Microsoft: Some Free Vista (+SP1) to Go Along with the Free XP SP2 Downloads?
Free downloads of Microsoft's operating systems have been made available throughout 2007, and the Redmond company is ready to take it one step further.
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5.2.2008 Free Windows Vista and XP SP2 Downloads Updated and up for Grabs
This week, Microsoft has updated the set of offerings which permit end users to access free copies of Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2.
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21.3.2008 Free Windows 7 Downloads Discontinued
The free Windows 7 ride is now truly and indisputably over! And, if you have failed to get on board this far, chances that youll be able to do so moving onward are very slim. On August 20th, 2009 Microsoft discontinued the free downloads of Windows 7 Release Candidate Build 7100.
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21.8.2009 Windows Server Evaluation Editions Free Downloads Bonanza
Microsoft is usually mute when it comes down to critics related to its product and traditionally quiet when it comes to reports thrashing Windows Vista.
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28.7.2008 Windows Server Evaluation Editions Free Downloads Bonanza
Microsoft is offering a veritable bonanza of Windows Server evaluation editions free downloads. Packaged under the label Windows Embedded Server Products Evaluation Software, a number of no less than ten products are offered at no charge for evaluation purposes only.
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29.7.2008 Free Opera Hits 1 Million Downloads
Just 48 hours after Opera Software removed the ads and license fee from its popular Web browser, Opera 8.5 has been downloaded by over 1 million people, the company said Thursday. The number is double Opera's previous download record, which it achieved in April with version 8.0.
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Free Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 Test Drive
Microsoft has started pressing the acceleration pedal of the marketing of Windows Vista, now complete with Service Pack 1.
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11.6.2008 Windows 7 Ultimate Free Giveaway
I am giving away my fully licensed Windows 7 Ultimate NFR copy which I got today from Windows 7 launch event for free with absolutely no strings attached!
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23.10.2009 Fancy a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate for FREE?
A little bird has informed me of an official Microsoft hosted survey in which the winner(s) will receive a free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate after simply filling out a 4 question survey.
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30.6.2009 Ultimate List of Free Windows Software from Microsoft
Microsoft has over 150 FREE Windows & Office Programs available for download -- finding them all is extremely difficult . . . until now.
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2.1.2007 FREE Windows 7 Ultimate for Connect beta testers
Last week, I blogged that members of the Windows Technical Beta Program would not be receiving a complimentary copy of Windows 7.
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31.7.2009 Download Windows 7 RTM Free Ultimate Extras Games Soon
The Ultimate Extras live to see another day. In all fairness, it will not be the whole of Ultimate Extras that will survive, but just two components, both being games which will be delivered as standalone downloads.
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10.11.2009 34 Vista Ultimate MUI Language packs for Ultimate SP2 via HTTP from MS
Here are the complete links direct from the Microsoft Windows Update server
for 34 MUI language packs for Vista Ultimate with or without SP1 or SP2
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3.7.2009 Get Free Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition with Party Pack By Hosting Win7 Launch Party
In a new campaign to promote Windows 7, Microsoft is giving chances to Windows 7 enthusiasts around the world to be part of Windows history by hosting a house party to mark the official launch of Windows 7.
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4.9.2009 Microsoft Limits Windows Vista Beta2 Downloads
The demand for the Windows Vista Beta2 faced by the US giant has overcome the capabilities of the servers reserved for the online delivery of the recently released operating
system by the sheer amount of the simultaneous downloads.
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13.6.2006 Windows Vista SP2 RC official downloads
The download pages and TechNet website are now updated with the SP2 RC information.
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4.3.2009 Vista Downloads Maxing Out Its Servers
Order the DVD instead, Microsoft says, as downloads of Windows Vista Beta 2 cause the company's servers to experience extremely high demand.
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13.6.2006 Microsoft: Vista SP1 RTM Downloads Available, but Not for You!
Only for MSDN subscriber! Make no mistake about it. The final bits of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 are available for download, but this does not mean that end users can get their grabby hands all over the service pack.
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15.2.2008 DirectX 9.0 and 10.1 Downloads for Vista SP1 and XP SP3
August 2008 has been synonymous with three separate releases of DirectX for a variety of Windows operating systems. The DirectX refreshes are tailored to Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Server 2008 RTM/SP1, but also to Windows Server 2003.
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Microsoft Is Gearing Up for Windows 7 Downloads
Even with Microsoft increasingly opening up on Windows Vista's successor, the hunger for Windows 7 details is far from being satiated.
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20.8.2008 Windows Server 2008 RC0 Downloads
Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate helps IT professionals to increase the flexibility and reliability of their server infrastructure while offering developers a more robust web and applications platform for building connected applications and services.
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26.9.2007 Windows 7 Release Candidate downloads will end August 15th
Still on the Windows 7 Beta,? You need to move to the RC and fast. Starting July 1st, the Beta will start to reboot every 2 hrs and expire Aug 1st.
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23.6.2009 Windows Vista Ultimate explained
Windows Vista comes in several different incarnations. But essentially there are two pathways -- the home user and the business user. However, at the very top of the pile is the Windows Vista SCU that gives you everything that is in both the top of the lines business editions and home editions -- Windows Vista Ultimate.
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10.1.2007 The Ultimate Windows Vista laptop
The most visible part of Windows Vista is the Aero interface, and while we can't deny that it looks very swish we find it very hard to get excited by a shiny new GUI. Instead, we're looking forward to new Vista hardware, which includes a new use for the humble USB memory key and much, much more. So what will the ultimate Windows Vista notebook offer?
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25.1.2007 Windows Vista Ultimate download
This is the final version of Vindows Vista.
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8.2.2007 Windows Vista ultimate serial
A lot of people are searching for some solutions, ni last days is one of most searched phrases
"windows vista ultimate serial".
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12.2.2007 Windows Vista Ultimate and WSUS
Just a quick one this time ("We've heard that one before" I hear you cry!) about Windows Vista Ultimate and WSUS. What is WSUS I hear you ask?
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18.4.2007 Windows Vista Ultimate Preactivated
This Is Preactivated Version Of Windows Vista Ultimate. So There Is No Need Of Any Serial No, Any Crack Or Activation. It Even Works On Windows Updates. This Is Not Dell edition. So This Version Works On All Computers.
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29.6.2007 The Ultimate Windows Vista Screensaver
A top notch Windows Vista screensaver is coming to your desktop, not from Microsoft's Ultimate Extras website, but courtesy of the design firm Jackson Fish Market.
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25.8.2007 Windows Vista Ultimate Could Cost $450
We have absolutely no way of confirming the information ourselves, but according to iTWire, we can expect to really pay out the nose for the most ultimate version of Windows ever conceived, Windows Vista Ultimate.
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30.5.2006Microsoft set to release Vista Ultimate Extra games - free
Remember Vista Ultimate Extras? Well they are back according to Paul Thurrott, but this time they will be released for free in the form of two games,
Microsoft Tinker and Hold 'Em. Microsoft's failed Vista Ultimate Extras were a big promise from the company of "cutting-edge programs,
innovative services and unique publications." At least they were in Vista RTM, by the time Vista SP1 was rolled out nearly all references to Vista
Ultimate Extras were removed (shown below). Blogger Long Zheng called them the "ultimate con" at the time and in hindsight he was right. Microsoft
made several promises of more extras which resulted in the company launching UltimatePC.com which now redirects to the Vista home-page.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
11.11.2009Windows Vista 'DreamScene' Available
Microsoft on Wednesday made
available a beta of the second
"Ultimate Extra" for
Windows Vista, which is
available for download free of
charge for those who purchased
the Ultimate Edition of the
new operating system. Called
DreamScene, the extra lets
users put videos as their
desktop background...
betanews.com -
16.02.2007Microsoft Launches New Windows Vista Ultimate Extras
Despite no announcement being made on UltimatePC.com, Microsoft have released a new sound scheme and a content pack for Windows DreamScene as part of
its Windows Vista Ultimate Extras offerings for customers who purchased the Ultimate edition of Vista.
After installing the sound pack
customers get Ultimate Extras Pearl and Glass sound schemes and additional Windows DreamScene Content.
For those who have been waiting for
Ultimate Extras perhaps this is a sign that more is to come from the software giant.
neowin.net -
23.04.2008Fancy a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate for FREE?
A little bird has informed me of an official Microsoft hosted survey in which the winner(s) will receive a free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate after
simply filling out a 4 question survey. It couldn't be any easier than this folks. The survey is entitled "Windows 7 Discovery", and the
instructions are crystal clear: "We want to know how you find information about Windows 7 from Microsoft. Please answer questions in the survey
below for a chance to win a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate Edition when it becomes avaialble
in Oct 2009." In order to be eligible for the
survey, which is hosted on SurveyMonkey.com, all you have to do is answer the following questions: 1.
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 30.06.2009
No Ultimate Extras for Windows 7
Windows Vista Ultimate had an interesting feature touted by Microsoft before it's release, named Extras. This was intended to be an added extra
for the paying the hefty price of Ultimate, to give some bonuses to those who paid for it. Unfortunately, Microsoft didn't plan it very well, and
included very few with in the release of Vista Ultimate. This led Microsoft to publicy apologizing over the matter, and to this day not a great number
have been released. This led people to wonder about Windows 7 Ultimate. Would it feature Extras, or would Microsoft not worry about them this time
around?
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 07.02.2009
RIP Ultimate Extras
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: Back in September of last year I wrote a piece about
how the Windows Ultimate Extras window from the RTM version of Windows Vista differed from the pre-release SP1 code that was floating about at the
time. Is Microsoft going to do right by Windows Vista Ultimate customers and start handing over the goodies or not? Looking at SP1, it seems that
Windows Ultimate Extras as good as dead.
OK, time for a little trip down memory lane. Heres what the Windows Vista Ultimate
screen looks like for Windows Vista Ultimate RTM...
winbeta.org - 08.02.2008
Microsoft yanks free Vista, Office offer
Microsoft on Tuesday withdrew an offer of free copies of Windows Vista Ultimate and Office 2007 in exchange for consumers agreeing to install
monitoring software, saying it had exhausted the supply of software.
Until mid-afternoon Tuesday, the company's Windows Feedback
Program was handing out copies of Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate 2007 and other software to users who agreed to complete regular surveys, and to
install a program that tracked Windows and Office use for three months. The program transmitted the information to Microsoft's servers daily.
Under a section titled "What about the free product?", the program's Web site spelled out the freebie. "If you are a Windows
Vista or Windows XP user and decide to join and participate in both programs, we will send you a free Microsoft product when you participate in the
program. Limit one gift per person. This offer is non-transferable. This offer expires on 12/31/07, while supplies last, and is not redeemable for
cash. Taxes, if any, are your sole responsibility."
winbeta.org - 12.12.2007
The Ultimate con
Long Zheng: Even if the Windows Ultimate team has fled to the International Date Line,
summer is officially over. Normally I wouldnt care what season it is in the northern hemisphere but today it proves this team is incapable delivering
anything and should never be trusted again.
Two months ago, after weeks of pressuring for answers, Microsofts Windows
Ultimate group director Barry Goffe finally
spoke out about the missing Windows Vista Ultimate Extras. As implied throughout most marketing materials including the official website and even Window
Vistas own control panel, Ultimate Extras were suppose to be frequent and free premium products and services delivered to the customers who wanted it
all. And the truth is, customers are getting near to nothing. Although realistically not everyones equally upset at the lack of extras, some argue it
wasnt part of their choice to buy Vista Ultimate, which is fine but that doesnt help the people who did.
winbeta.org - 23.09.2007
Remaining Ultimate Extra Language Packs Released
We are pleased to announce the release of the remaining 19 languages packs for Windows Vista Ultimate. This Ultimate Extras release brings the total
number of language packs for use with Windows Vista Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI) to 35. Windows Vista Ultimate enables users install
multiple languages on their system and quickly switch between them by associating a system language with their login name.
MUI is
particularly useful in multilingual homes where multiple people use a single computer and choose different languages for their primary use. People who
wish to learn a new language will also find MUI to be a particularly useful feature. We are aware of a very large number of customers who have
purchased Ultimate for this feature specifically and are gratified that these customers can now realize the full benefit of Windows Vista Ultimate.
The languages we are adding today are as follows...
winbeta.org - 24.10.2007
Windows Vista Ultimate explained
Windows Vista comes in several
different incarnations. But
essentially there are two
pathways -- the home user and
the business user. However,
at the very top of the pile is
the Windows Vista SCU that
gives you everything that is
in both the top of the lines
business editions and home
editions -- Windows Vista
Ultimate.
The main
attraction of Windows Vista
Ultimate is that users get all
the professional features of
Windows Vista Business like
domain logon, full backup,
full Remote Desktop support,
and so forth as well as the
full feature set of Windows
Vista Home Premium such as
Media Center, XBox 360
integration, etc.
But Microsoft sweetens the
deal for Windows Vista
Ultimate users in the form of
Windows Vista Ultimate Extras.
Ultimate Extras is an on-going
series of downloadable content
that allows Microsoft to
deliver some outstanding new
features to Ultimate users
even after release.
This week at CES, Microsoft
unveiled the first set of
Ultimate Extras including Windows
DreamScene, a game, bit
locker support, a photo
manipulation application, and
multi-language on a single PC
support.
Microsoft
watcher Mary Jo Foley has more
details on this below.
neowin.net - 10.01.2007
Remaining Vista Ultimate Language Packs released
Late yesterday Barry Goffe, Director of Windows Ultimate, today disclosed on windowsultimate.com that the remaining 19 language packs have been made available via Windows Update.
A
multi-language user interface (MUI) pack allows a user to run Windows Vista Ultimate in one of 36 available languages. You can quickly switch among
languages on a single installation of Windows Vista by associating a system language with your login name.
The additional supported
languages are ->
Read full
story.....
neowin.net - 24.10.2007
First Windows Vista SP1 Prerequisite Update for Ultimate/Enterprise Users Now Available
Two or three updates are required before you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1. The updates that are required depend on the edition of Windows
Vista that you are upgrading. Prerequisite update 935509 is only applicable to Windows Vista Enterprise and to Windows Vista Ultimate. The other
prerequisite updates that are discussed in this article apply to all editions of Windows Vista.
Before Windows Vista SP1 is
released, these prerequisite updates will be delivered to most users through Windows Update as part of regularly scheduled monthly updates. These
updates will be installed together with other updates that will require that you restart the computer. An additional restart will not be required.
Therefore, this delivery method will simplify installation of these prerequisite updates.
Customers who decide to install Windows
Vista SP1 by using the stand-alone installer, instead of by using Windows Update, will not have to install the prerequisite packages separately. The
prerequisite packages will be installed by the stand-alone installer if they are necessary.
winbeta.org - 08.01.2008
Neowin Giveaway: Windows Vista Ultimate Boxed (RED) Edition
As usual we have something to give away to all our members worldwide, Windows Vista Ultimate (RED) Edition. Vista (RED) is enhanced with (PRODUCT)
RED wallpapers, gadgets, and a unique screen saver and DreamScene. For more information on Windows Vista and Vista (RED) please head to
Microsoft's Website. In order to enter the competition you simply have to reply to this post, we will select a winner at random and multiple
posts will not count so no need to go crazy folks. The competition opens NOW and ends on Wednesday 25th February at 23:59 GMT. The competition is
open to all members worldwide.
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 23.02.2009
Microsoft talks about Office
2007 Ultimate
For those who don't know
about it yet, Microsoft Office
2007 Ultimate Edition is, as
Ultimate Edition, a sum of
every features of the product.
The actual Ultimate edition
contains the following
products:
-Word
-Excel
-PowerPoint
-Outlook
-Publisher
-OneNote
-Groove
-Access
-InfoPath
But
all those features have a
price, which is already
mentioned: 679 US$. We
currently don't know if it
will offer special services
like those that will be
available to Windows Vista
Ultimate Edition users.
..
jcxp.net - 27.05.2006
New Windows Ultimate Extras Now Available
Chris Flores: Today we are excited to announce that 3 new Windows Ultimate Extras are now available for installation via Windows Update! This is
the 6th wave of Ultimate Extras released by Microsoft exclusively for Windows Vista Ultimate users. Users will find the following Ultimate Extras
waiting to be installed:
Microsoft ® Tinker (TM): Microsoft Tinker is a casual game that provides players with short
puzzle game play sessions set in a warm, calming environment.
Ultimate Extras Sounds from Microsoft Tinker: Based on the
positive feedback we received from the release of additional Windows Sound Schemes in April, we've integrated the unique audio sounds from Microsoft
Tinker into a new sound scheme.
Windows ® DreamScene (TM) Content Pack #4 Windows DreamScene Content Pack #4 which
adds three additional nature-setting Windows DreamScenes.
Microsoft Tinker was developed for Microsoft as an Ultimate
Extra by our Partner Fuel Industries.
Windows Ultimate Extras are only for Windows Vista Ultimate users and designed to add to their Windows experience. We will be
shipping new Windows Ultimate Extras in the near future and will post additional information here on the blog when that occurs.
winbeta.org - 24.09.2008
Microsoft Offers First Vista Ultimate Extras
Shortly before the operating
systems' launch Monday night,
Microsoft posted the first of
what it expects to be many
added extras for consumers
that have purchased its
top-of-the-line version of
Windows Vista, dubbed
"Ultimate."..
betanews.com - 31.01.2007
Stardock to announce DeskScapes 2.0 Vista Ultimate Extras going the Way of the Dodo
Long Zheng: Windows Ultimate Extras is losing value faster than
the US dollar as one of the few extras is soon to be superseded by a free third-party application that works not only on Vista Ultimate, but Home
Premium and Business versions as well. That extra would be DreamScene, that third party would
be Stardock and that application would be DeskScapes 2.0. Those grumpy looking people in the corner would be
Ultimate Extra advocates.
Tomorrow, Stardock will announce DeskScapes 2.0 the second version of its desktop background visualiser tool for Windows Vista. Formerly DeskScapes was an
extension to the DreamScene extra, allowing for dynamic generated Dreams on top of just the motion videos allowed by DreamScene itself. Now, both
formats will be supported by DeskScapes 2.0 without the requirements for DreamScene or Vista Ultimate.
winbeta.org - 13.11.2007
Microsoft Prepares to release Windows Live Hotmail
Windows Live Hotmail (previous
named Windows Live Mail)
testers have received an
e-mail from Microsoft with the
words " we're getting
ready to launch " although
there is no notice of a date.
Microsoft is also offering two
small gifts for beta
participation: a "Free Beta
Badge" and a "Great Windows
Vista Offer". The link
following the offers the beta
tester three signatures with
the embedded words " I was
a Beta Tester for Windows Live
Hotmail ". The second
offer is for a $100
discount on a high-performance
Gateway FX530 Series PC with
Windows Vista Ultimate with a
2 system limit per customer or
four free (with mail-in
rebate) " hardware
accessories from Epson,
Kingston, D-Link and Artec
with a custom-built system
running Windows Vista Ultimate
from a local PC
builder ".
Windows Live Hotmail is
currently on the tenth
milestone, M10 - released on
April 2, 2007. M4 was
publically released on
November 29, 2005. What does
Neowin think, is WLH ready for
a release?
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 02.05.2007
Language Packs and Windows Vista SP1
Nick White: We have some information we'd like to share in regards to Windows Vista SP1 and folks running Language Packs. Some of you may have
noticed that after installing Windows Vista SP1 on Windows Vista Ultimate - the Language Packs fail to appear on Windows Update (KB947875).
We will be releasing Windows Vista SP1 in two
"waves". The first wave will only provide Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Vista Ultimate PCs running the following 5 Languages: English, French,
German, Japanese and Spanish. The second wave will follow shortly after - supporting all 36 languages.
winbeta.org - 04.03.2008
Windows DreamScene coming soon on Ultimate
Windows Vista Ultimate users
began to receive the first set
of "Ultimate Extras". But
arguably the most anticipated
Ultimate Extra was not there
-- Windows DreamScene.
Windows client
director, Jeff Putt has
confirmed that this extra will
not be available in its final
form immediately after launch.
However, a technology preview
may be coming soon for Windows
Vista Ultimate users who want
to give it a try.
Windows DreamScene enables
users to use looping
high-definition video content
(MPEG, WMV) as an animated
wallpaper. Thanks to the new
3D accelerated desktop in
Windows Vista, the animated
wallpaper uses virtually no
CPU (just a little for
decoding the video).
Microsoft demonstrated
Windows DreamScene yesterday
at the launch event which
showed Windows DreamScene
using an animated wallpaper
created by Stardock
. The wallpaper they showed
will be available exclusively
at Neowin.net's partner site,
WinCustomize
.com, in February.
More information on
public availability for
Windows Vista Ultimate users
is expected soon.
neowin.net - 30.01.2007
