try windows 7 beta

So we can try this Windows 7 beta now, which is said to be better than Vista, and which we'll have to get used to anyway. Here a few tips which I may need when I find a machine to try it on, and which may help you too.

The official download seems to only work with IE 7, but if you get the direct link it does work normally. So with wget, that would be:

For the 32 bit version:

wget -c http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.ISO

And for the 64 bit version:

wget -c http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRE_EN_DVD.ISO

To have the beta working until August, you need a key. Apparently, there are only a few keys used:

7XRCQ-RPY28-YY9P8-R6HD8-84GH3

RFFTV-J6K7W-MHBQJ-XYMMJ-Q8DCH

482XP-6J9WR-4JXT3-VBPP6-FQF4M

D9RHV-JG8XC-C77H2-3YF6D-RYRJ9

JYDV8-H8VXG-74RPT-6BJPB-X42V4

4HJRK-X6Q28-HWRFY-WDYHJ-K8HDH

QXV7B-K78W2-QGPR6-9FWH9-KGMM7

6JKV2-QPB8H-RQ893-FW7TM-PBJ73

GG4MQ-MGK72-HVXFW-KHCRF-KW6KY

TQ32R-WFBDM-GFHD2-QGVMH-3P9GC

Possibly also useful:

• booting Windows 7 from a VHD file
  
• How to Install Windows 7 Beta on an Acer Aspire One Netbook
  
• A horde of geeks discussing it
• Windows 7 management features will make IT admins grin
• Deep inside the Windows 7 Public Beta: an in-depth tour