Doesn't surprise me..

Well, MS is only downloading 2.5 million copies of this beta.

And 7000 is not the version that MS is using for this public beta.

Apparently the site crashed before 2.5 was hit. At least thats the indication I get from the Windows Blog + Technet site.

But you can still download it, just need to visit that site to get the activation code (when it works) to make it last until Aug 09 (or thereabouts).

http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/ -> 7000.0.081212-1400 <-

Says 7000 there at least.

Edit: Of course, it could be the wrong link. Luckily this connection is so fast download an updated version should pose no problem (As long as it stays up)

When the sky falls down.

LET THE RAIN CLOUDS COME!

Long, long before... the link was active only for about 20 minutes or so before the severs went under, so there should still be a majority of the 2 1/2 mill left.

Oh, and the torrent with the crack... MS was made aware of it by someone at the blog site, so it probably is no more by now... and a good thing too.  Anyone who gets cracked software is cracked in the head.

Well, that means that unless you're lucky enough to be one of the 2.1mill who managed to download and get a valid license key.. e.g. luck, "you" are cracked in your head if you get it working through other means (it will still time out Aug09)

I'd rather see them open up the CPP for everyone (no limitation) and accept all the feedback submitted through the nice little feedback buttons than just the first 2.5. Still their decision and we'll see how it works out in the end.

Regarding 'crack'. I misspoke and meant "patch". Crack has such negative connentations, and for this issue it really is just a patch to fix an issue that the user might dislike. Just as you have cdpatches to avoid using dongles etc. when you want to play a game.

* still refreshing Windowsbeta waiting for a key *

Personally, I think the whole thing is just one big publicity stunt to make W7 look even more inviting... I can see it in the papers tomorrow: "Microsoft Severs Crash Under Consumers Demand For Its Newest OS"

What else could they expect... advertising 2.5 million beta licenses, knowing 40 mill would be clamoring to get this 'endangered species' before it is gone forever.

The ISO download links are still active yet they do not appear on the W7 page... and the license key page is also active, despite it being frequently busy and often displaying an error page, there are quite a few people who report getting through after a few refreshes and sailing through the key registration process without a hiccup. Thus it would seem, if the 2 major components are working, the taking down of the links from the W7 page is not what Microsoft is saying it is.

Furthermore, I find it hard to believe that MS will adhere to the 2.5 million beta licenses Worldwide.  That's less than .05% of the population and thus would severely limit its veiwability and word of mouth advertising from beta testers.  Nope, I can't see Microsoft making it a virtual cellar dweller when it can really show it off to the World by puttings it on tens of millions of PC's... a showcase in situ, so to speak.

Besides, the same or similar thing was said regardingt the Vista public beta, and going by the announced cutoff, I and hundreds of people I know should have missed out... but we didn't.... even several days later and before the MS announcement to extend the Vista beta.

To be blunt, the entire thing was handled very shoddily, at best.  Even IF the server crash were true, Microsoft had enough time and expertise to have implement measure to have prevented it.  Worse still, there are hundreds, if not thousands of people waiting it out on the W7 page and blog site, yet Microsoft is playing its cards very close to its chest and is not giving out any indication when activity may resume... not even a ball park estimate, which isn't pleasing the many who have been trying to download the beta since 12 noon US Pacific Time yesterday.

It's said that any publicity is good publicity, but I can see Steve Jobs rubbing his hands all the way to the bank on this one.  MS detractors and Gates haters are more likely now to go with OS-X after this fiasco.  It was handle poorly and MS seems to care little for those who have waited almost 24 hours now... and still nothing on the W7 page to give them even the slightest encouragemment.  Yup, MS will lose past AND undecided customers over this um... creating an artificial bottleneck to give the false impression a larger majority wants W7 than actually does.

Sure I want Windows 7 to evaluate prior to purchase if I like it, but if MS are still stuffing people around when I next try to obtain a lisence key, I simply won't bother at all.

I've skipped Vista and have every intention of skipping whatever Windows 7 is. I suppose that by the time Windows 8 rolls around then it probably will be time for a change but until then I really don't care to thrash around and make a change every time M$ decides it needs the revenue from a new OS rollout. Every 3rd OS has been my metric for the last 20 years or so, I see no point in suddenly changing my MO.

I think that's some grandios posturing on your part Stark.  I don't think MS is really going to lose customers over this.

Yeah, probably.... I was frustrated and mightily pissed off that it had been 22 hours since I first tried to download and obtain the license key, so I sprouted off to make myself feel a little better.

Besides, you oughta know me by now... if there isn't a conspiracy happening, I'll create one.

Anyhow, stripe me roan, tickle me pink with a dodo feather and call me grandpa... anything so long as it ain't late for breakfast, I GOT IT, my d/l of W7 x64 and the license key. YIPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

I thought that I'd give it one more go before turning in, so refreshed the page half a dozen times and voila... the license key page appeared before me, almost like Angelina Jolie in a skimpy negligee (orright, so I'm tired), it was that beautiful to behold.  Nah, but it sure gave me a sense of satisfaction after trying for so long.

Yeah, so there I was jumping aroung with glee in my puter chair,  and it dawned on me... I don't got any blank DVD's to burn it to.  I used the last one on Thursday to put some home movies on.  Never mind, I should be getting to bed anyhow... all that burning and installation stuff can wait 'til morning after I've been dow the street to pick up some DVD's

As for an apology to MS'? Fergit it!  It is, after all, MS' fault that I'm too tired to figure that bit out.  Hehe, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Oh yeah, good to see ya, M1.

Ah, thanks for the headsup with the key workaround.
Some more google-fu and now I got the key as well.  Guess its installation time

@Starkers: Might be possible to just extract the .iso file and install it from a directory. At least thats how I installed Vista x64.

Edit: In the past the installer has copied the files required, then rebooted and run from those, so the CD was not required.

Yeah, thanks for that, instant, I'll keep that in mind for if I don't get up in time and miss the shops.

However, I'd prefer to install from disc... and I'll have to burn the files to disc anyway, so I may as well do it that way... I'll just write a note for my daughter to pick me up some DVD's while she is down the street to get some supplies.

Starkers, I feel you man, I feel you.  I've been trying to get a key forever.  Butch hooked me up.