Microsoft postpones Windows 7 public beta
InfoWorld | at | by Mike
Microsoft postponed the roll-out of the Windows 7 beta Friday, citing "very heavy traffic" on its Web site.
Users who have tried to download the beta have been greeted with messages such as "Server is too busy" and "This site is currently experiencing technical difficulties, please check back in the next business day." The Microsoft spokeswoman did not know when users could expect to download the beta. "No ETA at this point," she said via a follow-up instant message.
Although Microsoft has said it would cap the number of Windows 7 beta activation keys at 2.5 million -- perhaps one of the reasons users felt a sense of urgency Friday about getting the download -- it is not expected to yank the download after that mark is reached. Users unable to obtain an activation key in the initial rush will still be able to download and install the beta, then run it under the operating system's 30-day trial.