View Full Version : Microsoft Windows Vista Beta 2 Public Preview
Singh400
08-06-2006, 12:07 AM
Microsoft has released Beta 2 to the public - Build 5384.4.
Go here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx) for more information.
In addition, once you install Windows Vista Beta 2 (or RC1) you cannot roll back to the previous operating system installation—you will either have to acquire and install the final released edition of Windows Vista or reinstall a previous edition of Windows.
Microsoft has released Beta 2 to the public - Build 5384.4.
Go here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx) for more information.
Nice one, shame the servers are overloaded at the moment. Still it gives me a chance to create a drive image to go back to just in case I don't like it.
Singh400
08-06-2006, 1:34 PM
Nice one, shame the servers are overloaded at the moment. Still it gives me a chance to create a drive image to go back to just in case I don't like it.Shoulda grabbed it yesterday was getting a steady 700kb/s.
Shoulda grabbed it yesterday was getting a steady 700kb/s.
Hehe, only found the thread today.
Singh400
08-06-2006, 1:44 PM
Hehe, only found the thread today.I can post direct download links, but they won't be any good without a valid product key.
Ah what the hell:
English:
32-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_EN_DVD.iso)
64-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_EN_DVD.iso)
German:
32-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/de/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_DE_DVD.iso)
64-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/de/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_DE_DVD.iso)
Japanese:
32-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/jp/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_JA_DVD.iso)
64-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/jp/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_JA_DVD.iso)
You can get your product key from here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx).
I can post direct download links, but they won't be any good without a valid product key.
Ah what the hell:
English:
32-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_EN_DVD.iso)
64-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_EN_DVD.iso)
German:
32-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/de/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_DE_DVD.iso)
64-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/de/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_DE_DVD.iso)
Japanese:
32-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/jp/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_JA_DVD.iso)
64-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/jp/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_JA_DVD.iso)
You can get your product key from here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx).
Unfortunatly the link for the 64bit English version just downloads a 14meg iso. I can wait until it's sorted though. Already got my key just can't download yet.
I can post direct download links, but they won't be any good without a valid product key.
Ah what the hell:
English:
32-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_EN_DVD.iso)
64-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_EN_DVD.iso)
German:
32-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/de/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_DE_DVD.iso)
64-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/de/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_DE_DVD.iso)
Japanese:
32-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/jp/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_JA_DVD.iso)
64-bit (http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/jp/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_JA_DVD.iso)
You can get your product key from here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx).
That's excellent! I got a key but it wouldn't let me download. It said the servers were too busy and I should try later. When I tried later it told me I had already had the maximum number of product keys and wouldn't let me download!
many thanks for the links:smashin:
Singh400
08-06-2006, 2:10 PM
Unfortunatly the link for the 64bit English version just downloads a 14meg iso. I can wait until it's sorted though. Already got my key just can't download yet.Yeah, alot of people have reported that must be a problem on Microsofts end.
Stiggy
08-06-2006, 3:53 PM
The 64-bit links have temporarily been removed!
I suppose there is nothing stopping you downloading it via Bittorrent now it is a public beta!
Singh400
08-06-2006, 4:53 PM
The 64-bit links have temporarily been removed!
I suppose there is nothing stopping you downloading it via Bittorrent now it is a public beta!x64 links still work for me, although the size of the downloads aren't correct.
Stiggy
09-06-2006, 6:01 AM
Can someone who has installed this please tell me exactly what build number it is?
It looks to me like M$ have pulled the plug on these links.
The 32bit ENG doesn't work for me any more.
I left it downloading when I went to bed with 4hrs to go. Got up this morning and there was an error report from my download manager and the link is more or less dead now.
barongreenback
09-06-2006, 8:46 AM
x64 links still work for me, although the size of the downloads aren't correct.
I'm getting just 13.7mb for the iso of the 64 bit edition. Any ideas why?
Singh400
09-06-2006, 10:39 AM
Can someone who has installed this please tell me exactly what build number it is?Build 5384.4 (winmain_beta2.060518-1455)
It looks to me like Microsoft have pulled the plug on these links.
The 32bit ENG doesn't work for me any more.
I left it downloading when I went to bed with 4hrs to go. Got up this morning and there was an error report from my download manager and the link is more or less dead now.Yeah, looks like the pulled the plug on the whole thing.
I'm getting just 13.7mb for the iso of the 64 bit edition. Any ideas why?Sorry mate don't know, I experience the same thing.
Tejstar
09-06-2006, 11:34 AM
Is this beta still open?
Singh400
09-06-2006, 1:16 PM
Is this beta still open?I suspect that will draft in more servers and re-enable the downloads again some time in the coming week.
Meanwhile, if you already have your product key. You can download the build from various torrent networks.
Those who are Official Beta Tester for Windows Vista can still download Beta 2 from Connect.
Uridium
09-06-2006, 1:44 PM
I suspect that will draft in more servers and re-enable the downloads again some time in the coming week.
Meanwhile, if you already have your product key. You can download the build from various torrent networks.
Those who are Official Beta Tester for Windows Vista can still download Beta 2 from Connect.
Or just use the CD from your MSDN subscription :thumbsup:
Seth Gecko
09-06-2006, 1:53 PM
I'm getting just 13.7mb for the iso of the 64 bit edition. Any ideas why?
Not a clue - I set mine going this morning at around 5:50 and got both 64 and 32 bit vers (at a steady 1.2mb/sec)
Singh400
09-06-2006, 3:35 PM
Or just use the CD from your MSDN subscription :thumbsup:Me thinks you mean DVD. :P
Singh400
09-06-2006, 6:33 PM
The downloads are back up, but they have disabled direct downloads. You have to go to here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx) and follow instructions.
WelshBluebird
09-06-2006, 6:40 PM
The downloads are back up, but they have disabled direct downloads. You have to go to here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx) and follow instructions.
I'm glad I got if before they disabled direct links lol.
Not sure if it still is - but when I tried yesterday the MS site was getting a battering, not even the vista site would load up. So I got the direct link from neowin, and started the download, and got my cd key today.
at 53% now - with about 3 1/2 hours left on my 1Meg connection. So should be up and installed by tomorrow midday.
Singh400
09-06-2006, 6:45 PM
For those who can't get the x64 version from Microsoft...
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Microsoft_Windows_Vista_English_32bit/1149728719/1
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Microsoft_Windows_Vista_English_64bit/1149728719/2
Enjoy!
ScoobyZ
09-06-2006, 9:10 PM
For those who can't get the x64 version from Microsoft...
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Microsoft_Windows_Vista_English_32bit/1149728719/1
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Microsoft_Windows_Vista_English_64bit/1149728719/2
Enjoy!
I still get access denied :(
Singh400
09-06-2006, 11:27 PM
I still get access denied :(The 32 bit works fine for me, it just the x64 thats playing up.
To all those who have x64 download size to be 14mbs
Turns out Internet Explorer can't downloaded that larger a file. You'll have to use Firefox or a download manager.
Reznor
10-06-2006, 12:15 AM
The 32 bit works fine for me, it just the x64 thats playing up.
To all those who have x64 download size to be 14mbs
Turns out Internet Explorer can't downloaded that larger a file. You'll have to use Firefox or a download manager.
That's not why.
It is because of the ISP you are using. People on NTL are having this problem, I read it has something to do with proxys. I don't what the exact problem with them are but using a download manager might solve this.
Singh400
10-06-2006, 11:31 AM
That's not why.
It is because of the ISP you are using. People on NTL are having this problem, I read it has something to do with proxys. I don't what the exact problem with them are but using a download manager might solve this.Well I read it was because IE can't handle such big files in one go. Whereas if the same people try a download manager or even in Firefox, it downloads fine.
eternaldark
10-06-2006, 7:37 PM
So anyone tried it out? have played with it previously but now that i have a valid serial I'm tempted to have this as my main install (have media centre edition as another partition so if necessary can use that for most things if vista doesn't run some software)
anyone tried the media centre functions of vista? is it a step up from XP media centre?
So anyone tried it out? have played with it previously but now that i have a valid serial I'm tempted to have this as my main install (have media centre edition as another partition so if necessary can use that for most things if vista doesn't run some software)
anyone tried the media centre functions of vista? is it a step up from XP media centre?
I put it on today and it seems ok but it uses way too much memory (I only have 512mb) and as such everything took ages to load. If I ever get any more memory I might give it another go but at the moment it runs to slow for me to be able to use.
eternaldark
10-06-2006, 7:44 PM
I should be alright i have 1.5gb mem, might do it tomorrow was going to just do an upgrade but its telling me to uninstall a pile of software first!
might just be easier to do a fresh install
Singh400
10-06-2006, 8:28 PM
So anyone tried it out? have played with it previously but now that i have a valid serial I'm tempted to have this as my main install (have media centre edition as another partition so if necessary can use that for most things if vista doesn't run some software)
anyone tried the media centre functions of vista? is it a step up from XP media centre?Yeah, installed it in VMware. Looking pretty good, only took me 20mins to install.
tezzer
11-06-2006, 3:36 PM
Guys,
I've been testing Vista since last Summer (have been a MCE beta tester for about 2 years) - Vista Media Center still has a way to go before it's finished. It's still very buggy and slow if you have 512 Mb. If you want to install the CPP, make sure you do it as a dual boot, and don't wipe your XP MCE install just yet....
Tezzer
Stiggy
11-06-2006, 4:36 PM
As this is the Entertainment Computers forum, I hope nobody minds if we steer the discussion towards the Media Center application in Vista.
I'm dual-booting my PC between XP MCE and Vista. as mentioned previously, the revised interface for Media Center takes a bit of getting used to! I seems to take me a lot longer to quit the application, as I now have to navigate to 'Settings' and choose Shut Down, rather than just pressing the Green Button, pressing left arrow and OK!
How is the new 'Movies' section supposed to work? Do you copy over files from DVDs?
Vista comes with its own MPEG codecs, and quality looks good - I'd say almost as good as PureVideo. I used DECCHECK to find the file is actually called MSMPEG2VDEC.DLL. I tried copying this file over to my MCE installation, but when I tried regsvr32 MSMPEG2VDEC.DLL it didn't work. Am I missing something here?
eternaldark
11-06-2006, 4:38 PM
Well i thought i'd be clever and install vista on my external HDD things went well till it rebooted and now get a funny error when i start up the pc, if i cancel the error i get my usual options ( dual boot xp/media centre)> i've deleted the partition vista was installed to, and cant find anything in the startup options and still the stupid error persists. :mad:
Singh400
11-06-2006, 6:07 PM
Vista comes with its own MPEG codecs, and quality looks good - I'd say almost as good as PureVideo. I used DECCHECK to find the file is actually called MSMPEG2VDEC.DLL. I tried copying this file over to my MCE installation, but when I tried regsvr32 MSMPEG2VDEC.DLL it didn't work. Am I missing something here?Your gonna be hard pressed to make any Vista file work on XP (excluding winsat.exe ofcourse)
Well i thought i'd be clever and install vista on my external HDD things went well till it rebooted and now get a funny error when i start up the pc, if i cancel the error i get my usual options ( dual boot xp/media centre)> i've deleted the partition vista was installed to, and cant find anything in the startup options and still the stupid error persists.Details on the error would help...
gosties
11-06-2006, 6:15 PM
How do you go about burning the ISO image.
Do You need to extract the file first before burning the iso.
I have winrar but is another tool required for the extraction.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Singh400
11-06-2006, 6:25 PM
How do you go about burning the ISO image.
Do You need to extract the file first before burning the iso.
I have winrar but is another tool required for the extraction.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
CheersGo into burning application and chose the option "Burn Image", select the vista iso, set the writing speed to something low like 2-4x and use good quality media. Then click "Burn".
Stiggy
11-06-2006, 6:26 PM
How do you go about burning the ISO image.
Do You need to extract the file first before burning the iso.
I have winrar but is another tool required for the extraction.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
You need to use something like Nero to burn a DVD from the ISO image.
gosties
11-06-2006, 9:09 PM
Cheers for the guidance, got the ISO working will install later.
Embarker
12-06-2006, 9:28 AM
i got the 32bit running on a toshiba portege laptop which can not do aero, but has 1gb of ram and seems to run fine, only driver issue is a bluetooth one so far. Will see if my usb dvb-t works later, so can check out the full MCE side.
Printing is much easier, most of the xp app i used still work as well, so may brave the 64 bit on on my mce machine at home.
The wifi side was alot quicker and easier to manage - so far looks like Vista is :smashin:
sturgeo
12-06-2006, 9:45 AM
do you just use the original MCE remote with the vista media centre? are there any compatability issues?
Stiggy
12-06-2006, 10:06 AM
do you just use the original MCE remote with the vista media centre? are there any compatability issues?
It seems to work fine for me!
eternaldark
12-06-2006, 10:38 AM
Managed to get Vista installed turned out the problem i was getting was due to a missing file winload.exe! anyway got it all running ok and mannage to set up a dual boot with XP media centre. But have a few niggles
Windows mail you would think to setup a hotmail account would be simple seeing as its microsoft but there no option to set up a hotmail account as i have no idea what the servers are.
Media Centre extender for the Xbox360 locked to region 1 aaarrghh WHY!! you think for a public beta they would address this quickly as Upgrading to vista for MCE functions is one of my main reasons.
Nero 7 does not work! cant get it to install, anyone had any joy?
Apart from that I do like it even though it takes a while to get used to the new layout etc
Norman
12-06-2006, 11:03 AM
Anyone had a chance to try the 64-Bit version yet? If so, whats compatibility like with 32-Bit Windows XP applications (if at all)?
Seth Gecko
12-06-2006, 11:08 AM
Anyone had a chance to try the 64-Bit version yet? If so, whats compatibility like with 32-Bit Windows XP applications (if at all)?
I installed it no problem, but hardware wise there's certain drivers missing for me to run all my hardware.
Thought I'd convince it to run Guild Wars, at which point it moaned about me having insufficient privilages. I checked and it said I had Administrator rights, so very bewildered there.
Other than that, it was pretty fast and stable. The only odd part is where it rates your PC. It gave mine a "3" but nothing was lower than 3.9 (a couple were 5.7/5.9).
Singh400
12-06-2006, 12:01 PM
Thought I'd convince it to run Guild Wars, at which point it moaned about me having insufficient privilages. I checked and it said I had Administrator rights, so very bewildered there.Theres a few new users groups in Vista UAC/UAP and Trusted Installers are a few of them, you may need to add the your user to those (or more) groups to get stuff running correctly.
Other than that, it was pretty fast and stable. The only odd part is where it rates your PC. It gave mine a "3" but nothing was lower than 3.9 (a couple were 5.7/5.9).I'm pretty sure it takes the average of all your scores, so 3 would be about right.
Seth Gecko
12-06-2006, 3:03 PM
I'm pretty sure it takes the average of all your scores, so 3 would be about right.
No it wouldn't be - a 4 would be average. As said, one was 3.9 the others were between 4.3 to 5.9.
wabbitt
12-06-2006, 3:19 PM
Well I downloaded the 32 bit version to try out the Media Extender capabilities of MCE and connect to my XBOX 360.
Why oh why didn't I read these forums first. The MCE is locked to region 1, and cannot connect to the 360. What a stupid decision from M$ considering this is a 'public' BETA.
I think I'll put back my Windows XP Pro to be honest.
If it wasn't for this one problem, I've found Vista to run pretty well (including the nice glass effect in Areo).
I'm getting a message saying i've already had 10 product keys. I know its because i'm on virgin broadband and they use a proxy. Any way to get around this?
Thanks
Singh400
12-06-2006, 4:18 PM
No it wouldn't be - a 4 would be average. As said, one was 3.9 the others were between 4.3 to 5.9.Maybe they round the score up/down and then they take the average :P
I'm getting just 13.7mb for the iso of the 64 bit edition. Any ideas why?
Same here. Tried in IE/Opera/Firefox and all give 13.7MB. I'm on virgin broadband which uses proxies. Is there anyway to get around this?
Singh400
13-06-2006, 11:09 PM
Same here. Tried in IE/Opera/Firefox and all give 13.7MB. I'm on virgin broadband which uses proxies. Is there anyway to get around this?Try a download manager? Like the one Microsoft suggest. Or a 3rd party one like IDM or FlashGet.
Failing that, order the DVD, and get the RC1 DVD for free when it becomes available.
andyr300
14-06-2006, 8:53 AM
Same here. Tried in IE/Opera/Firefox and all give 13.7MB. I'm on virgin broadband which uses proxies. Is there anyway to get around this?
use another proxy?so microsoft sees ur rpoxy rather than virgins?
dejongj
23-06-2006, 11:56 AM
I installed it Wednesday night on my main laptop, expecting it to have be wiped out again like previous versions...But no, it is amazingly stable, haven't had a single crash....I also installed the Office 2007 Beta and all is working great....
I had a little problem with my Keyspan USB server software, the installation didn't go well...But then all of a sudden I got a dialog box stating Vista recognised it didn't go well and whether I want it to try it in compatability mode...I said yes, and now that's working as well....
Only thing I couldn't get to work are:
CoreAAC, but I just told FFDShow to do AAC so not a big deal
I don't seem to be able to pair my Logitech MX900 mouse with the bluetooth but I had that problem in normal XP as well with the MS BT stack problem now is that the Dell BT stack doesn't install properly so I can only use the MS one....
But so far so good....
I just can't seem to find a definite answer on which USB Flashdrives are Readyboost compatible...I want to try that next....
Also, why did they have to make the MS Firewall so incredibly complicated and illogical to use....Might have a look whether Zonealarm works...