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Microsoft pauses Windows 7 public beta due to overwhelming demand

Jan. 10, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

Anyone who thought that the Windows era was on the way out obviously didn’t see Windows 7 coming: Due to overwhelming demand for the public beta version, which was originally released Friday as a Web download, Microsoft has had to retrench and add capacity. Until that happens, the download is offline for a bit.

Here’s the word from the Windows Team Blog:

Due to very heavy traffic we’re seeing as a result of interest in the Windows 7 Beta, we are adding some additional infrastructure support to the Microsoft.com properties before we post the public beta. 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. Stay tuned! We are excited that you are excited!

Why they didn’t just do this before the download is, of course, unclear. PR stunt?

Discuss this Article 118

pjc007
on Jan 10, 2009
After an unfruitful evening, I gave up, and continued retrying the 'final hurdle' this afternoon, eventually yielding a product key. Why MSFT couldn't publish a single working product key (like they've done for Server 2008 R2) is beyond me. As far as everything I've read goes, downloading is NOT a problem (it wasn't for me from a direct MSFT download link), it's ONLY the product key generator. This does strike my cynical mind as a publicity stunt - "Look, even we at Microsoft can't cope with the demand for our new OS". It was blatantly obvious from all the furore over the leak that this would have an absolutely huge demand. Only an idiot could have assumed that it could be handled by existing infrastructure without significant additional capacity. -PJC
puzder
on Jan 10, 2009
@pjc007 I got three keys last night without a problem. Importantly, however, you wont need a key for 30 days, so you can install without the key.
weedmonk
on Jan 10, 2009
Yeah, you can get a key pretty easy if you know what you're doing. I just tried with an old hotmail account and it popped up.
Ozric
on Jan 10, 2009
@weedmonk: So lets just say I knew what I was doing.... what would I be doing exactly? ;)
tayme
on Jan 10, 2009
Must be up and going now. Couldn't get either 32 or 64 bit last night...Just got both on the first tr. --tayme
CompactDstrxion
on Jan 10, 2009
Yeah the problem obviously isn't bandwidth cos people have downloaded and installed the beta (like me) the problem is the product key generator which is a tiny fraction of the bandwidth required. So yeah I am a bit cynical
tayme
on Jan 10, 2009
Ozric - Follow these instructions - http://blog.hznet.nl/2009/01/10/how-to-receive-a-valid-windows-7-key --tayme
Ozric
on Jan 10, 2009
@tayme: are you talking about the download only or actually getting a key?
weedmonk
on Jan 10, 2009
-Login to your passport account. -Navigate and login into Microsoft Technet(associate it with your Live ID) and remain logged in there. -Open Notepad and paste this(this site converts the URL, so copy the complete URL and repaste into the notepad). Save is as filename.user.js // ==UserScript== // @name win 7 key // @namespace myNamespace // @include https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/productkeys/win7-64/enus/defaul... try { if(document.getElementsByTagName("p")[0].innerHTML=="The site is currently experiencing technical difficulties, please check back in the next business day.") { var t=setTimeout("location.reload(true);",5000); } } catch(e) { } // ==/UserScript== - Now open FireFox w/Greasmonkey add on installed. Drag that script file you created onto FF and grease monkey will recognize and install it. -Now navigate to "https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/productkeys/win7-64/enus/default.aspx" (remember this site converts this url, so right click>copy URL. -FF will keep refreshing this URL until a key pops up.
tayme
on Jan 10, 2009
I have keys and iso files...going to install later this weekend. --tayme
defcon1170
on Jan 10, 2009
I'm downloading the x86 version right now and I have the keys for it and the x64 version. Life's good I tell you.
defcon1170
on Jan 10, 2009
Plus, did Microsoft actually want to create a self-induced DDOS?
Lindy
on Jan 10, 2009
@tayme that worked for the key. I got the download links from neowin and that was not a problem. In fact that key link you just sent out worked first try for the 64 page. Also I refreshed the page in Fire Fox and I got a second key right away. Time to create a Fusion VM on my Macbook.
DRWAM
on Jan 10, 2009
Thanks tayme. That worked very fast.
weedmonk
on Jan 10, 2009
Update: Free for all. It's working now. Just goto the URL forgot the hoops. STAMPEDE!
DRWAM
on Jan 10, 2009
You guys are awesome! Thanks. Say hello to my $400 Windows 7 laptop.
Lindy
on Jan 10, 2009
Holy Christ I just fired up my Vista VM and the last time I ran Windows update on it was 11/27 from the update dialog box. For Vista and Office 2007 32 important updates, 201 mb! Where is subzero with his # of updates for OS X?? Oh well hopefully with 7 this will be the last time I fire this thing up.
Lindy
on Jan 10, 2009
@DRWAM is that your production box, as in your primary PC? If so I would be catious unless you have a lot of time on your hands. What if something does not work, there is no rolling back. Also this thing runs out, and if MS does not ship the full version before August you will be dead in the water, plus I would bet there will be at least one more version, beta 2 or a RC.
shark47
on Jan 10, 2009
I think this was intentional. Just got back home to DC so I can download and install it on my desktop.
johnbaxter
on Jan 10, 2009
Did Microsoft hire the guy from Apple who was responsible for the MobileMe rollout?
Ocean
on Jan 10, 2009
John, that guy was a MS employee that consulted for Apple in his off hours. I got two keys and my download is now going.
darkmax
on Jan 10, 2009
I think they did.....
weedmonk
on Jan 10, 2009
"Did Microsoft hire the guy from Apple who was responsible for the MobileMe rollout?" Ha. No one is immune. Remember FF3's Download Day that was hyped to be a Guinness event.
rjohn05
on Jan 10, 2009
I call PR stunt.
kadarzsolt
on Jan 10, 2009
Interesting stuff: When the beta was "UP" yesterday I could not get product keys (nor did many people who posted on forums) but since the beta was "PULLED OFFLINE" I was able to just put the link in the address bar and get the keys (32 and 64 bit). One more fact remains to be seen: if people can actually download the ISOs and get keys while the main pages state that they are not available, how does this count against the beta limit of 2.5 mil? When the beta goes back officially, they will just say that the limit was reached... (?) Thankx anyway MS. Win7beta is a great alternative to Vista SP1. (you can quote me on that) kaadi
kanwaljit
on Jan 10, 2009
The links for both 32 bit and 64 bit are working very well now (atleast for me they did!). I got 2 64 bit keys and 2 32 bit keys with the first attempt.. However, the download link provided by MS at the key page still does not work and the direct download link (for 32 bit) dies midway every time.. Any of you having the same problem not able to download 32 bit (from direct download link and the link provided at the product key page)?? Thanks..
kadarzsolt
on Jan 10, 2009
For those who cannot download directly: go torrent! it's safe, as you get exactly the MS iso. All the negative talk on tech sites is just FUD, so you stay away from those sites. ... also: you can get download speeds just as high as with MS servers, plus you have the security of a continued download, without timeouts and failures.
longshot21771
on Jan 10, 2009
I have tried and tried and tried, every direct link down load i do stops at 300+ mb 500+ mb and so on. Don't understand why it runs so well and fast for the first few hours then just stops all at once.
Ocean
on Jan 10, 2009
Me same with iso. Kadar...which torrent are you using?
weedmonk
on Jan 10, 2009
Ouch...turns out these keys aren't unique at all. About 10 or 12 being recycled. Aaah well.
DRWAM
on Jan 10, 2009
Thanks Lindy. I have a 3GHz quad Mac Pro Tower and a couple other XP PC's [a 3.2GHz and a 3.4 GHz P4] that I built myself. The $400 Vista laptop was a spare for the kids to play, and the older Inspiron 8200 still works. Do you think I ought to install 7 on the old Inspiron 8200?
DRWAM
on Jan 10, 2009
I also had problems with the DL, but the 64 bit just completed fine. I'll try the 32 bit DL again. I thing that you should keep trying. Which DL was the problem with you guys?
james3mg
on Jan 10, 2009
Finally got my key this am too...though the reports that the old Vista Beta keys work intrigued me as well. But I'm still curious- anybody get an md5 key for a known good download (TechNet subscribers)? Even though I copied and pasted a link that used microsoft.com as the domain, I'm still a little wary and would like just a little more piece of mind ;) Thanks
kanwaljit
on Jan 10, 2009
Well my 64 bit downloaded alright, but 32 bit is a problem.. it stops at 300-400 MB every time.. and this is from the direct download link .. no luck yet!
Waethorn
on Jan 10, 2009
The 32-bit version works extremely fast in Virtual PC. I dunno what the deal is but even the ISO boots the setup routine faster than Vista did.
Waethorn
on Jan 10, 2009
Here's an interesting little tidbit of information: When I installed this in Virtual PC and checked the disk with diskpart, there was absolutely 0 bytes free. Ok, a lot of people don't know this but Windows XP leaves a bit of space free after a partition, and Windows Vista leaves less, and it's usually before a partition (which is why you can't format a boot drive using the other OS's formatting tools), but Windows 7 actually leaves 0 bytes free on a standard format of the boot drive. I would bet that means that 7's disk formatting tools are likewise incompatible with Vista or XP. Interesting....
Waethorn
on Jan 10, 2009
Also, in case you didn't know already, you can open up a command prompt while Windows XP, Vista, or 7's setup routines are running. That is, during XP's GUI Setup mode, or in Vista or 7, as early as the disk partitioning GUI screen comes up before it starts copying files. For advanced attended (not UNattended) installs, you can use utils like diskpart in Vista/7 before using the GUI options. Just press Shift-F10 to open a command prompt.
Waethorn
on Jan 10, 2009
Another tidbit of info: There's a WinRE.CAB in the Windows\System32\Recovery folder.
kadarzsolt
on Jan 10, 2009
Windows 7 32bit http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4602971/Microsoft.Windows.7.Beta.1.Build... Windows 7 64bit http://www.mininova.org/tor/2158341 Software: utorrent.com ; bittorrent.com (uninstall DNA)
tayme
on Jan 10, 2009
Yeah, I just noticed...my 32bit iso is not complete...only about 400mb again. full 64bit though. Once I get some time later this weekend, I'll install on my mbp. Does anybody know when the beta expires? --tayme
RaaJ
on Jan 10, 2009
tayme, the beta expires in August '09.
Waethorn
on Jan 10, 2009
@tayme June or July, if you have a product key. BTW: There seems to be a fair bit of network traffic going on during installation.
Waethorn
on Jan 10, 2009
Interesting.... It looks like they've got some internationalization stuff in here already. On the RSS Gadget, there's a section that has "Feeds for Canada", "Feeds for Canada - Local Pack 1" and "...Local Pack 2".
DRWAM
on Jan 10, 2009
Yep, I just finished benching and the 4th attempt for the 32 bit DL failed. Wae, my laptop [supposedly] supports 64 bit. Do you think I should just install the 64 bit?
CompactDstrxion
on Jan 10, 2009
I'm getting pretty spiritual here but I'm enjoying computing a lot more for some reason. It's like Windows 7 is saying... hey buddy, sorry about what happened last time. Here's a hot mug of tea, now what would you like to do? Got product key finally too!
CompactDstrxion
on Jan 10, 2009
DRWAM I would say install 64-bit I have done on my laptop and Vista 64-bit drivers seem to work fine on Windows 7 (for mobile video cards and such) We need to kill off 32-bit in this generation!
DRWAM
on Jan 10, 2009
BTW, anybody gonna compliment my new rose pic? This one is 'Remember Me' and is a hybrid tea rose.
Waethorn
on Jan 10, 2009
Ok so I'm a bit stumped as to the purpose of the 200MB partition. It looks like it might contain a bootloader for Windows, as well as for the automatic fallback routines for WinRE. WinRE is stored in a WIM file (ImageX format) on the main data partition though. It almost looks like WinRE is extracted from the WIM to memory directly, as in, the WIM is "booted" from, but not by way of extracting it to a RAM drive, which is what I initially thought**. What's interesting is that the WinRE WIM file is much smaller than when you create one manually for Windows Vista using the instructions provided to convert WinPE to WinRE. Those (Windows Vista WinRE) WIM images are almost 1GB, and partitions need to be made to accomodate them. Windows 7 improves on that by leaps and bounds. **This means that the Windows bootloader now supports booting from a WIM image?!? Also, what happened to the proposed option of mounting VHD's?? Is that still there too?
DRWAM
on Jan 10, 2009
Thanks CompactD. I'm off all of next week so this will be one of my projects/fun/toys.
Waethorn
on Jan 10, 2009
"Wae, my laptop [supposedly] supports 64 bit. Do you think I should just install the 64 bit?" Since this laptop seems to be your "IT fun" computer, why the hell not? Microsoft collects telemetry data from CEIP and troubleshooting information. Just installing the software will provide them with feedback on how well it works on your system. Make sure the vendor has drivers for Vista 64-bit though, or you might run into an issue with unsupported hardware. It's still worth a shot though.

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