Windows Home Server Beta Invites Are Being Sent Out

Sat, Feb 17, 2007 | Terry Walsh

I’ve now seen a few reports that the beta invites are now being issued to people who submitted the beta survey. Looks like they’re not hanging around! Fingers crossed you get a surprise in your inbox shortly!

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This post was written by:

Terry Walsh - who has written 747 posts on We Got Served.

Hi - I'm Terry and I'm the Owner of We Got Served. The site's been covering everything to do with Windows Home Server since February 2007. I live in Silverstone, UK with my wife and when I'm not working on We Got Served, I have a career as an Innovation Consultant to contend with.

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10 Comments For This Post

Marky P Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 10:59 am

Just got mine!

Mark

Reply - Quote

Rob G Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 12:00 pm

Looks like i have been lucky to. Downloading it now and will install it over the weekend.

Decision time now as do i make some more purchases of hardware and try and build another nice new shiney Home Server box or try to use it on the old machine i have lying around.

As it will run 24×7 i think a nice quiet case might be in order and i would really like esata support on the motherboard….

Suppose its time to check the bank balance !!

Reply - Quote

Chris M Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 1:45 pm

Just downloading now, heading to my PC components store to complete the ‘frankenmachine’ Am going to add 2×250Gb storage - and I need up grade the NIC to 100mbit! Will be running on a 1.8mhz P4, 1Gb RAM (when I get back from the shop anhow…)

Reply - Quote

Bud P Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 1:59 pm

Downloading now, and being smitten with temptation. Do I use the old Athlon 1GHz machine in the corner, or go for some shiny newness? I hear the newness calling to my bank account.

Reply - Quote

Terry Walsh Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 3:39 pm

Well done guys!

I was having a similar debate on new vs frankenbuild a couple of weeks ago when I received my invite. I went for new, but mainly because i wanted something small and quiet to tuck away in the spare room.

Whatever you decide, have fun with the build!

Terry

Reply - Quote

Chunk72 Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 3:41 pm

Invite was waiting for me this morning, download completed and a suitable machine to run it on should be here on Tuesday.

Reading the documentation and I must say it looks very thorough and professional.

Hurry up Mr. postman

Phil

Reply - Quote

Terry Walsh Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 4:48 pm

Hi Phil

Yes, the documentation is some the best beta documentation I’ve seen - they’ve done a great job!

What did you go for, spec wise on your machine?

Reply - Quote

Chunk72 Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 7:41 pm

Terry,
Inspired by your blog post I went with a small form factor dell optiplex gx270 scoured from the worlds favourite auction site.

It’s a P4 2.8 with 512MB DDR400, 10/100/1000 lan and a DVD rom.
The 40GB HDD will be replaced by a spare 250GB Maxtor SATA and I’ll bung an external WD 160GB on for expansion.

This is my umpteenth MS beta and the 1st time I’ve specifically gone out and bought hardware, I’m that interested in the product and its value to my family.

Reply - Quote

cyber_256 Says:
February 18th, 2007 at 12:43 am

Yeah got my invite yesterday Its been running on a Celeron 2.6, 1GB Ram, 80GB IDE machine for the last day without any hick ups.

As people have mentioned, documentation is pretty good for a beta but I have read on connect that some have found remains of Windows 2003 server mentioned throughout “help”, even the boot screen is Windows 2003. I’m sure the dev’s are working endlessly to get it tidied up.

Reply - Quote

Terry Walsh Says:
February 18th, 2007 at 10:57 am

Chunk: I’ve used the SFF Optiplex before in work - they’re great! Funnily enough, I was looking at them on Dell Outlet when considering what to use for my Home Server - didn’t think of the auction site! I know what you mean about buying hardware for this beta - this is definitely the kind of product that will be a keeper - I’ve been waiting for this for ages…

Cyber: Congrats on getting in! Glad to see the Celeron’s working for you - will make things even more cost effective for people to get their own home server. If you spot those kind of “fit and finish” bugs (refs to Server 2003 etc.) make sure you bug them!

Reply - Quote

1 Trackbacks For This Post

Participating Windows Home Server? | MS-Next Says:
February 21st, 2007 at 6:47 am

[...] Home Server team sent out storm of invitation last Friday and it seems survey submitters enjoy their token. If you missed that chance, beta 2 survey still open for you. Don’t [...]

Reply - Quote

Marky P Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Just got mine!

Mark
Reply - Quote
Rob G Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Looks like i have been lucky to. Downloading it now and will install it over the weekend.

Decision time now as do i make some more purchases of hardware and try and build another nice new shiney Home Server box or try to use it on the old machine i have lying around.

As it will run 24×7 i think a nice quiet case might be in order and i would really like esata support on the motherboard….

Suppose its time to check the bank balance !!
Reply - Quote
Chris M Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Just downloading now, heading to my PC components store to complete the ‘frankenmachine’ Am going to add 2×250Gb storage - and I need up grade the NIC to 100mbit! Will be running on a 1.8mhz P4, 1Gb RAM (when I get back from the shop anhow…)
Reply - Quote
Bud P Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Downloading now, and being smitten with temptation. Do I use the old Athlon 1GHz machine in the corner, or go for some shiny newness? I hear the newness calling to my bank account.
Reply - Quote
Terry Walsh Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Well done guys!

I was having a similar debate on new vs frankenbuild a couple of weeks ago when I received my invite. I went for new, but mainly because i wanted something small and quiet to tuck away in the spare room.

Whatever you decide, have fun with the build!

Terry
Reply - Quote
Chunk72 Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Invite was waiting for me this morning, download completed and a suitable machine to run it on should be here on Tuesday.

Reading the documentation and I must say it looks very thorough and professional.

Hurry up Mr. postman

Phil
Reply - Quote
Terry Walsh Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Hi Phil

Yes, the documentation is some the best beta documentation I’ve seen - they’ve done a great job!

What did you go for, spec wise on your machine?
Reply - Quote
Chunk72 Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Terry,
Inspired by your blog post I went with a small form factor dell optiplex gx270 scoured from the worlds favourite auction site.

It’s a P4 2.8 with 512MB DDR400, 10/100/1000 lan and a DVD rom.
The 40GB HDD will be replaced by a spare 250GB Maxtor SATA and I’ll bung an external WD 160GB on for expansion.

This is my umpteenth MS beta and the 1st time I’ve specifically gone out and bought hardware, I’m that interested in the product and its value to my family.
Reply - Quote
cyber_256 Says:
February 18th, 2007 at 12:43 am
Yeah got my invite yesterday Its been running on a Celeron 2.6, 1GB Ram, 80GB IDE machine for the last day without any hick ups.

As people have mentioned, documentation is pretty good for a beta but I have read on connect that some have found remains of Windows 2003 server mentioned throughout “help”, even the boot screen is Windows 2003. I’m sure the dev’s are working endlessly to get it tidied up.
Reply - Quote
Terry Walsh Says:
February 18th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Chunk: I’ve used the SFF Optiplex before in work - they’re great! Funnily enough, I was looking at them on Dell Outlet when considering what to use for my Home Server - didn’t think of the auction site! I know what you mean about buying hardware for this beta - this is definitely the kind of product that will be a keeper - I’ve been waiting for this for ages…

Cyber: Congrats on getting in! Glad to see the Celeron’s working for you - will make things even more cost effective for people to get their own home server. If you spot those kind of “fit and finish” bugs (refs to Server 2003 etc.) make sure you bug them!
Reply - Quote

Participating Windows Home Server? | MS-Next Says:
February 21st, 2007 at 6:47 am
[...] Home Server team sent out storm of invitation last Friday and it seems survey submitters enjoy their token. If you missed that chance, beta 2 survey still open for you. Don’t [...]
Reply - Quote

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