We invite you to be among the first to experience the clarity that Windows Vista can bring to your world. The Windows Vista Customer Preview Program makes a pre-release edition of Windows Vista Ultimate broadly available to the public for the first time.
Note: This is beta code and should not be used in a production environment or on a main machine in the home. Beta 2 is intended for developers, IT professionals and technology experts to continue or begin their testing of Windows Vista. Before you decide to use Beta 2, you should feel comfortable with installing operating systems, updating drivers, and general PC troubleshooting. Some risks of using beta operating systems include hardware and software incompatibility and system instability. If you have concerns about installing this beta software on your computer, we encourage you to obtain the final release version of Windows Vista when it is available in 2007.
If you decide to install Windows Vista Beta 2, we would like to thank you for taking the time to test the product. Your feedback is an integral part of our development process. Thank you for being part of the Windows Vista team!
This Beta 2 release is now available in three languages (English, German, and Japanese) and in 32-bit and 64-bit editions.
When you register for the Customer Preview Program you will receive the Beta 2 release plus Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) — the next major pre-release of Windows Vista — when it is available later this year. The information on this page pertains to both Beta 2 and RC1.
The Customer Preview Program is available in a limited quantity both through download and DVD kit ordering. Once the allotted quantity has been reached the program will be closed and no new orders will be accepted.
There are two ways to get Windows Vista Beta 2:
To get started, please choose one of the ordering options below and select your country or region. Then, we will ask you a few questions and register you for the Windows Vista Customer Preview Program. As a part of this program, you will receive an e-mail newsletter that will keep you up to date with information and tools to enhance your experience with Windows Vista Beta 2. (You can unsubscribe at any time through a link in the newsletter.)
No other installation scenarios are supported. Upgrading to this beta from any other edition of Windows requires a clean installation, as described in option 1. In addition, once you install Windows Vista Beta 2 (or RC1) you cannot roll back to the previous operating system installation—you will either have to acquire and install the final released edition of Windows Vista or reinstall a previous edition of Windows. Before installing Windows Vista Beta 2 on any computer, please remember to back up all your files.
Note: Please close any open applications before beginning an upgrade. During installation we recommend you have an active Internet connection and choose to “Go online to get the latest updates for installation.”
Choose this option to have the Windows Vista Beta 2 and RC1 DVD kits sent to your home or office. This option requires payment to cover DVD production, shipping, and handling costs. (Cost will vary by country based on local taxes and delivery charges.) The Beta 2 DVD kit will be shipped soon after you place your order; the RC1 DVD kit will be sent to you when it is available later this year.
To start the order process, please select your country or region from the following list. When you order please try to use a shipping address that will not change for the next few months to ensure you will receive the RC1 shipment. (Shipping is only available to the countries and regions included in this list.)
Update as of June 9, 12:00PM PST:
We are experiencing extremely high download demand at this time. The wait time to start the download is very long and many customers may be unable to access the download site. To guarantee participation in the Customer Preview Program (to receive both Beta 2 and RC1) we recommend you use the DVD kit order option above.
Choose this option to download Windows Vista Beta 2. The download is an ISO file of Windows Vista Beta 2, which is about 3.5 gigabytes (GB) for the 32-bit edition or 4.4 GB for the 64-bit edition.
You will need:
To begin, please select your country or region from the following list. Download times will vary based on your Internet connection speed. This table shows approximate download times at common connection speeds:
Connection speed: | Connection type: | Approximate download time: |
32-bit edition (3.5 GB) | ||
3.0 mbps | Fast Cable/DSL | 4.5 hours |
1.5 mbps | T1 | 9 hours |
768 kbps | Cable/DSL | 18 hours |
256 kbps | Cable/DSL | 54 hours |
64-bit edition (4.4 GB) | ||
3.0 mbps | Fast Cable/DSL | 5.5 hours |
1.5 mbps | T1 | 10.5 hours |
768 kbps | Cable/DSL | 21 hours |
256 kbps | Cable/DSL | 64 hours |
Before proceeding, please read the update above regarding high download demand.
Once you complete the registration process, we will send you an e-mail message with download instructions and a link for accessing the Windows Vista Beta 2 (ISO file) using a download manager. We recommend that you use the download manager as it will let you resume the download if your Internet connection is interrupted. (You will receive another e-mail message when RC1 is available.)
After completing the download, you will need to burn the ISO file to a DVD. This means you’ll need a DVD burner with appropriate software. If you are unsure if your DVD burning software will support burning an ISO file, please refer to your DVD burning software program and search “Help” for instructions on creating a disc from an ISO file. If you are still unsure about burning your own DVD, ordering the Windows Vista Beta 2 DVD kit might be a better option for you.
Here’s a summary of how to download, burn, and install Windows Vista Beta 2:
Tell us what you think
If there‘s something that you like or dislike in this pre-release edition of Windows, we want to hear from you. Please use this feedback form to share your opinions.
To help you explore Windows Vista, we have created a list of tasks for you to try. To access the list and provide feedback on your experience, visit the Windows Vista Scenario Voting site.