Dear,
Windows Vista Beta version is going under several tests and waiting for customer error reports/bugs found in windows Vista.When allmost all the errors/bugs found via customer reporting and via microsoft administrators, the microsoft will release the release candidate version within a 6 months time depending upon the error/bug reporting and clearence.Lets wait until that..For your satisfaction for the time being lets go for a detailed knowledge regarding the present released beta version of windows vista.
The Windows Vista Beta Experience: RC1
By Charlie Russel, Microsoft MVP for Windows Server, Security, and Mobile PC
For many who will be using Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1), this is the first time they've ever used a "beta" product. For others who are hardened beta veterans, this is just one more step in the continuum that results in the final product. I thought I'd take this column to talk a little bit about what betas are all about, what you can expect from RC1, and what some of my favorite features are in RC1.
Understanding the beta process
Any software application—from little one-off, specially built applications to the giant that is the Windows Vista operating system—has both an original design goal and a path to getting there. That path has many milestones along the way, from design, to unit test, to code complete, to beta, to release candidate, and ultimately to the final released product. These steps allow the developers to test the program and correct problems, and the designers to make changes based on the feedback from users as they use it. The process also allows those of us who really enjoy using the newest and best to get an early look at what's coming.
While each beta project has slightly different milestones, there are typically at least two beta milestones and at least one release candidate milestone. My experience has been that the Beta 1 milestone is a place for only the hardiest of testers; Beta 2 is usually useable; and by the time an operating system gets to the Release Candidate stage, it's ready to be my everyday environment—not without issues, perhaps, but stable, fast, and ready for me to live with.
Why use a beta?
Good question. Some people do it because it's their job in one way or another. Maybe they're tasked with evaluating new software for their company. Maybe they're writers, writing about the new software. Perhaps they're developers, trying to make sure their software works well with it. All those reasons are fine, but they hardly explain the interest in Windows Vista RC1 that I'm hearing from just about everyone I meet and talk to. So why does an ordinary person want to run a beta version of Windows Vista? A lot of reasons, I suspect, but for many, it's the desire to have something new, something that not everyone else has—and to be the "expert" when Windows Vista officially hits the store shelves early next year. There's nothing quite as satisfying as being able to casually say, "oh, yeah. I've been running that since September," when someone asks about Windows Vista.
Using Windows Vista RC1
Running a beta, even a release candidate, is not for everyone, and you should understand the limitations and the risks. This is pre-release software. There will be problems, so be prepared. Microsoft doesn't provide any official support for pre-release software, but there are newsgroups and a whole community of other users and Microsoft MVPs out there to help you, so you aren't alone. Your starting place for Windows Vista support is the Help and Support Center.
The Windows Vista Help and Support Center.
My experiences with RC1
I've been running RC1 for a couple of weeks now, and I have to say, I'm really impressed. My main computer is an Acer Ferrari 4005 laptop, and I'm running 64-bit Windows Vista in a dual-boot configuration with Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. With the installation of Windows Vista RC1, I haven't rebooted into Windows XP more often than once every couple of days. And that only because I've got one program that still has a bit of a compatibility problem with the 64-bit version of Windows Vista (although I've been promised a new driver for it soon).
Windows Vista RC1 is the key milestone that third-party software and hardware manufacturers are looking for to ensure that their application or peripheral meets the Windows Vista logo requirements.
New in RC1
RC is faster than previous builds. The User Account Control (UAC) is smarter about when it prompts you for elevated privilege. The networking is definitely better, though I'm still finding the Networking and Sharing Center a bit awkward to use. So what are some of my favorite new features? Well, you'll laugh, but one of them is definitely the new Windows Backup Center, and I'll show you how to use that in just a moment.
Another new feature that I really like is one that a lot of folks will complain about in the beginning— UAC. Windows Vista is completely unlike earlier versions of the Windows operating system in how it handles everyday security. Today, on Windows XP, most users run as administrators on their computers. While that makes life easy for the user, it also makes life easy for the bad guys. The potential damage that a virus or malicious software can generate is much greater. In Windows Vista, you never run with administrative privileges except when you absolutely need to. And whenever you need to, Windows Vista prompts you to make sure that it really is something you want to do. UAC is a bit annoying when you're first setting up your computer, installing a lot of programs, and configuring everything as you want it. But when you've set everything up, you'll very rarely be prompted. The increase in security is substantial and will help make Windows Vista the most secure Windows operating system to date.
On the other end of the spectrum, another new feature in RC1 that I'm really excited about is the new games. Okay, I admit it: I'm addicted to the new Mahjong Titans game. But all the games have a new look and feel. And the new Games Explorer, linked directly from the Start menu, makes finding your games quick and easy.
For those of us with Tablet PCs, there are improvements in the Tablet PC experience as well, including customizable gestures as well as check boxes that you can use to select multiple items with the pen alone. The new Tablet Input Panel is a big improvement too, especially if you use Remote Desktop to another computer.
If you have a lot of digital photos and videos, the new Windows Photo Gallery is really exciting. The Windows Photo Gallery, which includes a whole new set of themes in RC1, makes it much easier to group and find pictures. You can use the new themes and your digital photos to build a slide show that has a very professional look. Then, play the slide show in much the same way as you play digital music with Microsoft Windows Media Player. By adding tags to your digital photos, you can quickly organize them into categories; with Windows Vista's built in support for writing DVDs and the much improved performance of the Windows DVD Maker in RC1, you can quickly put together a digital slide show complete with professional-looking menus, a scene-selection page, and a soundtrack. Now that's just cool.
Speaking of DVDs, Windows Vista RC1 has significantly improved the performance with HD-DVDs, making the experience much better. Given the usual level of performance improvements we'll see by the time that Windows Vista launches, I expect to be watching realistic high-definition video on my computer.
There are a lot of other cool new features in Windows Vista—more than I can cover in a single column—but I want to mention one last one: Windows Meeting Space. This new group collaboration feature is simple to use, and makes it easy to securely share a document or application amongst up to 10 people while you all work on it.
Using the Windows Backup Center
As I said earlier, I'm really excited by the new backup technology in Windows Vista. Not only does it take full advantage of Windows Vista's ability to take a snapshot of your hard disks at a point in time, but it backs up to hard disk, network share, or CD/DVD. And it does it automatically. To use the Windows Backup Center, complete these steps:
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click System Tools to start the Backup Status and Configuration Wizard.
Click the link to read the types of files that are not backed up.
The basic answer is that only un-encrypted data files that are stored on NTFS file system volumes are backed up. Program files and system files are not.
Click Set up automatic file backup to open the Back Up Files dialog box, and then acknowledge the UAC prompt.
Where do you want to save your backup?
Select a location in which to store the backups.
This location can be a hard disk, CD, DVD or network share. Tape drives are not supported.
Note: Backup to network shares is not supported in Windows Basic. If you're running Home Basic Edition, you can back up only to hard disk or CD/DVD.
Click Next.
If you choose a network share, you'll be prompted for your credentials. Type a user name and password, and then click OK.
Select the drive or drives you want to back up, and then click Next.
Select the types of files to back up, and then click Next.
Which file types do you want to back up?
Select how often you want to back up your files and when, and then click Save Settings and Start Backup.
The backup process starts by first creating a shadow copy, and then backing up the files to your target location.
Okay, so what's so exciting about a backup program, you ask? Well for me, the best part about this backup program is that it's easy to use and supports re-writable DVDs. It is fully integrated with the volume shadow copy technology first introduced in Microsoft Windows Server 2003. Volume shadow copy enables Windows to take a snapshot of your hard disk at any point in time without interfering with your work. After the snapshot is taken, Windows then backs up the files in the background, letting you continue working. There are no problems with open files that can't be backed up. And finally, it's automatic. You set the schedule and forget it; if you ever need to restore a file, it's quick and easy to get just the right version to restore.
Note: In addition to the file backup, you can select a Complete PC Backup, which backs up your entire computer.
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