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Comments on: Windows 7 beta upgrade won't be easy

Microsoft says that it wants people to go back to Vista and upgrade from that to the upcoming "release candidate" version.

Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 4 of 4 pages (190 Comments)


by Breezy1601 April 10, 2009 4:15 PM PDT: MS could give a rat's a** about users upgrading/updating Windows. It's a lot of the reason that so many of us shiver at the thought of upgrading any Windows install. I've got a hundred gigs of pure software and I will not be sitting around re-installing it for a week and a half, much less getting it all to work again with various registry tweaks, etc. If it was just a simple matter of paying the money, running an upgrade, and then having the option to step back to the old version MS' counter sales would increase dramatically. Of course that's the point MS couldn't possibly care less about the end user experience.

Then there's the thing about finding a damn install disk. It's already a product you have to activate and register. Who cares how many install disks are out there .. unless that whole activation process is just one big scam.; Like this Reply to this comment

by RANGER 187 April 10, 2009 5:00 PM PDT

YES AS A VISUALLY IMPAIRED WW2 VETERAN , I LOOK TO CNET FOR A VARIETY OF INFORMATION AND DOWNLOADS. HOWEVER I JUST WENT TO PURCHASE A NEW GATEWAY COMPUTER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT GAURANTEE MY OLD 32 BIT SOFTWARE WOULD WORK. AND IF I BROUGHT THE COMPUTER BACK I WOULD HHAVE TO PAY A 15 % RESTOCK CHARGE AMOUNTING TO ABOUT 180.00 DOLLARS WHICH AS A PROUD VETERAN WHO HAS BEEN SOLD SHORT ALONG WITH MANY OTHER VETS I CANNOT AFFOR 180.00 JUST TO TRY THIER EUIPMENT .. I THINK THE SALES PEOPLE SHOULD BE INRELLIGENT ENOUGH TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS BEFORE I BUY ..SO AS I CANNOT AFFORD 180.00 RESTOCKING FEE AND CERTAINLY CANNOT AFFORD TO GO OUT AND BUY ALL NEW SOFTWARE ..I GUESS I AM STUCK. NOW I KNOW WHY THERE IS SO MUCH PIRACY IN SOFTWARE, WHO CAN AFFORD TO CHANGE AT THE WILL OF ONE OF THE RICHEST MEN IN AMERICA..TTHAK YOU AND IF YOU CARE TO REPLY I HAVE A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS IT IS STONE28@COMCAST.NET I BELIEVE YOU STILL HAVE ON YOUR RECORDS STONE28@VERIZON.NET????????. IF SO CAN YOU CORRECT IT THANKS A LOAD AND KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK FOR US LITTLE GUYS WHO ARENT ALL THAT COMPUTER SAVVY.. STATE COMMANDER DAVID STONE ..DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS ..STATE OF FLORIDA

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by Dr_Marten April 10, 2009 5:48 PM PDT: Yeah but if you risk using PIRATE software then be prepared to risk having your identity stolen or / and the contents of your bank account if you do any online banking. Some PIRATE software contains key-logger routines to steal your LOGIN details from the website(s) you may visit.; Like this


by d3vildog69 April 14, 2009 7:05 PM PDT: As a non impaired Vet... i can tell you that you don't need to type with caps....; Like this

by dark4ajaguar April 10, 2009 8:13 PM PDT

?/? O_o ?/? wha??? I'd like to recall the main reason I didn't install Window 7 beta -was a line in the terns- that said- - Installing this Beta version of windows 7- you are not able to revert back to windows vista after installing beta, and in August beta vrs. will not work- and you must upgrade to windows 7---

To upgrade you must return to Vista- but having beta- You can not return once installed??? IDK

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by Fil0403 April 11, 2009 4:35 AM PDT: You (obviously) cannot automatically revert back to Vista directly from Windows 7 Beta as if it was a simple "upgrade" (for obvious reasons). That doesn't mean you cannot simply uninstall the beta and install Vista again.

Capiche?; Like this


by Fil0403 April 11, 2009 4:38 AM PDT: Wow, you have to remove a beta product before you can upgrade, who would say?; Like this Reply to this comment


by littleM April 11, 2009 4:46 PM PDT: I have Windows 2000 on my Dell Dimension 4100, and it runs fine. It would seem that Windows 7 would be 1993 revs behind. What's with that?^); Like this Reply to this comment


by bse2dmd April 12, 2009 3:55 PM PDT: Nerds make me laugh. "Ohhh, my OS is better than yours! No mine is!. I know you are but what am I?!"
Use what you like, tell what's good about it, what's bad, and leave the other guy alone.; Like this Reply to this comment


by ClayFarrow April 12, 2009 5:00 PM PDT: Why are people "...relying on the pre-release builds of Windows 7 for mission critical and daily work..." when it's just a beta version? Microsoft and third-party developers, I could understand, but regular folks? Doing daily work on it? Doesn't make sense...; Like this Reply to this comment


by outacontrolpimp April 13, 2009 3:21 AM PDT: Basicly, they are saying, WE WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME MAKING THIS A RELIABLE SYSTEM RATHER THEN DEVELOPING A WAY TO UPGRADE FROM ONE BETA TO THE NEXT BECAUSE THAT IS HARD WORK. This is perfectly fine for me. They even posted a way to upgrade it, which just takes some extra work for you. But if your using the beta, you must be tech savy so it should be simple for you. Stop complaining about it.
Im using Windows 7 and its the best OS out there. Support it.; Like this Reply to this comment


by outacontrolpimp April 13, 2009 3:25 AM PDT: This is pre-release software, so please read the following to get an idea of the risks and key things you need to know before you try the RC. You don?t need to rush to get Windows 7 RC. The RC release will be available at least through June 2009 and we?re not limiting the number of product keys, so you have plenty of time. Watch the calendar. Windows 7 RC will expire on June 1, 2010. So if you install the RC release you?ll either need to upgrade to the final version of Windows 7 before that date, or install a prior version of Windows.; Like this Reply to this comment


by John01Racing April 13, 2009 8:16 AM PDT: I'll try it but I hope my computer doesn't crash if I try to upgrade it from Windows 7 to the candidate release version of Windows 7 and hopefully the release candidate has some improvements. I wish you Beta testers a good luck. MS haters please keep your stupid comments to yourself.; Like this Reply to this comment


by Crosshero April 13, 2009 10:46 AM PDT: I personally dual boot Ubuntu and Win7 Beta right now.

Plausible if you run XP to create a separate partition for the new Win7 Release

Or if all else fails... transfer all important files to external hard drive, clean install.; Like this Reply to this comment

by lankychris April 13, 2009 11:09 AM PDT

Two things:

1. NEVER upgrade an O/S, always do a clean install. After working in IT support and in the computer sales industry I have learned that it is always better to do a clean install. Yes, it is worth the extra money.

2. Stop with the Mac comparisons. I am an Apple Product Professional so I always have a Mac on hand, but I have to be honest, Macs are like Saabs or any other small market share European car company. There are quirks and characteristics that make them great. They have a devoted base, but when those fans argue time and again about how much better their product is than everything else they begin to sound like ****** bags. Nobody likes a ****** bag.

3. NEVER upgrade an O/S, always do a clean install. I know I mentioned this already, but I is worth mentioning again.

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by d3vildog69 April 15, 2009 1:47 PM PDT: Word, i love 1 &3 i tell people this all the time; Like this


by d3vildog69 April 15, 2009 1:47 PM PDT: Word, i love 1 &3 i tell people this all the time, just read 2 ... so ur whole comment is awesome.; Like this


by redspartan927 April 13, 2009 3:43 PM PDT: It wud be cool, if they let us upgrage to Windows 7 for fre and only who use vista...; Like this Reply to this comment

by fiberopme April 13, 2009 3:51 PM PDT

I got you all beat ! Build a Computer you want and pay very little for parts, install Linux Ubuntu and never have to worry about a thing, ever !!! I laugh at Mac & MS users.... You have no idea what you're missing. I'll never go back to a Mac or PC ever Again !

Like this Reply to this comment


by d3vildog69 April 15, 2009 1:49 PM PDT: I use ubuntu on two of my computers w/ a dual boot... i can say that without my windows i wouldn't have drivers for my wireless card on my ubuntu laptop. (I had no ethernet cords at the time)

I do love 8.10 though :); Like this


by DonJuan4565 April 13, 2009 7:15 PM PDT: I just don't get these people complaining about windows. I've been using Windows Vista for about 1 and a half years, and have had no problems at all. These guys that have been complaining just don't know how to use it, let me guess, they just download and run every .exe file that they find on the internet, install any add-on available from any website on IE, and have never cleaned up their PC's, all they have is junk installed, just pathetic.; Like this Reply to this comment

by kevinskrause April 15, 2009 6:03 AM PDT

D3vil,

I was simply expanding upon pi?s uninformed and generalized claims. I can?t even begin to count the number of comments I?ve seen where readers are seeking some analogous conclusions between BMW?s and the Mac/PC debate. There are none. By the way, I thoroughly enjoy my Mac; and while I?ve yet to try windows 7, I?ve been so traumatized by past experiences with Microsoft that it will take a long time before I can admit to any added benefits. In all honesty, unless we implement it at my place of employment, I highly doubt I?ll find myself in any situation to try it.

Like this Reply to this comment


by d3vildog69 April 15, 2009 1:53 PM PDT: Whoah, just saw the response. No worries dude. Just get tired of the car analogies.... sorry bro; Like this


by d3vildog69 April 15, 2009 1:54 PM PDT: You should try win 7 though, i think you would be impressed with how much has changed, i know i was very close to going only linux. But ill spilt with Win 7 / ubuntu and my Mac at work.; Like this


by sheimom April 28, 2009 8:34 AM PDT: I bought a brand new 64 bit machine and loaded win 7 beta on it, and still it sucks!; Like this Reply to this comment

Showing 4 of 4 pages (190 Comments)

About Beyond Binary

During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft.

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