon, you mentioned in an early post that it is still 9th and intent to post it today itself as declared by Microsoft. Are u going to do that... Just curious.......

Come on Brandon stop giving us the SAME update.... Give us some idea of the time frame. It's 6.50am where I am, I've waited up all night because I'm dedicated to try the beta as are a lot of people posting comments here, show some respect for our efforts and give us a REAL update!

Thanks for the update Brandon

I wish I could use Android or Symbian on my computer... I´m too lazy to use linux. Until something else comes up...

Hey Doomofman been up since 5.30 here..make sure you have downloaded your copy so all you need is the key

First off I'm enthusiastic in the new features in Windows 7. Kudos to the Vista/Windows 7 team(s) on the achievement. Vista became my goto OS once Service Pack 1 hit the scene and now that I've played with the 6801 build of Windows 7 at work I am looking forward to messing around with it at home and here's my chance with build 7000! But... the excitement is dwindling with the wait due to the demand.

One thing I'm worried about is not being one of the people within the 2.5 million cap of distributed keys. Is Microsoft planning on expanding this cap (or even better removing that cap altogether)?

Thanks for the updates!

is the build to be posted build 7000

Yeah Gawlerpete... It's downloading via TORRENT right now seeing as the MICROSOFT download doesn't work. It's slow though still 7 hours left, I wonder will they have managed to sort out the problem by then? My guess is.. NO

32 Bit:

download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso

64 Bit

download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRE_EN_DVD.ISO

Dang dude how much longer?

I think my last comment got lost in the flood, so I'll try again.

Any chance of adding more downloads for more people to get?

Guys at the end of the day the servers will come back up, the problem is that with so many people trying to get both the download and keys, as soon as mention that the servers are up they are going to be swamped again, what MS are doing(i hope) is getting enough infrastructure there to cope with the dam breaking as it were. Like a lot of people i have been online since before the Original release time, and am still here hoping to get a key, and to be quite honest if everyone is still trying to get keys from links posted all over the web or download the files from the same places it is likely to be still straining the system.. Earlier on today i thought i had got registered for a key, but then the downloads went, so i have no idea, hence still being here. However once MS know whats happening im sure they will let us all know

Pete those downloads don't work, at least for me they don't. Fails after about 10% Tried IE and FF. It's getting pretty depressing at this stage, all the enthusiasm I had to try this product has dissipated with this mess of a "release"

@ gawlerpete

do u have any german links 2?

Yeah Doomofman..got mine earlier on in the week thru torrent.

Works great,also downloaded from Microsoft this morning.

Doomofman, I don't have a timeframe to give you. I think its awesome your so dedicated to trying out the beta. Would you rather me not comment and let people know I am reading comments and just be silent? Rest assured I am sitting here working very hard to get you all an update.

yea some of us have been up and /or here for over 24 hour i've been up for 40 hours right now. i can't leave i need a key lol. i would like to know if i can take a couple hour nap or should i hang around

@greenkid the only reason i'm waiting for it is because i'm being paid to. I will stay with my Red Hat.

TBH I think Microsoft should try and guarantee everyone who posted on this blog a key. If I don't get a key after staying up all night I'm going to be very sore towards Microsoft

Hang in there Brandon...been a long day for you too :-)

I wish that the people who commented on this blog would be able to get a key or something.  Lol still waiting for a key... wish there was an eta though.

Guys just let them do their job and stop complaining. The more you complain the longer you have to wait. Just be thankful that Brandon is even reading your comments and responding to some of them. I myself have been waiting since noon for the beta, but some times thing don't go as expected and you have to wait a little longer. So just bear(bare?) with them for a little bit.

I don't know tbh Brandon. I guess the majority of us that have stayed up and on here posting and following your updates are worried we're not going to get our Keys in the swarms of people who'll come to get them when they know the servers are up and running. A little reassurance would be nice if you had any to give, but I guess my confidence in that isn't as high as it was before this debacle. Thanks for responding though.

Thanks for keeping us updated with what you can as you can Brandon, from reading through most of these posts, i think people are venting steam because things didnt work as planned, yes there are other ways of getting the beta, but i personally prefer legit stuff, so at the end of the day im hoping to get my hands on a couple of keys for a desktop and laptop. Just hoping the servers are back up before i fall asleep at my computer ;)

I have gone thru 12 beers so far ...LOL ...so just chillin out here till the keys come online.

Like Doomofman's comment about a key for the bloggers

@ Mr. LeBlanc

I would like to know wath's gona happen on 1.Aug.2009 if we install the Beta. After this date, do i have to reinstall the old Vista again? Will the Beta stop working on this date?

Dont know if i get that right... ;o)

key..... b4 midnight would be really nice

Like Crypticblade stated, I think it would be very beneficial in relieving stress for the most die hard of customers to give a ballpark estimate. We have been waiting for what seems like forever, and would love to know if we could grab some sleep.

@Brandon - So what about the comment from your CSR @ 800-642-7676 claiming it won't be available until around noon PST tomorrow (Saturday)???

Yeah.. we're all staying up waiting for a major update, but thanks Brandon for what you have given us so far.  Hopefully there can be an update with an ETA instead of the download and registration showing up out of nowhere.

Well, releasing on the 9th did sound good.  Maybe you people should use some of that cloud computing power you’ve put together to help?

I was waiting all night long; it's already 8 a.m. in Europe. So I hope there is a chance for us to get a copy!!!

What day/time is it over there...its Sat 5.45PM here (Australia)

Out of curiosity, I was planning on trying to setup my desktop to dual boot between XP and Win7 if/when I can get a key, anyone have tips on how to do that? I haven't tried to setup a dual boot before.

Your a legend Brandon putting up with this mess...keep up the good work mate. So 7 seems to be working fine. In fact uses 200Meg RAM than Vista, until I opened 7 windows and did 5 installs or drivers and games at once then it went to 1Gig

Lucky I don't have to work tomorrow so I can continue here. I've been around since noon and it's 2:14 am here now. Over 14 hours waiting for a key.

Dude,

I don't want to sond like an ungrateful brat, but:

You realize that here, in Europe, it's already close to 10 AM?

At 3 AM I went to sleep, woke up at 9 and still no change.

Not even an ETA. This is completley nuts.

I know that if you post an ETA then ALL people will come back in the same time and it will crash again, but c'mon, how long will it last? IS it going to be before 2 PM GMT?

Thanks

no one has pitch forks or torches yet LOL. i had to work last night and now i didn't sleep today. i'll be here until i get a key unless i pass out lol.

@gawlerpete - crack open Google, type in "time in redmond washington".

While the time delay has been frustrating, at least they're doing overtime to get it to us.

I simply ask that they don't release it at some ungodly hour.  

I myself have been patiently waiting for a key since 2:00 PM CST.  I had finals today at school so I had a half-day and I thought that everything would just work out perfectly.  Besides, I'd rather let Microsoft fix the problem and do it the right way without being rushed.  So, should I still stick around here or is it time for me to get some shut eye?

(sigh) Alright guys, relax, im just as bumbed about is as yall are. BUT  it is not Brandons falt, so all of you who are blaming Brandon you are singing to the wrong choir. I for one am glad it was postponed because had it been released mid-day, i would have missed it because of work and college classes. But now that it is the weekend, i can wait.

Oh and Brandon, im not sure if it is your decision and all but most of us still have the iso's from other websites. So why not just focus on the keys for now rather than keys and downloads. Just a thought.

--Cheers, Happy Friday!!!!

Brandon,

Do you at least get to work from home while dealing with all this? :)

Well, at least got the 64bits .iso in.

The link at:  download.microsoft.com/.../7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRE_EN_DVD.ISO

worked OK, and the 32bits one is already on the torrents, so I got both, still will prefer to get the 32bits one from MS, just to be sure.

Ossirian

lifehacker.com/.../how-to-dual-boot-windows-7-with-xp-or-vista

In my opinion the worst thing you guys could do is to throw up the servers with the keys without warning. Yes, the longer the delay the more the news will spread and the more people will be competing for keys. But if the registration just starts without prior warning all those that tried to stay up may still be trying to catch up on sleep. I think that would be a catastrophe.  

install win 7 on a different partition or hardrive and xp takes care of most of it or it does with vista

Ossirian i have mine setup as dual boot with XP/W7.

No probs just choose the advanced option during intall..

Works fine

Thanks for the continued updates. I realize its been a rough day for you, and know that those simple small updates, as non 'new information-filled' as they may be, are still greatly appreciated.  Thanks for your continued work.

While sitting here like a moron waiting for a program that by now (I decided) had better wash my car and massage my feet after sitting here since 7 am (on the 9th) just to get a key, I decided to write a portion of a song.

Tune: Rawhide (old, but a toy hamster my daughter gave me for my birthday sang this song)

Loading, loading, loading

I just keep on loading

When will Windows 7, go live?

It better be worth waitin'

'Cause everybody's hatin'

Sitting here and wastin' their time

...

Of course, a margarita helps. :D

Everytime I refreshed, I found myself thinking....what if I sipped on the 'rita when it refreshed quickly, and then took a big gulp of it when it took awhile and raised my hopes and then dashed them to tiny pieces when I still didn't get through? The result? I would be trashed in minutes. *sigh*

Good thing I have a sense of humor...and coffee, because the alcohol was making me sleepy. 24 oz coffee to be exact. So, now I wait for a key for my 7....

*hands Brandon a margarita* Been a long day huh? Nothing like taking the heat (for a multi million dollar company) from a bunch of angry people when there's nothing much you can do personally to help. Wow...now you know how the President of the US feels! :D Hehe.

Hope I made someone smile while they wait. :-)

I've been around for about 7 hours - 8 hours. No change. It must have died very quickly. I am surprised that M$ didn't anticipate or provide for this.

Just goes to show even the biggest corporations can't handle the net well ;)

I agree with previous comments.. an ETA would be great. It would give me a chance to sleep, seeing how its 2:18 here on the east coast (US). I've been checking since 3.. almost 12 hours of refreshing every 5 minutes

Brandon,

Any idea if you will be expanding the amount of downloads and keys you will grant?

Thanks

C