Thanks for the link!!!!

When did you all get the email?

Microsoft's Vista Blog site said that not everyone will receive the email immediately, however they will be emailing everyone that participated in the Beta 2 testing, in due time. They are sending emails in batches so as not to clog their servers.

If you still have your Beta 2 license # then use the link provided and download away!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Stardock/WC for providing us with that link!!!!

Speedy

P.S. I changed ISPs since the Beta 2 signup and would not have received the email linking me to this.......You saved me on this one!!!!!!!

I have yet to get the email , i used a torrent and just used my beta2 serial. Thank you ll for the account protection help

Just installed. It took about 25 minutes to install. Not bad compared to 40 minutes for windows xp. Now let's see if everything works fine

Next question : Does anyone know of any widgets/gadgets compatible with the Vista Sidebar ? Apart from microsofts own site...

I guess I don't quite understand how it is that the download page link is public, and yet MS says:

"Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) is now available for Customer Preview Program (CPP) participants only. If you are not registered but would like to receive RC1, the CPP will open to new participants in the coming weeks."

So, what's the deal here?

I'm downloading now.

Flawless... That's about all I have to say about that. I'll tell you what.. I was extrememly pessimistic over Vista.. But now running RC1 (Build 5600).. I can say, I'll be upgrading as soon as possible!...

May remember me mentioning about WMP 11 not importing all 80,000+ files I have, that is no more.. Running on Vista.. WMP 11 is flawless... And so is IE 7 (it seems)..

I'm soo impressed.. I said hell with it and did a Fresh install. I'm now running only RC1 on my system. And, I'm not upset about it in the least.. Hats off to Microsoft on this great OS.

It is very good but has nayone else noticed a slight lag in IE7 when drawing pages ?

So, what's the deal here

The Deal is; If you have a legitimate product key that you recieved from Microsoft, then you may download Vista RC1 and use it. If you did not participate in the the Beta2 testing though and have not received a legitimate product key, then you will have to wait for the CCP to open up.

Hope that explains it.

Speedy

The Deal is; If you have a legitimate product key that you recieved from Microsoft, then you may download Vista RC1 and use it. If you did not participate in the the Beta2 testing though and have not received a legitimate product key, then you will have to wait for the CCP to open up. Hope that explains it. Speedy

Well, that isn't entirely true. I didn't participate in Beta 2... And do not have a product key yet. But, I do have 30 days to HOPE CCP opens up. .. So yes, you can still use Vista RC1 even without the key.. But your version will be an Evaluation like mine. Seems I still have ALL features it has to offer.. But, if I don't have a key in 30 days I'm screwed. Lol.

your version will be an Evaluation

Yeah that's what i meant to add

Speedy

Ah it's cool speedy. I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on ..

But, seriously.. I will be screwed in 30 days if it takes 31 to get a serial.. Since I'm running it in a production environment.. lmao

perhaps I'm just too tired, but I'm not seeing where I sign up for the program. Is there a way to ensure that I get an activation key once MS 'really' opens this to the public. I keep getting the same link in all my searches, but I dont' see a registration or sign up link anywhere.

From the Microsoft site.

If you are not registered but would like to receive Windows Vista RC1, the CPP will open to new participants in the coming weeks. Please check this site periodically for updates.

I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on

Ah, so it was you I saw with the bolts in the side of your neck.....for a while there I was beginning to believe there was some truth to Frankensteins monster.

I just completed my download of RC1, but what a performance! Had the D/L running for 26 hours and only had 34% completed. Anyway, I stopped it for a few moments before resuming and got the remaining 66% in just over 2 hours. Guess I must've got on at an extremely busy time or something - then went out and to bed afterwards before realising just how slow it was going.

As yet I have not received an email regarding Vista RC1, but as I understand it, if I upgrade my existing beta 2 install and then put RC 1 over the top of it, I can use the product key MS sent me when I signed up for the beta to validate RC 1. Would that be correct, and if not, could someone please enlighten me as to how I do so? TIA.

Starkers, if you have a key from Beta 2,that is what you use. You don't have to wait for an e-mail.