Download limit lifted on Windows 7

Acknowledging its release of Windows 7 public beta "was not ideal", Microsoft said it will suspend the software's 2.5 million download limit for a couple of weeks.

Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc announced the move in a company blog Saturday: "Due to an enormous surge in demand, the download experience was not ideal so we listened and took the necessary steps to ensure a good experience.

"We have clearly heard that many of you want to check out the Windows 7 Beta and, as a result, we have decided to remove the initial 2.5 million limit on the public beta for the next two weeks [through 24 January]. During that time you will have access to the beta even if the download number exceeds the 2.5 million unit limit."

The software was supposed to be made available on Friday but the company delayed the release after a day filled with website problems.

The company has said it is aiming for several million testers of the beta version, the availability of which was announced Wednesday night by Steve Ballmer in his keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show. Microsoft has been aiming to have the final version ready to be on PCs for this year's Christmas shopping season but Windows boss Bill Veghte said it is still too soon to say whether the company will make that time frame. Officially, Microsoft has promised that it will be out before the third anniversary of Vista's January 2007 mainstream launch.

Original article: Microsoft lifts download limit for Windows 7 beta from CNET News.com