Windows 7 deadline extended

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 26 Jan 2009 at 07:50

Microsoft has extended the download deadline for the first beta of Windows 7.

The company had originally planned to stop offering the beta at the end of last week.

Now it says trialists will have until 10 February to begin downloading the operating system. All downloads will have to be completed by 12 February.

Microsoft will continue to make product keys for the Windows 7 beta available after the 12 February deadline, so those who've downloaded the software can still install it.

Microsoft says it's extending the deadline because interest in Windows 7 has been so high. "The amount of feedback we have received has been amazing and continues to pour in," claims Windows communications manager, Brandon Le Blanc, on the Windows blog.

"We are at a point where we have more than enough beta testers and feedback coming in to meet our engineering needs, so we are beginning to plan the end of general availability for Windows 7 Beta."

Microsoft had originally planned to limit Windows 7 beta downloads to 2.5 million, but then decided to make it available to anyone who wants it, after an initial rush of traffic knocked the download website over.

Whether Microsoft has reached the 2.5 million target isn't clear.

Click here to read our 30 best features of Windows 7 feature