Free Beta test for Vista

  • Thread starter Thread starter MoonDog
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M

MoonDog

Hi ... Awhile back maybe 3 or 4 months ago Microsoft was allowing to try out
Vista beta with license keys , I am just curious how long is that version
good for ? Reason as to why I am asking is because I did downloaded and
burned onto disk which I just now got around to installing it , Though I
see a messeage saying something about it being only good for 14 days , How
long are these free test version good for ? Thanks
 
Click on the Start orb, type "winver" into the Start Search box, and you
will find that your Vista will timebomb next Summer.
 
Hi ... Okay , I will give that a try tomorrow , You know I thought its good
until june 07 , One other question is it okay to install over xp ? Thx
 
You can install over XP...but just to warn you..the upgrade process with the
build you have is a little buggy..so BACKUP EVERYTHING that you want saved.
 
Thanks for that tip , Though it was the very first thing I did do , I know
with a beta there going to be some problems , Thanks
 
Do not "install over XP" with every bit of respect to Tom. We have
hundreds of threads here where people have hosed XP and we have to try to
rescue them and often the rescues although the best possible,aren't
successful. Either dual boot (works great and then if you have to fix either
of them from a no boot crash you can or use another box or HD if you have
one.

If you think I'm kidding, just do a search on this group or on setup and put
in the term XP.

CH
 
Vista does a clean instllation no matter what method you use. The
difference between and upgrade and custom installation is that with the
upgrade Setup moves your files and programs, installs Vista, then reinstalls
your programs and files. Remove anything that uses a software scanner, such
as antivirus and antispyware programs, and anything else that the
compatibility report says may cause issues.

Do NOT install Vista on a production or primary home computer. Period.
 
It isn't installing over XP that is the issue. Every Vista install is a
clean install anyway. The problem is the programs already installed when
the upgrade is done.
 
The 14 days is for activation.
Unless you activate, it will stop working regardless what the license says.
Once it is activated, you have the time as stated in the EULA and "winver."
 
I knew that, and that you know how all the ramnifications play out. But I
sensed someone new to using the Beta and thought it would maximize his
chance to do a clean install on some real estate he can stake out.

I ran across an interesting set of variations of upgrade installs the other
day. If I can find them I'll put them up somewhere.

CH
 
This has been parsed out really well by a lot of you guys. It's a "clean
install" in one sense. And you make a very good point as to the programs
already on board interfering. I saw much of that same thing with people
downloading IE7 stand alone onto their existing program loaded XP's and
running into the same type conflicts versus putting their IE downloads onto
a clean XP SP2 and then adding their programs one by one.

CH
 
It really is a clean install. In the upgrade scenario Setup moves
everything out of the way, lays down the image, installs the device drivers,
and then reinstalls the stuff it moved.
 
Hi ... What I am really doing ? Is getting a new hard drive , This is why I
waited awhile before installing Vista , Now that I am getting a new HDD, I
will reinstall my xp version with all my back ups back on a clean install/
drive , I will keep Vista on my original drive and see how it goes / like
..... Thanks everyone for your opinions
 
I theorize that where I ran into problems even after uninstalling Norton
SW2006, is that there are many old registry keys that are either invalid or
corrupt that are being moved into the Vista registry. I am sure there is a
default trigger set to "yes" when the system has a key or a .dll it doesn't
know what to do with, and has to decide whether to include it or not.

Just a theory.
 
I theorize that where I ran into problems even after uninstalling Norton
SW2006, is that there are many old registry keys that are either invalid or
corrupt that are being moved into the Vista registry. I am sure there is a
default trigger set to "yes" when the system has a key or a .dll it doesn't
know what to do with, and has to decide whether to include it or not.

Just a theory.
Click to expand...

NORTON

Arrrghhhhh!

As it happens I have found the most trouble free way to get Vista Beta
on my test box is to put a clean copy of XP in first then do an
upgrade with Vista.

I have had lots of problems with a clean install, its the hardware not
the software I suspect, usual test box all sorts of liberated bits and
bobs found lying about the place abandoned.

Jonah
 
I would mount your new hard drive as 0,0 so that the Vista boot folder is on
that drive in the XP root. That will make it easiest to manage. Vista beta
should, in my opinon, be on the second drive and not the first.
 
Hi ... Thanks and I agree , It is going to be my second drive , I going to
replace it with my new drive as the first drive with a clean install of only
xp ...
 
Just so you install XP first. If you are installing Vista x86 then do so
from the XP desktop. That will rationalize drive letter assignments in
Vista better.
 
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