Windows Vista Build Beta 2

On Wednesday, Microsoft made the Beta 2 version of Windows Vista available for public consumption. The release will be the biggest test yet for the company's next-gen operating system.

Microsoft is counting on at least two million Windows enthusiasts to sign on to help work out any remaining kinks in the software. The plan is to finish the public-testing phase in a few months -- in time to get the OS ready for its November launch for business customers and its January launch for consumers.

Those participating in the public tests will be able to use Vista for up to one year before having to purchase a copy.

What To Expect

The Beta 2 version is an important milestone in the development of any new Microsoft operating system. However, it is not a finished product. "If it was bug-free or truly complete, Microsoft would be releasing it to manufacturing and not to the beta program," wrote Steve Kleynhans, an analyst at Gartner, in a blog posting.

"Most of the really bad problems have been wiped out, but you will still see issues with fit and finish, quirky drivers, and the odd application failure," he noted.

Kleynhans warned not to expect the OS to work or perform as well as a final release and added that testers will need a "reasonably high tolerance for glitches" if they use Vista for daily activities. "You would be well advised to keep an XP machine close at hand for times when you really need to get work done," he wrote.

The volatile nature of beta software is part of the reason that Microsoft recommends that casual users should not participate in the public test. For those interested in participating in the test, installing the software on a spare computer might be the best option at this point.

Savvy Tester

When choosing the machine to use for the beta, test participants must make sure they use powerful enough hardware with plenty of RAM, said Michael Silver, another analyst at Gartner.

Silver pointed out that the minimum amount of RAM for running the Beta 2 is 1 GB, but he suggested using more than that because the beta is not performance-optimized. "This is beta software," said Silver. "Expect problems. Back up your data."

The software is available in 32- and 64-bit versions by download or by ordering a DVD for a small fee. Downloading the software can take some time because the files are huge. The English-language, 32-bit version, for example, is 3.13 GB.

Once the download is complete, the bootable ISO must be burned to a DVD and can then be installed. The software is available at www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/.

Kleynhans offered a strong admonition that testers should not use the Windows XP upgrade option that the Beta 2 offers because it can lead to installation problems.

"If all this sound like too much effort, then turn back now," Kleynhans warned. "Beta testing is not for you."