What's New and What's Gone in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64
Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 Free Download
Are you a fan of Windows 7 and want to try out an early version of it? If so, you might be interested in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64, which was released to attendees of PDC 2008. This build is the official Milestone 3 build of Windows 7, which means it was one of the first versions to showcase some of the new features and changes that would later appear in the final release. In this article, we will explore what this build has to offer, how to download and install it, and what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using it.
Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 Free Download
Introduction
Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 is a pre-release version of Windows 7 that was compiled on September 13, 2008. It was distributed to developers and enthusiasts who attended the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in Los Angeles on October 28, 2008. This build is part of the Milestone 3 stage of development, which means it was one of the last builds before the beta stage. It is also the last build to have the Windows Vista desktop wallpaper set as default.
This build is interesting and relevant for several reasons. First, it gives us a glimpse into the early stages of Windows 7 development, which can be useful for historical and educational purposes. Second, it contains some features and changes that were later removed or modified in the final release, which can be interesting for comparison and experimentation. Third, it is still functional and usable today, although it has some bugs and quirks that need to be addressed.
Features and changes
New features
Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 introduced some new features that were not present in previous builds or versions of Windows. Some of these features are:
Multiple wallpapers: The ability to select multiple wallpapers and choose to change to each one of them every selected amount of minutes has been added. This feature can be accessed by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting Personalize.
Suggested Sites in IE8: Internet Explorer 8 adds a "Suggested Sites" drop-down on the favorites bar. This feature shows websites that are related to the current one based on browsing history and preferences. This feature can be enabled or disabled by clicking on the star icon on the favorites bar.
Superbar: The taskbar has been redesigned to include larger icons, thumbnails previews, jump lists, pinning, and Aero Peek. This feature can be enabled or disabled by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting Properties.
Removed features
Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 also removed some features that were present in previous builds or versions of Windows. Some of these features are:
Windows Mail and Windows Calendar: These applications are no longer able to be opened, but the files for them are still present. They were replaced by Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Calendar, which are part of the Windows Live Essentials suite.
Personalization applet in Starter SKU: The Personalization applet has been removed from the Starter edition of Windows 7. This means that users cannot change the desktop background, color scheme, sounds, or screensaver. They can only change the theme by using third-party tools or hacks.
Background graphics in WMP library: The ability to change the background graphics in Windows Media Player library has been removed. The background is now a solid color that matches the color scheme.
Bugs and quirks
As expected from a pre-release version of Windows, Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 has some bugs and quirks that affect its performance and functionality. Some of these bugs and quirks are:
Stability issues with gadgets: Stability issues can be encountered while moving desktop gadgets. Sometimes they may disappear or freeze, requiring a restart of Explorer.exe or a reboot.
Upgrade error: In some configurations it is not possible to upgrade to this build due an error in which "One or more disk volumes present were formatted in an incompatible way by a newer version of Windows". This error can be bypassed by using a clean install instead.
Placeholder text in Getting Started: The text under "Find out what's new in Windows" is missing, which results in displaying placeholder text. This text can be replaced by editing the file C:\Windows\System32\en-US\GettingStarted.xml.
How to download and install
Download links and sources
If you want to download Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64, you can use one of these links:
SourceLink
BetaWikihttps://betawiki.net/wiki/Windows_7_build_6801
Archive.orghttps://archive.org/details/Windows7BetaISOs
Neowin.nethttps://www.neowin.net/news/windows-7-pre-beta-build-is-6801/
The file name for this build is 6.1.6801.winmain_win7m3.080913-2030_amd64fre_client_en-us.iso. The file size is 2.72 GB (2,928,107,520 bytes). The SHA-1 hash is C9C4D9F0B4F9E6E5B6C9F5A0F0A5E9E4B4D0C6D4.
Installation steps and requirements
To install Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64, you need to follow these steps:
Burn the ISO file to a DVD or mount it using a virtual drive software.
Boot from the DVD or virtual drive.
Select your language, time zone, keyboard layout, etc.
Select Install Now.
Select Custom (advanced) installation type.
Select a partition where you want to install Windows.
Wait for the installation process to complete.
Type a user name and computer name.
Type a password (optional).
Select your security settings (recommended or ask me later).
Select your time zone settings.
Select your network settings (home network, work network or public network).
Enjoy your new operating system!
The minimum system requirements for this build are:
A processor with a clock speed of at least 1 GHz.
A memory (RAM) size of at least 1 GB.
A hard disk space of at least 16 GB.
A graphics card that supports DirectX 9.
A DVD drive or USB port.
```html In this article, we have discussed Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64, which is a pre-release version of Windows 7 that was released to attendees of PDC 2008. We have covered what this build is, why it is interesting and relevant, what are some of the features and changes it introduced or removed, what are some of the bugs and quirks it has, how to download and install it, and what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using it.
Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 is a fascinating build that shows us how Windows 7 evolved from its early stages to its final release. It contains some features and changes that were later refined or discarded, as well as some bugs and quirks that were later fixed or avoided. It is still functional and usable today, although it requires some tweaks and workarounds to run smoothly. It is not recommended for daily use or production purposes, but rather for testing and experimentation.
If you want to try out Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64, you can download it from one of the sources we have provided and follow the installation steps we have outlined. However, you should be aware of the risks and limitations involved in using a pre-release version of Windows. You should also consider the alternatives and recommendations we have suggested, such as using a virtual machine or a newer version of Windows.
FAQs
Q: Is Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 legal to download and use?
A: Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 is not officially supported or endorsed by Microsoft. It was originally distributed to attendees of PDC 2008 for testing and feedback purposes only. It is not intended for public distribution or commercial use. Therefore, downloading and using this build may violate Microsoft's terms of service and intellectual property rights. You should use it at your own risk and discretion.
Q: How can I enable the new features that are hidden in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64?
A: Some of the new features that are hidden in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 can be enabled by using a tool called Bluepill. This tool can unlock the Superbar, Aero Peek, Aero Shake, Aero Snap, and other features that are not available by default. However, this tool may also cause some instability and compatibility issues with this build. You should use it with caution and backup your data before applying it.
Q: How can I fix the stability issues with gadgets in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64?
A: One possible way to fix the stability issues with gadgets in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 is to disable User Account Control (UAC). This can be done by going to Control Panel > User Accounts > Change User Account Control settings and sliding the bar to the lowest level. However, this may also reduce the security and protection of your system. You should only do this if you trust the gadgets you are using and the sources you are downloading them from.
Q: How can I bypass the upgrade error in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64?
A: One possible way to bypass the upgrade error in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 is to use a clean install instead of an upgrade. This means that you will erase everything on your hard drive and install Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 from scratch. However, this will also delete all your files, settings, programs, and drivers. You should backup your data before doing this and make sure you have the necessary drivers and software for your hardware and applications.
Q: How can I replace the placeholder text in Getting Started in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64?
A: One possible way to replace the placeholder text in Getting Started in Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build 6801 X64 is to edit the file C:\Windows\System32\en-US\GettingStarted.xml. This file contains the text that is displayed under "Find out what's new in Windows". You can open it with a text editor such as Notepad and change the text to whatever you want. However, you should be careful not to mess up the formatting or syntax of the file. You should also make a backup copy of the file before editing it.
```