Trying out Windows 7

Published on January 26th, 2009

Published on June 28th, 2010

If you are a real computer junky, you will already know that the Windows 7 Beta is available for download on the Microsoft website. Windows 7, the replacement/evolution of Vista was posted on Jan. 9 and will accept 2.5 million downloads.

A Beta is usually a fully functioning copy of some software that is nearing its final release. It is presented to a group of users to test, find problems and offer ideas on additional features or functionality.

Tech tips - If you are a real computer junky, you will already know that the Windows 7 Beta is available for download on the Microsoft website. Windows 7, the replacement/evolution of Vista was posted on Jan. 9 and will accept 2.5 million downloads.

A Beta is usually a fully functioning copy of some software that is nearing its final release. It is presented to a group of users to test, find problems and offer ideas on additional features or functionality.

The Windows 7 Ultimate Beta download is nearly 2.5GB. Once downloaded, you will have to burn the ISO to a DVD for installation. Like all Betas, this is not the finished product, so you probably don't really want to go installing it on the computer you use everyday. I would recommend you install it on a secondary machine, one you can work or play without.

The system requirements are 1GB of memory, 16GB free disk space, 1GH processor (can be 32 or 64 bit, and you will have to choose what edition you want when you download) and to enable Aero theme (you saw this in Vista), you will need a graphic card with 128MB of memory. Remember though, minimum requirements gives a minimum experience.

Installation is just like past experiences. You can upgrade if you computer is currently running Vista with SP1. Any other OS requires a clean install. The install went pretty quickly on the XP machine I was using. I didn't format the drive, just installed right over existing leaving data directories in place.

Believe it or not, all my device drivers installed (some I did have to do manually) and I was on the internet immediately after plugging in the nic cable. I should mention though the computer I was using came with Vista and I had downgraded to XP. In all honesty though, the install went much faster and smoother than I had expected. You can perform a multi-boot install if your computer has a second free partition.

Your installation key is provided as part of the download process (you will have to provide an email address and reply to an email), and is good until Aug. 1, if you register.

I am still playing with different software, but I must say, as I am writing this column I find myself somewhat impressed. Now, by next week, I may have chucked this computer right out the window, but so far so good.

toddmusseau@gmail.com