Upgrade from XP Pro SP2 to Beta 2 Business

[Guest]

If you are running Outlook 2003 and install Vista Beta 2 Business as an
upgrade and try to backup your Outlook file you are in for a rude awakening.
You will lose all the emails that you thought you had backed up and the
original backup file and archive backup will both get corrupted and rendered
useless. I found this out the hard way earlier today. I've lost over $600.00
worth of software that was purchased and downloaded over the past 6 months
because of this MAJOR problem. Without the emails with the order info and
serials, etc. the software cannot be replaced.

The fact that Beta 2 was unleasehed on an unsuspecting and unprepared public
just makes it that much worse. I've been a beta tester since the days of
Windows 3.1 and never experienced anything like this. No more will I defend
Microsoft or its software as I have in the past.

We, as Beta testers, were asked to perform "upgrade scenarios" because Beta
2 was stable enough to do so. That was nothing but a lie. It is not stable by
any stretch of the imagination. Build 5381 was far more stable than Beta 2
and that's unacceptable.

Beware and be warned that Microsoft can no longer be trusted as far as I'm
concerned. And the $5.00 maximum for damages they refer to in the Beta 2 EULA
is a joke for a multi-billion dollar company. I would venture to bet that no
one ever receives one cent for their losses. I know I won't recoup anything
for the losses I have suffered - all my emails from January 2006 through May
2006 are lost forever and most of them were business related correspondence.

I am so stressed out and frustrated at this point, I want nothing to do with
Windows Vista or Microsoft products ever again. I don't feel like the company
can be trusted at all. If/when a class action lawsuit comes out of this
premature release of an unstable beta to the general public, I will be sure
to get in on it as quick as I can.

 

[Guest]

Simply amazing! You claim to have beta tested since 3.1 and yet put a beta OS
on a production system? And you want to blame Microsoft for you stupidity??

Rule #1 for Beta Testing a new OS: NEVER INSTALL ON YOUR PRIMARY SYSTEM!!!

You install the OS on a safe system then start adding in apps to see what
breaks. Duh!

If you have indeed lost all this "important" data, it is due to your own
ignorance and stupidity. Microsoft never claimed Vista Beta 2 is ready for
primetime.

If you do not have a test system to install Beta 2 on, DON'T USE IT!!

If you insist on playing the fool at least backup your important stuff. If
you lose anything do not blame Microsoft. They make it very plain on the
download sites that you run this beta at your own risk.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Do not install Beta anything unless you are prepared for:
A Clean Uninstall to resolve any issues caused directly or indirectly by any
Beta.
Total data loss.
The list goes on, but of course you are well aware of this since you have
"been a beta tester since the days of Windows 3.1"
Anyone unwilling to accept the possibilities of the above should not install
Beta anything from any source.

Apparently you failed to read available information:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx
Note the red section.

But these are not really issues for you since someone as experienced will
have back-ups of all important data.
Surely you know hard drives can and do fail taking all data with them making
a back-up plan for important data essential.

"The fact that Beta 2 was unleasehed on an unsuspecting and unprepared
public..."
Well, those that read the appropriate information were neither.

"We, as Beta testers..."
Probably not in your case.
The Technical Beta is private and has other private newsgroups, are you a
member of that or another private group?
Most participants in this newsgroup only have access to the public Beta and
are not Beta testers.
Instead they are participants in the Customer Preview Program (CPP).
Completely different programs with different objectives.

To quote you one more time:
"When all else fails....
read the instructions"
Next time do just that.