Can you get windows vista for free?

i was browsing the microsof website for a windows vista beta downloa, and it
said if you have an msdn subscription you can download the beta, but thenI
found a place where you can download it without a subsctiprtion but it said
the vista beta is no longer available... where can I get the beta for free?

Also, Can I install it but keep all of my files? I am using wndows xp home
edition sp2.

Sorry, my Keyboard is acting up. It's supposed to say subscription, and I
think the rest is intelligible enough.

"techdude" wrote:

> i was browsing the microsof website for a windows vista beta downloa, and it
> said if you have an msdn subscription you can download the beta, but thenI
> found a place where you can download it without a subsctiprtion but it said
> the vista beta is no longer available... where can I get the beta for free?
>
> Also, Can I install it but keep all of my files? I am using wndows xp home
> edition sp2.

The Customer Preview Program is closed. Use your MSDN subscription.

You must plan on losing all files on the computer upon which you install
Vista. It is beta software and there is no provision for rolling back to
XP. Do not install Vista on your primary home computer or on a production
computer. Even if you install Vista to a second partition or hard drive you
risk loss of your files. Please take the time to scan this newsgroup for
the hundreds of threads concerning folks who thought they could get away
with ignoring these cautions and what a pickle they got themselves into.

"techdude" <techdude@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F4D71BCD-4D20-461F-841E-B2913EDF7F49@microsoft.com...

> Sorry, my Keyboard is acting up. It's supposed to say subscription, and I
> think the rest is intelligible enough.
>
> "techdude" wrote:
>

On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 16:54:13 -0600, "Colin Barnhorst"
<colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote:

>The Customer Preview Program is closed. Use your MSDN subscription.
>
>You must plan on losing all files on the computer upon which you install
>Vista. It is beta software and there is no provision for rolling back to
>XP. Do not install Vista on your primary home computer or on a production
>computer. Even if you install Vista to a second partition or hard drive you
>risk loss of your files. Please take the time to scan this newsgroup for
>the hundreds of threads concerning folks who thought they could get away
>with ignoring these cautions and what a pickle they got themselves into.

Been fine for me. Installed it on my home computer as an upgrade. All
went well.

Read the hundreds of posts on the Vista newsgroups from people asking for
help because all did not go well. Also, Vista beta will timebomb and
Microsoft warns that transitioning to Vista final may require a clean
install of Vista.

It is irresponible to suggest to another that all will go well when
Microsoft is warning folks in the CPP not to install Vista on a production
machine or primary home computer.

"Evan Platt" <evan@theobvious.espphotography.com> wrote in message
news:6pd8c25qak5jf8vrofj66hktlf2ki3k9ge@4ax.com...

> On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 16:54:13 -0600, "Colin Barnhorst"
> <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote:
>

>
> Been fine for me. Installed it on my home computer as an upgrade. All
> went well.

It's too late to get Windows Vista Beta 2 for free, because the Windows Vista
CPP Program has been Closed since June 30th, 2006, Just FYI.

P.S. If you sign up to be a MSDN Tester (OS Level and Higher), you will get
access to not only Windows Vista Beta 2, but also Windows Vista Build 5472 as
well, Just FYI.

"techdude" wrote:

> i was browsing the microsof website for a windows vista beta downloa, and it
> said if you have an msdn subscription you can download the beta, but thenI
> found a place where you can download it without a subsctiprtion but it said
> the vista beta is no longer available... where can I get the beta for free?
>
> Also, Can I install it but keep all of my files? I am using wndows xp home
> edition sp2.

On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 15:38:01 -0700, techdude
<techdude@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>i was browsing the microsof website for a windows vista beta downloa, and it
>said if you have an msdn subscription you can download the beta, but thenI
>found a place where you can download it without a subsctiprtion but it said
>the vista beta is no longer available... where can I get the beta for free?

Try and find a torrent, there were some about. You need to register
with MSFT to get a key though but you probably cannot do so now as its
closed.

>
>Also, Can I install it but keep all of my files? I am using wndows xp home
>edition sp2.

Er no - put it on a separate drive or preferably a test box otherwise
it will end in tears.

Jonah

Jonah, are you ever tempted to say "If you have to ask..."?

"jonah" <jonah123@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:0smac2de5s6r13341u3lincrcce0e0mpsm@4ax.com...

> On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 15:38:01 -0700, techdude
> <techdude@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>

>
> Try and find a torrent, there were some about. You need to register
> with MSFT to get a key though but you probably cannot do so now as its
> closed.

>
> Er no - put it on a separate drive or preferably a test box otherwise
> it will end in tears.
>
> Jonah
>

On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 18:08:50 -0600, "Colin Barnhorst"
<colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote:

>Jonah, are you ever tempted to say "If you have to ask..."?

Nahh its fun to string em along a little bit and they may learn
something.

8-)

Jonah

>
>"jonah" <jonah123@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:0smac2de5s6r13341u3lincrcce0e0mpsm@4ax.com.. .

>