Updating to a new build

[ikilledkenny]

Hi everyone,

I'm relatively new to the forum, so this is kinda my "I'm new," post. I downloaded the Win7 beta back in January (build 7000). I have downloaded all of the updates that Microsoft has issued since then, but I am still on 7000. Can someone help me get the latest build? I thought I saw a build 7106 or something similar to that.

Thanks in advance, guys!

 

[swarfega]

I would avoid 7106 particularly as you're new and go with 7077. I don't know how much you know of the torrent scene but 7077 should be on all the popular sites by now.

 

[ikilledkenny]

I know how to use a torrent. I'm not willing to download something that's not directly from Microsoft. I've downloaded OSes from torrents before and regretted it.

 

[swarfega]

So far Ive downloaded 5 leaks and theyve all been fine. Other than that you'l have to wait until May for the next official build.

 

[ikilledkenny]

Ok, thanks for the help. I think I can wait for less than a month =).

 

[johngalt]

Honestly, since you are relatively new to Beta testing OSs that is the most logical choice.

 

[ikilledkenny]

I don't consider myself new. I've used the beta since it was release 4 months ago. I know where to look for bugs.

Anyway, I just enjoy having fewer bugs and a more stable system. I think that if these leaked builds were better than build 7000, than Microsoft would have put them up for download on their website.

 

[johngalt]

4 months versus my 10+ years of OS beta testing and 15+ years of general software beta testing is relatively new, is all I was saying.

In addition, there is the thread of the *number* of installs you have performed of the Betas....every time I have encountered something different, only the Laptop upgrades were the same each time.

 

[ikilledkenny]

I've only spoke computer for about 2 years.

That's longer than I've been alive.

 

[johngalt]

Trust me, then, there are numerous scenarios that you have not encountered yet that will make things seem a lot different.

As I said, you're a 'relative' novice, so wait until the next one comes out into the RC. If you prefer not to wait, look around for 7068 or 7077 as those seem to be the most stable builds thus far - but it also depends upon what you are looking for.....gaming versus multimedia versus programming versus general every day use- each task seems to have a particular build associated with it that excels at that task....

 

[curtjr4]

Question:

I downloaded 7077 from a torrent, and do I need to get a new serial number? If so, may someone tell me where and how? Thanks.

P.S. The OS is extracting to the hard disk right now for the installation muhahaha

 

[johngalt]

Answer - nope.

I have been using the same serial that I got from M$ since the day I DL'd build 7000, and it activates every single time.

 

[curtjr4]

Thanks! also, if I choose the "Upgrade", can I just overlap the current install? Im iffy as of now since my Windows 7 partition only has 2GBs left... so I need to remove aton of crap. But would it survice with only 2-3GBs on the drive?

 

[johngalt]

Yes, you can. Generally it is not suggested to do this as you'll be playing with fire - in that if you all of a sudden experience some weird glitch, you will never be sure if it is the new build or if it is due to the upgrade....

But plenty of folks are upgrading (myself included on my laptop as it takes way too much time to rebuild from factory defaults)....

On my desktop, with all my data on separate HDs, it is *easy* to rebuild using clean installs....

 

[Mark]

IMHO It takes just as much time for an Upgrade as it does a fresh install, yes the Upgrade does require less user input but doing a clean install guarantees that you will not have any of the problems you can have from upgrading from one BETA to another, which can sometimes lead to you having a fresh install anyway.

 

[johngalt]

ROTF - ummm, get this - my laptop has *oodles* of software pre-installed, and my laptop takes me between 4-6 hours to install all the apps and set everything up.

An upgrade took me less than 1.5 hours - with all settings intact.