14 DAY TRIAL // Users who have failed to grab a copy of Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 via Microsoft's official distribution channels should hurry up and do so no later than today. Come February 10th, 2009, 12am Pacific Time, Microsoft will kill Windows 7 Beta downloads according to the Beta program schedule modified at the end of January 2009. The Redmond company has promised to serve Win 7 Beta bits until no later than February 12th, but only if the downloads were initiated no later than the public Beta availability cut-off date.
“I wanted to quickly remind everyone that this week general availability for the Windows 7 Beta will be ending: February 10th - starting at 12am Pacific Time, no new downloads will be available. If you have already begun downloading the Windows 7 Beta, you have until Feb. 12th to complete the download. February 12th - starting at 9am Pacific Time all downloads will no longer be available for the Windows 7 Beta. If you have not finished your download, you will be unable to do so,” revealed Brandon LeBlanc, Windows Communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team.
Microsoft initially released Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 to the general public on January 10, 2009, planning to make the bits available only to the first 2.5 million people on a first come first served basis. The launch was however delayed by a day with the company laboring to add extra servers to its infrastructure in order to deal with the massive influx of traffic. Subsequently, LeBlanc announced that the Beta would be offered to an unlimited number of testers for the next couple of weeks, only to prolong availability until February 12.
“We are flattered by the response to the Windows 7 beta so far and working hard at further refining the product based on feedback and telemetry as we work towards the Release Candidate. For all of us working on Windows it is humbling to know that our work affects so many people around the world. The recent feedback is showing us just how much passion people have for Windows! Again we are humbled and excited to be a part of an amazing community of people working to bring the value of computing to a billion people around the world. Thank you very much for all of the thoughts and comments you have contributed so far,” stated Jon DeVaan, senior vice president, Windows Core Operating System Division.
Even though Microsoft will discontinue Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 downloads on February 10, and will stop serving the bits entirely on February 12, Beta product keys used to activate the product, as well as the activation process itself will remain live even after these deadlines. At the same time, Microsoft will continue to serve the Beta build of Win 7 to the members of its IT professional and developer networks. “After February 12th, folks will still be able to register for product keys for the Windows 7 Beta. The above schedule does not apply to TechNet and MSDN Subscribers,” LeBlanc added.
Windows 7 Beta is available for download here.
Product keys to activate Windows 7 Beta are available here.