[Bryant]

Microsoft today released build 5536 to the public. Keys are not being handed out with this build, but those who are in the CPP and who have Beta 2 keys already should have no problem installing and running the build. The public download will close after the first one hundred thousand downloads, so go get it fast.

To help you in your endeavor, Akamai technologies is providing a download manager for those who wish to be able to pause, resume, or have other forms of control over the download. Of course, the build may still be downloaded directly without the Akamai download manager if you so choose.

View and download: Pre-RC1 Download Page (instructions on installing the akamai download manager inside the link. Both links available inside)
Source: in house

[XDude]

Did Microsoft gone crazy releasing a Pre-RC1 Build to the public?
or there's a reson for this?
Maybe to avoid people from using 5552.

[Bryant]

Only those with CPP keys or other Beta 2 keys can actually install this. I don't know why Microsoft didn't bother using some sort of download verification system for this, as I can see lots of CPPers being screwed by those who aren't in the CPP who download it and use some bootlegged beta 2 key.

[Kenta]

Yeah it's true.

From: "Windows Vista Team" <windowsvistacpp@microsoft.com>
Date: August 28, 2006 7:34:13 PM PDT
To: <>
Subject: Invitation to participate in Windows Vista pre-RC1 test program{~7104931:1~}


Invitation to participate in Windows Vista pre-RC1 test program

 
We would like to invite you to help test the latest build of Windows Vista. 

 
Thank you for participating in the Windows Vista Beta 2 Customer Preview Program (CPP). Your help is playing a critical role in improving the overall quality of what we believe is one of the most important OS advances in the history of PC computing. As a participant in the Beta 2 CPP, you will be able to download Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) as soon as it becomes available. 

 
In the mean time, we are inviting a limited number of CPP participants to help test a pre-RC1 build. Your timely feedback on this build will help us improve the quality of the final RC1 release that will be available to millions of customers in the coming weeks.

 
We are only making 100,000 downloads of this build available. As soon as we reach 100,000 downloads, the program will be closed. Participation in this program is not required for participation in the RC1 CPP. Whether or not you participate in this pre-RC1 test, we will send you another email message to alert you to the availability of the final RC1 build. 

 
After downloading, please install and test the build as soon as possible. Most importantly, if there is a crash, hang or error – please make sure that you send the information back to us using the built-in Windows Error Reporting technology. Sending this information is essential to helping us improve the overall quality of Windows Vista – and collecting this information is the primary purpose of distributing this pre-RC1 release. 

 
As with the original Beta 2 CPP, we remind you that this is pre-release software and you should not run this on production or mission critical PCs. Support will be limited to newsgroups, and you will have to do a clean install to move from this build to the final RC1 or RTM builds of Windows Vista. 

 
You will be able to upgrade an existing Windows Vista Beta 2 or Windows XP installation to this build. However you will not be able to get back to your original installation after upgrading to this pre-RC1 build – you will have to do a clean install in order to get back to your previous configuration. 

 
If you would like to participate in this program, here’s the download page:

 
[url="http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/prerc1/en/download.html"]http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/p...n/download.html[/url] 
Installing this build requires a valid Product ID. Please use the same Product ID that was provided to you when you signed up for the Beta 2 CPP. For your reference, here is that Product ID:

 

Thank you very much for your help in making Windows Vista great!

 
Sincerely, 
The Microsoft Windows Vista Team

 

Does this mean that we can share the resources?

[Bryant]

Yes it does. For this build anyway, resources can be shared, as announced in the updated windows vista resources announcement.

[winlonghorn06]

Bryant, on Aug 28 2006, 10:33 PM, said:

Microsoft today released build 5536 to the public. Keys are not being handed out with this build, but those who are in the CPP and who have Beta 2 keys already should have no problem installing and running the build. The public download will close after the first one hundred thousand downloads, so go get it fast.

To help you in your endeavor, Akamai technologies is providing a download manager for those who wish to be able to pause, resume, or have other forms of control over the download. Of course, the build may still be downloaded directly without the Akamai download manager if you so choose.

View and download: Pre-RC1 Download Page (instructions on installing the akamai download manager inside the link. Both links available inside)
Source: in house

Thank you so much for this. I have been dying for a build since beta 2. If the rep system gets working again, this is +7 rep in my book. I am not lying, I appreciate this more than you know.

[Absolution]

meh.. there's always RC2

[Aeden]

Ermac, on Aug 29 2006, 03:46 AM, said:

meh.. there's always RC2

Wasn't aware that was part of the plan....at least not for Vista Client. Longhorn Server still has Beta 3, and at least an RC1 release to go, but I've never heard a Microsoft employee mention "RC2" with regards to Vista.

[TheWinWiz]

Can I activate this copy with the beta 2 Key?

[Fuhrer]

The download page contents has dynamic change since it emerge,and it say:"This page includes information to help you download the RC 1 ISO file. "Two download link activation with both 32-Bit Edition and 64-Bit Edition.What was befallen?


Update:sorry,that was two different web link!
http://download.wind...n/download.html
http://download.wind...86/download.htm

[Aeden]

TheWinWiz, on Aug 29 2006, 06:29 AM, said:

Can I activate this copy with the beta 2 Key?

A legit one, from the CPP? Yes.

This post has been edited by Aeden: 29 August 2006 - 09:20 AM

[NetRolller 3D]

The second link (the one with both types of links) is a link to buld 5384, not build 5532. Both the x86 and the x64 link leads to the x86 iso (called akamai_temp.iso). It is located at http://download.wind...akamai_temp.iso (build 5384).

[sjohnson]

Edit: never mind

woot.

[NetRolller 3D]

Direct link to the pre-RC1 ISO: http://download.wind...cfre_en_dvd.iso

[Dylang3893]

the iso mounter says that the iso file is invalid (also the iso is only 907 bytes!)
i think theres somethin wrong here....