Windows 7 beta free-for-all

After being so overwhelmed with download requests on Friday that its servers froze, Microsoft made a smart move over the weekend. On Saturday, it removed restrictions on the number of Windows 7 beta downloads it would allow -- saying that everyone that wants one can have one through January 24. Redmond will not restrict downloads even if the total exceeds the 2.5 million cap it had set earlier, reports Computerworld.

Microsoft did not intend to ever prevent people from downloading the Windows 7 beta. Those that grabbed a copy after the first 2.5 million copies were gone would have had the beta under a 30-day free evaluation license. The story says:

"Rather than cap the number of beta activation keys at 2.5 million -- the original plan to limit the test pool -- Microsoft will instead make Windows 7 available for two weeks, though Jan. 24, said LeBlanc. If fewer than 2.5 million people request and receive activation keys during that time, Microsoft will continue to offer the beta until the limit is reached."

The company also apologized for the stalled servers that prevented users from obtaining the beta on the first day it was released.

Visit the Microsoft Subnet web site for more news, blogs, podcasts. Also see:

Windows 7: It's Still All About The XP Users
Why Windows 7 will crush Linux
Windows 7 news roundup -- skim this and be in the know
Microsoft Research projects to improve our lives
17 job-hunting resources for Windows pros

Subscribe to all Microsoft Subnet bloggers.
Sign up for the bi-weekly Microsoft newsletter. (Click on News/Microsoft News Alert.)

• Microsoft
• Windows 7
• Windows 7 beta