subject: How to Test Drive Windows 7 Online with Virtual Labs [print this page] How to Test Drive Windows 7 Online with Virtual Labs
Do you want to experience the new OS Windows 7 before you decide to install it ? Fortunately, Microsoft has setup a special Windows 7 Test Drive website with resources to help IT professionals test and deploy Windows 7 in their workplaces.It's good for you to experience the new interesting features of Windows 7 before you install it. Now I will show you how to test drive Windows 7 online with Virtual Labs.
Note: The online version is not nearly as responsive as a full standard install of Windows 7.It doesn't run the full Aero interface or desktop effects and may refresh slowly depending on your Internet connection.Therefore, do not judge Windows 7's performance based on this virtual lab, but you can use it as a way to learn more about Windows 7 without installing it.
Test Drive Windows 7 Online with Virtual labs
Firstly, visit Microsoft's Windows 7 Test Drive website (link below).You will need to run the Windows 7 Test Drive in Internet Explorer, as it requires Active X support.We received this error when attempting to run the Test Drive in Firefox:
Now, on the bottom left of the page click the "Take a Test Drive" link .
You can see this site includes several test drives to demonstrate different features of Windows 7 and its related ecosystem of products including Windows Server 2008 R2, some of which, including the XP Mode test drive, are not yet ready.
For this test, we choose the MED-V Test drive (this includes Office 2007 and 2010 so you can test them in Windows 7 as well).Just select the test drive you want, and click "Try it now!"
Note: If you haven't run a Windows test drive before, you will be asked to install an ActiveX control.Simply click the link to install.
Then click the yellow bar at the top of the page in Internet Explorer, and select to Install the add-on.You may have to approve a UAC prompt to finish the install.
Once this is finished, click the link saying " Close this window and return to the setup"on the bottom of the page to return to your test drive.The test drive page should automatically refresh (if it doesn't, click refresh to reload it).
Now the test drive will load the components.
Once it is completely loaded, click the link to launch Windows 7 in a new window.
You may see a prompt warning that the server may have been impersonated. Just click "Yes" to proceed.
Then the test lab will give you some getting started directions. Simply click "Close Window" when you're ready to try out Windows 7.
Now you can see the default desktop in the Windows 7 test drive.You can use it just like a normal Windows computer (but keep in mind that it may function slowly depending on your internet connection).
Since this test drive includes both Office 2007 and Office 2010 Tech Preview, you can try out both in Windows 7 as well.
You can try out the new Windows 7 applications such as the reworked Paint with the Ribbon interface from Office.
And you can even test the newest version of Media Center, though it will warn you that it may not function good with the down-scaled graphics in the test drive.
Of course, you can try out the new features in Windows 7, such as Jumplists and even Aero Snap.Certainly, these features will not function the quickest, but it does let you test them out.
There are different tasks it walks you through While working with the Virtual Lab. You can also download a copy of the lab manual in PDF format to help you navigate through the various objectives.
Note: These virtual labs are great for tech students, or those of you who want to get a first-hand trial of the new features. Also, if you're not sure on how to deploy something and want to practice in a virtual environment, these labs are quite valuable.
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