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Does anyone know, if I download Build 5456 can I use the cdkey from Build 5384.4 or does it require another unique key?

I've heard that the Beta 2 key will work but I've not tried it myself.

According to Microsoft, your BETA 2 product key is the same key you'll use to install Vista RC1 when it is released. So, I would assume (but can't be for sure) that your BETA 2 key might work for all builds between now and then. I could be wrong, but I'll definitely try it if I can get my hands on an interim build.

Please tell me, is there ANY "Windows Media Photo" (AKA "Windows Digital Photo") images encoding support this time? For short: can anything in Vista save .wdp?

My first impressions:
1) Yes, I disliked the UAC. I disabled it. I'll turn it back on next year.
2) x64 Nobody should be using 64-bit Vista unless you have to because you are coding for it. The software support is just not there so why bother? Microsoft will release both 32-bit and 64-bit versions IN THE SAME PACKAGE so you don't even have to decide which one to purchase. I recommend installing 32-bit and wait until ALL 64-bit drivers and software issues are sorted out. 2008?
3) For this to replace Windows XP I actually only need TWO THINGS:
a) better Graphics drivers
b) CPU support for AMD's Cool 'n Quiet

I read that installing XP versions of NVidia drivers allowed for the same gaming support but just didn't allow the Aero Glass interface. I haven't tested this but I will. I'd much rather have gaming support than the Aero Glass interface. speaking of that:
4) Aero Glass: A good start, but I don't like the BLACK. Obviously, a few more colors will come out. When a prior Office 2007 Beta had a GREY interface I liked that better. I think right now the black is just to be completely different from XP. I suspect that black, grey, blue and green will be offered upon release.
5) Windows Explorer: I had to turn back on some Classic settings. In fact, I'm not sure that I'll ever turn these off. I'm sure many others agree. I experienced a similar problem to a lesser degree in IE7. I occasionally have to open the "Classic Menu" and close it again. Now that I know what I'm doing it is no big deal but the Classic Menu stays on for now in Windows Explorer.
6)Start Menu: Now that I'm used to it I prefer the new Start Menu.

I'm pleased that they are addressing the concerns and I'm certain that most drivers will be sorted out by the time it is released. NVidia is doing a very good job and I expect to see some new drivers in the next couple months so people can optimize their gaming experience. Video playback problems are very likely related to the drivers and NOT the operating system or WMP11. However, I have an NVidia 6600GT and I played DVD-Video, divx, xvid and more without any problems after I installed the codecs and the approved NVidia Video drivers. Be VERY CAREFUL not to install drivers (especially motherboard drivers) that are not specifically created for Vista.

Oh, come on! They just released Vista!
Are you telling me I have to go through the installation torcher a second time to fix somthing I've already fixed??

No, thanks.

They have *not* released Vista.

They released a *beta*, which is a snapshot of the OS in it's development phase.

Please do not confuse the two.

UAC is a good thing but it can be disabled
so what if it leaves you open....your on a beta OS
it could be reinstalled if needed...

IT'S A BETA!!! Microsoft didn't say it was going to work right out of the box. Sure there will be problems. Everyone expects this OS to be perfect, again IT'S A BETA!!!

We are better off swiching to Apple OS

Ok, good luck with that...

ROFL

Will this version finally install on my laptop instead of giving me the stupid "ACPI not fully compliant" when I know it is???

"User Account Control tweaks to lessen the number of authentication notices"

The irritation factor just went way down.

When I began using Vista, I began to believe that the window popping up was a replacement for windows application failure (knowing it was a beta with bugs). I hardly read anything when I click buttons so eventually I realized it was authenticating the opening of a program when everytime that window popped up the program still ran. ;x Its amazing, me who thought every single program had a problem running, and yet it was nothing having any problems running, it was my problem being annoyed at that window even opening settings from the control panel. (which is what threw me off)

"I hardly read anything when I click buttons"

Without wishing to flame you or be insulting, this behaviour is a huge part of the reason that a some (significant) classes of security issue exist. Without users being educated to read what they're being asked, the most secure OS in the world is useless.

Rolphus, I applaud you. I would have just called him an idiot.

Pmpunab0mb, I applaud you for applauding Rolphus and saying that you would have called that other guy that name that you told Rolphus you would have called him. Uhhh...... I think I just confused myself.

I hope they manage to make UAC less irritating, but in any case it's a great improvement, we may finally lessen the hell of viruses a bit with UAC

The current state of UAC is a very minor annoyance compared to the other more major bugs in Vista Beta 2. For one thing, Beta 2 does not support the DVI port on Nvidia GeForce 6800GT AGP graphics cards (and possibly other graphics cards). The DVI port works fine until the Vista Beta 2 installation restarts the first time. After that, video can only be viewed from the analog VGA port.

Windows Media Player 11 also won't play any Windows Media video without stuttering and crashing after the first two seconds of video. It doesn't matter if the video is being streamed over the internet or played directly from the hard disk of the computer that is being used to watch the video.

Another issue is the fact that all 64-bit Vista drivers absolutely have to be WHQL certified by Microsoft. This means that 64-bit Vista Beta 2 cannot use 64-bit Windows XP drivers to make PCI Serial ATA expansion cards work during installation. You can use 32-bit Windows XP drivers with the 32-bit version of Vista Beta 2 however if a 32-bit Vista certified driver is not yet available for a particular piece of hardware.

I think these issues are driver issues, not Vista itself. My DVI works flawlessly. My WMP11 works too; but sometimes it's not smooth indeed.

I believe driver issues will be ironed out once Vista is released.

The 64bit driver signing enforcement is a good thing.

Drivers are the number 1 cause of system instability..

Beta 2 does not support the DVI port on Nvidia GeForce 6800GT AGP graphics cards

That would be nVidia's fault, not Microsoft's.

Windows Media Player 11 also won't play any Windows Media video without stuttering and crashing after the first two seconds of video.

Noticed that myself. It improved *greatly* once the initial indexing was done by the damn search feature. They *really* need to let the user decide when that's done during installation.

Another issue is the fact that all 64-bit Vista drivers absolutely have to be WHQL certified by Microsoft. This means that 64-bit Vista Beta 2 cannot use 64-bit Windows XP drivers to make PCI Serial ATA expansion cards work during installation. You can use 32-bit Windows XP drivers with the 32-bit version of Vista Beta 2 however if a 32-bit Vista certified driver is not yet available for a particular piece of hardware.

This will *hopefully* help to solve *many* compatibility issues. Unfortunately, it's taking a while for the manufacturers to get their sh1t together. Again, not Microsoft's fault.

Really, the worst of it is in the 1st few hours. Do a clean install in the evening, and leave your computer on overnight, allowing Vista to finish it's indexing. In the morning, it should be nice and responsive.

This is based on my experiences with Vista Beta 2 on a Dell Precision workstation with only minor upgrades.(1.5Ghz, 768MB RAM, ATI 128MB Radeon 6800, and SB Live!)

Waiting patiently for Realtek's 64 bit driver...

Anyone know if you can change MCE settings manually? I don't have a Media Center remote and the wizard will not save my changes after it fails to find the remote hardware. I need to set the video input to svideo.

I agree that the requirement for all 64-bit drivers to be signed will be a good thing going forward. Unfortunately in the mean time, this means that driver support in 64-bit Vista Beta 2 is far worse than driver support was at the release of 64-bit Windows XP.

With Windows Media Player 11, when I play any Windows Media video I get the following error message after watching about two seconds of video:

"Windows Media Player cannot play the file. This can occur when another program or operating system component encounters a problem but does not communicate the nature of the problem to the Player."

This happens even after the indexing is complete. My computer stays turned on 99.999% of the time.

driver support in 64-bit Vista Beta 2 is far worse than driver support was at the release of 64-bit Windows XP.

Driver support with a Beta OS is worse than a Released OS? *gasp*

Duh??

As for the Media Player errors, again, it sounds like an audio or graphics driver issue. As I said, it works pretty well for me. Aside from the lack of DivX support, of course. ;)

I do not seem to have any playback issues with WMP11. In fact, it is finally the *first* WMP that plays video smoothly (especially streaming video). I am very happy with its performance and the interface is great. I do however have problems with just about every other Vista feature. Everything is very sluggish feeling, and I have a decent high-end machine. Other people report Vista as being just as stable and fast as XP. I just don't see it yet. I guess everyone's mileage will vary greatly at this point in the BETA. I can't wait for RC1 when MS fine tunes things for performance a bit more.

With the exception of graphics and possibly sound card drivers, 64-bit Windows XP drivers are 100% compatible with 64-bit Vista. I'll bet that most if not all of the network card drivers that were included with 64-bit Vista, for example, were simply taken from 64-bit Windows XP and given a new digital signature that says it's also compatible with 64-bit Vista. It's probably the same story with most of the other hardware drivers included on the 64-bit Vista DVD.

Because of this, there is absolutely no reason for 64-bit Vista Beta 2 to have significantly worse hardware support than 64-bit Windows XP.

With the exception of graphics and possibly sound card drivers

....and what devices were you having issues with again?

Also, please give some references for "64-bit Windows XP drivers are 100% compatible with 64-bit Vista". I have not heard that.

I am still having issues getting my Silicon Image 3112 SATA PCI controller working. I had to dig up an old PATA hard disk from all of the spare parts I have just to get 64-bit Vista to install. If the 32-bit Windows XP Silicon Image 3112 driver is 100% compatible with 32-bit Vista then why wouldn't the 64-bit Windows XP version of the driver be 100% compatible with 64-bit Vista?