Windows Beta Pages in Microsoft.com? (Wayback Machine)

[WindowsCollector2000]

Hey BetaArchive!

I have started using the WayBack Machine to find earlier Microsoft stuff (With the fact that Windows XP was semi-available during B2 ), but I myself, was wondering whether there was pages, for example: Whistler (Not XP).

Let me know if there is!

-WindowsCollector2000

The Collector

[abwusers]

Have you tried to find via archive.org/web ? I believe you will find that if you explore carefully.

[haroldas.velioniskis]

wayback machine IS archive.org/web

[WindowsCollector2000]

That is what I was saying! Now I'm not talking about the links built into setup programs or anything like that. I mean actual Insider Programs (Besides Win8-10)!

[user99672]

That is what I was saying! Now I'm not talking about the links built into setup programs or anything like that. I mean actual Insider Programs (Besides Win8-10)!

Windows 7 had a few public betas (7000, 7100)...but for the most part, no. Microsoft's corporate culture has changed many times during its existence, and "Insider Programs" is a new development specific to Windows 10. There may be mentions of products that were under development at the time on the public facing content, but anything of interest was restricted to Microsoft employees, partners, and MSDN Subscribers.

[WindowsCollector2000]

Insider Programs were basically Windows 98 Beta 3, or Windows XP Beta 2! And I have found those. But what about Codename Memphis: Beta 1?

That's what I've been asking for the past day!

[user99672]

No..the "Insider" term was invented during Windows 10 development...you may be thinking of a "public beta".....

[Spider-Vice]

I remember seeing a Whistler beta page in Archive.org but it was a little bit hard to find. This was long ago.

[Overdoze]

With archive.org you'll only find pages for public betas (which means only a few builds per release). Pages which people under NDAs had access to won't be accessible anyway...

[viper]

Back in 2005 this is how we use to receive betas from Microsoft (before Connect).

This were during the XP x64 beta testing days

[WindowsCollector2000]

I tried going into WindowsBeta, Robots.txt interrupts me.

[user99672]

Did you really think you were going to waltz into that without authentication, or that IA's spiders would ignore robots.txt? Even if they did, all you'd see is a broken login screen

[Hector_TBC]

Back in 2005 this is how we use to receive betas from Microsoft (before Connect).

This were during the XP x64 beta testing days

These links are work?

[viper]

These links are work?

No, MS shut down that sites use for software testers when they switched the testers to "Connect".

[Spider-Vice]

Back in 2005 this is how we use to receive betas from Microsoft (before Connect).

This were during the XP x64 beta testing days

Holy crap, the Office bar, the old Avast icon, ZoneAlarm and IE6. Now I feel old.

Edit: And Incredimail.

[WindowsCollector2000]

So now you're saying WindowsBeta was a MS Site to get ANY beta? Like, Whistler 2415?
If yes... WHY MICROSOFT?!?!

[viper]

So now you're saying WindowsBeta was a MS Site to get ANY beta? Like, Whistler 2415?
If yes... WHY MICROSOFT?!?!

I only had the Windows XP x64 builds available to me, I'm guessing that this website had been around before that but don't have any info what was offered to their beta testers before that.
Someone else here may have that info.

--

"Spider-Vice" Netscape too

[WindowsCollector2000]

If it was around before XP x64, would Whistler builds be in WindowsBeta?

[viper]

If it was around before XP x64, would Whistler builds be in WindowsBeta?

You will need to speak to a Whistler tester that tested for Microsoft what & where the builds came from.
I am only guessing it was the same as my screenshot (w/ different builds listed naturally) but have no confirmation from a official MS tester.
The only one I knew (he tested early XP builds) moved to the east coast.

I cannot believe I am the only one w/ a screenshot of the old WindowsBeta offerings.

[xelloss]

No..the "Insider" term was invented during Windows 10 development...you may be thinking of a "public beta".....

It's actually a bit of both.
Back in the time of Windows 9x, there were few selected beta testers (i.e. selected end-users who were sent pre-release software under an NDA, provided feedback, and were usually compensated for their work by Microsoft with a complimentary RTM copy of the software), but other people could still get access to the final stages of a pre-release software by paying a few dollars to receive a "preview program" copy of Windows or Office, with no obligation to send feedback and no reward either.

Until Windows 3.x betas were probably only given to OEMs and few other people.

Today, the entire beta process is open to the public, which means the two categories have merged into the same. It's a bit worse for real beta testers, but definitely better for everybody else.

[user99672]

I don't see how that invalidates or changes the efficacy of my point. "Insider" has referred to the public beta testing of Windows 10.