Microsoft was forced to temporarily suspend downloads of the beta of its Windows 7 operating system late Friday after its website collapsed under the strain of what it called, 'high demand'.
It then remedied the situation by adding more servers. "We are adding servers as fast as we can add them," a Microsoft spokesman said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
By Saturday downloads had resumed and Microsoft said here that it would remove the 2.5 million download limit that it had originally placed on the Windows 7 beta and instead make the download available for two weeks up to 24 January.
"We have clearly heard that many of you want to check out the Windows 7 Beta and, as a result, we have decided remove the initial 2.5 million limit on the public beta for the next two weeks (thru January 24th). During that time you will have access to the beta even if the download number exceeds the 2.5 million unit limit," wrote Brandon le Blanc, a Windows Communications Manager for Microsoft.
Microsoft, the world's biggest maker of software, has said Windows 7 will incorporate touch screen technology and enable users to more easily personalise the system. It promised more user-friendly features, such as a new taskbar that previews all open windows from a single application by hovering over the program's icon.
To read IT PRO's take on the Windows 7 beta, click here.
-
Why Microsoft thinks diversity will keep security workers relevant in the age of agentic AINews Improved AI skills and a greater focus on ensuring agents are secure at point of deployment will be key for staying ahead of attackers
-
Microsoft: get used to working with AI-powered "digital colleagues"News Tech giant's report suggests we should get ready to work with AI, revealing future trends for the workplace
-
Microsoft angers admins as April Patch Tuesday delivers password feature without migration guidanceNews Security fixes include a zero day exploited by a ransomware group and seven critical flaws
-
Managing a late migrationOpinion When it comes to moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10, it's better late than never
-
How to set up a Windows 7 emulator for Windows 10Tutorials A complete guide for setting up a Windows 7 emulator for Windows 10 so you don’t lose access to your apps
-
The autopsy of Windows 7
In-depth Report of a postmortem examination
-
The IT Pro Podcast: Farewell Windows 7IT Pro Podcast We reflect on the legacy of one of Microsoft's most enduringly popular operating systems
-
Windows 7 ends: what do you do next?
In-depth From SMBs to big business and individuals, after 10 years it's time to move on from Windows 7
-
Windows 7 end of life: What to do if you haven't upgraded yetIn-depth Microsoft has now officially moved Windows 7 to end of life, meaning it's no longer a viable business platform
-
Windows 10 vs Windows 8.1 vs Windows 7 - Microsoft OS head-to-headVs We pit Microsoft's most popular operating systems against each other to see which is the greatest of all time
