Windows 7 beta slams shut

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 11 Feb 2009 at 08:34

Microsoft has called time on downloads of the Windows 7 beta, after unprecedented interest.

The Windows 7 beta download period was originally slated to end after only 2.5 million downloads, however demand for a first glimpse at the operating system brought servers crashing to their knees.

Microsoft responded by extending the deadline to 12 February. A notice on the website now reads: "Sorry, Windows 7 Beta downloads are no longer available. If your download was interrupted, you can still finish it."

Anybody still downloading the operating system has until 5pm tomorrow to finish, otherwise their download will be terminated.

However, the site is still offering access to beta keys for anybody who hasn't gotten around to registering their copy.

The beta has been a huge success for Microsoft, with Windows 7 riding a wave of goodwill following the criticism surrounding Vista. This success has prompted the company to announce that it's skipping further betas to go straight to the release candidate, though there's no indication as to when this will be released.

The software maker has cagily given us a January 2010 date for the official release, but given the speed of development thus far, the smart money could be on 2009.