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Get Vista RC1 while you can

Microsoft released Windows Vista RC1 to testers last week and today it has opened the doors to anyone that wants to take a test drive. The download weighs in at around 2.6GB for the 32-bit version and 3.7GB for the 64-bit version. Everyone should hop on and get the download as quickly as possible – Microsoft could pull the plug at any time. You can register to get a product key from the following link.

You can try out Vista RC1 for free until June 1, 2007. After that, you’ll have to pony up for one of four versions of Vistas (full/upgrade):

  • Windows Vista Home Basic, $199/$99.95
  • Windows Vista Home Premium, $239/$159
  • Windows Vista Business, $299/$199
  • Windows Vista Ultimate, $399/$259
For those of you who run into software incompatibilities and driver issues during testing, be sure to contact your software vendor/hardware manufacturer so that are made aware.

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sooo faaaaaaast!!
By swatX on 9/6/2006 6:37:47 PM , Rating: 2
i love the university connection. finished the download in 5 mins! yay!




RE: sooo faaaaaaast!!
By ProviaFan on 9/6/2006 6:44:43 PM , Rating: 2
That's beyond the practical limit for most 100mbit ethernet, especially in college dorms, so I think you might be exaggerating just a _little_ bit. ;)


RE: sooo faaaaaaast!!
By Lonearchon on 9/6/2006 7:07:00 PM , Rating: 3
no it is within 100mbit bandwidht as it would be only 70mbit to download in 5 mins. College must have at least an oc-3 or greater. Currerntly D/l at 400k with a 6mbit cable connection over http. Downloading both 64bit at work and the 32bit at home.


RE: sooo faaaaaaast!!
By ProviaFan on 9/6/2006 7:20:41 PM , Rating: 2
I said practical, not theoretical; of course it's within the theoretical 12.5mb/s limit of 100mbit ethernet, but that never happens in real life. Hitting north of 9MB/s on a college network (with all of the congestion from p2p, etc.) would require an exceptionally well-managed network with plenty of spare capacity.


RE: sooo faaaaaaast!!
By swatX on 9/6/2006 10:12:07 PM , Rating: 2
its a new college with about 400 freshman oncampus so the univ has plenty of spare bandwidth not to mention that the university has a 1gbit line.


RE: sooo faaaaaaast!!
By flurazepam on 9/10/2006 3:31:58 PM , Rating: 2
Nah, I agree with the other guy. We have a gigabit backbone in our lab connected to a dedicated gigabit pipe and by your description that puts you at 12MB/s sustained. Not on a 10/100 NIC. I tested it on a 10/100 NIC and we don't get that. Only on a gigabit and higher.


almost done....
By Souka on 9/6/2006 4:13:12 PM , Rating: 2
use the download manager.... without it I was only getting 15K/s....or about 40+ hours to download.

using the download manager, I'm getting about 450K/s per ISO (downloading both 32 and 64bit). (I'm on a T3 in Seattle...and currently useage is less than 50% combined up/down)


enjoy!






RE: almost done....
By michal1980 on 9/6/2006 4:21:23 PM , Rating: 2
yup not for everyone yet. just for people with keys.

which I was dumb and did not get when pub beta 1 came out.

will download, and wait for the new pub keys next week.

i'm actually kind of excited.


RE: almost done....
By ProviaFan on 9/6/2006 4:28:33 PM , Rating: 2
I'm downloading the 32 bit ISO in Firefox, and while the speed fluctuates, I'm seeing around 800KB/sec currently. Of course, that's on a university network connection, so it might not be a fair comparison.


RE: almost done....
By Souka on 9/6/2006 6:05:43 PM , Rating: 2
well odd for me then... tried via http couple of times....pathetic performance. used download manager, 40 min per iso, both within 1 hour.

maybe my net admin restricts http transfer speeds... although I did just pull down the vista pre-rc1 via http last week at 1.1MB/s via http.




RE: almost done....
By w1cked J on 9/7/2006 11:30:23 AM , Rating: 2
I am getting about 3045KB/sec here with the download manager so shouldn't take to long, lol. :)


X-Fi
By Tebor0 on 9/6/2006 6:44:56 PM , Rating: 2
As usual don't expect working drivers for your X-Fi cards. :(




RE: X-Fi
By Targon on 9/6/2006 7:20:41 PM , Rating: 2
Because Creative Labs has the worst driver support in the industry. Sad but true.


RE: X-Fi
By snyper256 on 9/6/2006 7:45:20 PM , Rating: 2
You're right.. but there are drivers for Beta 2 and they work with RC1, though the installer says the driver expires next month. Or something to that effect.


RE: X-Fi
By stubeck on 9/6/2006 8:38:42 PM , Rating: 2
My card works fine, not sure what your issue is.


RE: X-Fi
By Targon on 9/7/2006 7:40:57 AM , Rating: 2
When Windows XP first came out, and for over a year after it's release, Creative Labs refused to support the Sound Blaster Live series of cards under Windows XP. There were some unofficial drivers out there, but Creative Labs themselves refused to support the cards which were only one generation back at that point(Audigy cards were the current, Live were the previous).

After not just a month or two delay in support but over 1.5 years worth of delays on Windows XP, many people who were burned by Creative have very little respect for Creative Labs, and even less faith in their being ready to support the new OS.

Further, many companies with a good track record havn't posted drivers for Vista at this point, with very little industry support for the 64 bit versions of XP and Vista, so companies with a bad track record are suspected of not having drivers ready for at least 6-8 months after Vista is released.


Open to everyone?
By Desslok on 9/6/2006 3:49:16 PM , Rating: 2
I get a page that it is only open to CPP members at the moment when I try and get a key.




RE: Open to everyone?
By Digobick on 9/6/2006 4:07:33 PM , Rating: 2
If you weren't involved in the Beta 2 CPP, you'll probably have to wait until next week before new keys are available.


RE: Open to everyone?
By Souka on 9/6/2006 4:10:42 PM , Rating: 2
click on the "
quote:
opened the doors to anyone that wants to take a test drive
" link.... there are no restrictions on who can download.

But... you will need a valid s/n# to use....


RE: Open to everyone?
By ChronoReverse on 9/7/2006 2:44:37 PM , Rating: 3
Uncheck the box "Automatically Activate" and you'll be able to install without a serial key. You'll get 14 days.


a little confused..article misleading
By LumbergTech on 9/6/2006 7:58:36 PM , Rating: 4
the article states that anyone can get a key ..and then you cant..im a little confused as to what they were thinking with this? its obviously not open to everyone..




By stubeck on 9/6/2006 8:40:06 PM , Rating: 5
If you don't already have a key you're screwed, its just another horrible typo in a DailyTech article, they seem to have to post stuff so quickly they forget about reading it beforehand.


keys and disks
By judasmachine on 9/6/2006 4:47:11 PM , Rating: 2
the first public beta, i ordered the disks. my questionis this, will the previous key work (which it looks like it will), and will they be sending out disks?




RE: keys and disks
By tubaTripper07 on 9/6/2006 4:51:32 PM , Rating: 2
Keys from the beta will work but as fas as releasing RC1 on discs, I have no idea.


RE: keys and disks
By johnsonx on 9/7/2006 12:04:49 PM , Rating: 2
Quoth the e-mail I got from Microsoft this morning:

quote:
(If you ordered a DVD kit for Beta 2 you will receive a new DVD kit containing RC1 in approximately 2-4 weeks.)



RE: keys and disks
By judasmachine on 9/7/2006 4:12:52 PM , Rating: 2
I just got that email too, thanks. I downloaded it, but it looks like i'll get some disks too, cool.


why pre-rc1 then?
By johnsonx on 9/6/2006 10:10:59 PM , Rating: 3
In light of this 'official' RC1 being released, why did Microsoft bother with the Pre-RC1 only 9 days ago? Surely they knew RC1 would drop within a week or two. Downloading and installing the pre-RC1 was a big waste of time.


Oh, a side note: for anyone with a laptop that uses the Alps Glidepad, like my Dell i6000, the XP driver from Dell's website works fine; Vista will say the program doesn't work, but I just clicked 'Run Program' and it works fine. I have my scroll bars and gestures back.




RE: why pre-rc1 then?
By Souka on 9/7/2006 2:25:15 AM , Rating: 2
pre-rc1 was a limited release... last minute data collection for MS and a headstart for those who are anxious to test apps



RE: why pre-rc1 then?
By johnsonx on 9/7/2006 1:58:01 PM , Rating: 2
What I mean is why did MS bother making Pre-RC1 available to the larger public? I know they release numerous builds of Vista to the beta testers, MSDN, and etc., but it seems if they were going to let us have RC1 on Sept 6th, why bother with Pre-RC1 on August 29th? Since RC1 actually went out on Sept 1st (to the more private audience), the August 29th public release of Pre-RC1 can't have had any effect whatsoever on what was in RC1; in other words, Build 5600 was final well before Build 5536 was released to the public.

I suppose it's just a case of two different departments making decisions that don't make total sense when viewed together.


Great!
By chryo on 9/6/2006 7:19:42 PM , Rating: 2
downloading through the akamai download mgr and getting around 900K through comcast




RE: Great!
By snyper256 on 9/6/2006 7:48:32 PM , Rating: 2
Wow, that's very nice. I was able to get up around 1.2MB/s on Shaw (Canada). Microsoft's servers are handling this well. =p


RE: Great!
By cdrsft on 9/6/2006 8:59:28 PM , Rating: 2
Canadians have internet?

JK... getting 1MB/s just outside Toronto...


By erios999 on 9/6/2006 7:49:05 PM , Rating: 3
Anyone? Anyone?




By Digobick on 9/6/2006 10:03:03 PM , Rating: 3
Some sites out in the community have begun posting links to the Customer Preview Program (CPP) download of Windows Vista RC1. Before you jump up to get your own download of RC1, please bear in mind these facts:

If you previously registered for the Windows Vista Beta 2 Customer Preview Program and received a product key (PID), that key will work for the Windows Vista RC1 release as well. You need not re-register; you will need to download the RC1 ISO image, however. Microsoft has just today begun sending download links via email to previous Customer Preview Program participants who registered for Windows Vista Beta 2 back in June. Not all emails are being sent simultaneously, so there may be a few hours' delay in delivery of yours.

The Customer Preview Program has yet to open back up for new registrants. Therefore, if you do not already have a PID and were not part of June's Beta 2 CPP, you will need to wait until the CPP opens to the public in order to register for a PID and install RC1. I expect that this will occur in the very near future, so keep watching this blog.

In other words: if you choose to download RC1 now and weren’t part of the Beta 2 CPP in June, you must wait until the CPP is opened to the public before you'll be able acquire a PID that will enable you to install RC1.

Please be mindful of the above when making your decision to download.

Source: http://blogs.technet.com/windowsvista/default.aspx


RE: X-Fi
By DragonFire on 9/6/2006 9:49:55 PM , Rating: 2
No, When it comes to Vista drivers, Logitech would be far worse then Creative. Logitech refuses to release beta drivers for any of there hardware. At least Creative tried getting a working driver out.




RE: X-Fi
By Chaser on 9/6/2006 9:56:46 PM , Rating: 2
The C.L.s Vista drivers on their website worked fine for my Extreme Gamer X-Fi card and RC1.


RE: X-Fi
By Chaser on 9/6/2006 10:17:07 PM , Rating: 2
My bad. I meant build 5536 not 5600.

We shall see.


download?
By croc on 9/7/2006 5:10:05 AM , Rating: 2
Can't get a download started. I get the 'you will be presented with a security' blurb, then mt akamai DL manaager shows up, then everything disappears....


I think I'll maybe remove the old dl manager and try again.




RE: download?
By jeffbui on 9/7/2006 8:12:42 AM , Rating: 2
Just use the http download. It worked fine for me. I couldn't ever get that download manager to work.


RE: download?
By jebo on 9/7/2006 9:45:33 AM , Rating: 2
Yep...no luck getting the download manager to work here either, though I'm at work and who knows what overbearing measures they have taken to keep the kids like me off the internet :)


64 bit version
By restrada on 9/6/2006 4:04:22 PM , Rating: 2
Anyone know how much disk space the 64 bit uses after installing? Also will be pre RC-1 key work on this install?




RE: 64 bit version
By Digobick on 9/6/2006 4:08:10 PM , Rating: 2
Beta 2 keys and Pre-RC1 keys should work fine with this install.


Upgrading from beta2
By nazman on 9/6/2006 8:00:30 PM , Rating: 2
1. If i got beta2 can i just upgrade my version? or do i have to download the full iso? (here in oz we still in the dark ages of broadband 512k)

2. Also after june 07 will ms give their beta testers upgrade version prices to get in to get the final version prices? probably not hey




RE: Upgrading from beta2
By althaz on 9/6/2006 8:36:38 PM , Rating: 2
1. You'll need to download the whole thing. Gunna take a while on 512k though. I'm looking at about four and a half hours on Internode 1500k (158K/s). I'm pretty happy with that considering the theoretical limit of my connection is 187.5K/s. Obviously the limit will be your connection, rather than Microsofts :)

2. Certainly not. However, if you have a legit version of XP, you'll be able to get the upgrade version. Or from somewhere like MSY the OEM version should be available for not too much more than XP Pro goes for at the moment :)


upgrade
By lealwai on 9/7/2006 12:13:41 PM , Rating: 2
just wondering, does this release support an upgrade from beta 2, or do i need to reformat again to install it. i was hoping not, since i was kinda settling into my beta 2 install...




RE: upgrade
By johnsonx on 9/7/2006 1:38:49 PM , Rating: 2
while I have not done so, as far as I can tell you can just do an upgrade from Beta 2 (just insert the DVD while running Beta2). Somewhere I read a note that said you needed to do Windows Update on your Beta 2 install before starting the upgrade. I don't recall exactly where I read it, but I'm 99% sure it was a note from Microsoft that pertained specifically to upgrading a Beta install to RC1.


vista keys?
By johnsonx on 9/7/2006 7:08:31 PM , Rating: 2
Anyone know how to get a key that will install and activate the Business version of Vista? I got two keys when the CPP was open for Beta 2, and near as I can tell they both seem to be for Vista Ultimate. I don't recall having a choice when I signed up.

I'm so happy with RC1 on my laptop that I'm thinking of upgrading one or two of my desktops to Vista (from XP Pro). But I'd rather install Vista Business, as that's the version I'd most likely purchase. I get the idea that if I put Vista Ultimate RC1 on my comps now, I'll be forced to buy Ultimate when it comes out or do a clean install of Business. Granted there's a good chance I'd want a clean install anyway, but I'd rather retain the option.

Anyone know?




RE: vista keys?
By johnsonx on 9/8/2006 12:45:20 AM , Rating: 2
Ok, for me specifically my question turns out to be a never-mind. I have a Dell Photo AIO 942 printer on the PC I wanted to upgrade to Vista (it came free with my Dell laptop), and I can't get it to work with Vista (tried the XP drivers from Dell - with some hitches they install ok, but no luck trying to actually print).

If I can't print, then there's no point in upgrading. I guess Vista will have to be just a toy until updated drivers come out.

(I suppose it's possible that the printer would work if it was already installed and working on an XP install that was then upgraded to Vista, but I'm not sure I feel like going thru all the trouble if I don't know it will work)


activating RC-1
By HammerFan on 9/7/2006 8:12:57 PM , Rating: 2
You can call Microsoft to activate RC1 if you don't have a key. that's what i did for build 5536 (that's what i got when I d/l'ed from the first group of 100k) and that's what i will be doing for my copy of RC1 ultimate 64bit

just my $.02
HF




By Chillin1248 (blog) on 9/13/2006 12:52:45 AM , Rating: 2
Go here:

http://www.jkg.in/34-how-to-obtain-the-windows-vis...

And follow the onscreen instructions.




"Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment -- same piece of hardware -- paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be." -- Steve Ballmer

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