upgrade xp pro sp2 beta 2 business

If you are running Outlook 2003 and install Vista Beta 2 Business as an upgrade and try to backup your Outlook file you are in for a rude awakening. You will lose all the emails that you thought you had backed up and the original backup file and archive backup will both get corrupted and rendered useless. I found this out the hard way earlier today. I've lost over $600.00 worth of software that was purchased and downloaded over the past 6 months because of this MAJOR problem. Without the emails with the order info and serials, etc. the software cannot be replaced.
The fact that Beta 2 was unleasehed on an unsuspecting and unprepared public just makes it that much worse. I've been a beta tester since the days of Windows 3.1 and never experienced anything like this. No more will I defend Microsoft or its software as I have in the past.
We, as Beta testers, were asked to perform "upgrade scenarios" because Beta 2 was stable enough to do so. That was nothing but a lie. It is not stable by any stretch of the imagination. Build 5381 was far more stable than Beta 2 and that's unacceptable.
Beware and be warned that Microsoft can no longer be trusted as far as I'm concerned. And the $5.00 maximum for damages they refer to in the Beta 2 EULA is a joke for a multi-billion dollar company. I would venture to bet that no one ever receives one cent for their losses. I know I won't recoup anything for the losses I have suffered - all my emails from January 2006 through May 2006 are lost forever and most of them were business related correspondence.
I am so stressed out and frustrated at this point, I want nothing to do with Windows Vista or Microsoft products ever again. I don't feel like the company can be trusted at all. If/when a class action lawsuit comes out of this premature release of an unstable beta to the general public, I will be sure to get in on it as quick as I can. -- When all else fails.... read the instructions. -- When all else fails.... read the instructions.

Simply amazing! You claim to have beta tested since 3.1 and yet put a beta OS on a production system? And you want to blame Microsoft for you stupidity??
Rule #1 for Beta Testing a new OS: NEVER INSTALL ON YOUR PRIMARY SYSTEM!!!
You install the OS on a safe system then start adding in apps to see what breaks. Duh!
If you have indeed lost all this "important" data, it is due to your own ignorance and stupidity. Microsoft never claimed Vista Beta 2 is ready for primetime.
If you do not have a test system to install Beta 2 on, DON'T USE IT!!
If you insist on playing the fool at least backup your important stuff. If you lose anything do not blame Microsoft. They make it very plain on the download sites that you run this beta at your own risk.
"Kolohe Wiz" wrote:

If you are running Outlook 2003 and install Vista Beta 2 Business as an upgrade and try to backup your Outlook file you are in for a rude awakening. You will lose all the emails that you thought you had backed up and the original backup file and archive backup will both get corrupted and rendered useless. I found this out the hard way earlier today. I've lost over $600.00 worth of software that was purchased and downloaded over the past 6 months because of this MAJOR problem. Without the emails with the order info and serials, etc. the software cannot be replaced.
The fact that Beta 2 was unleasehed on an unsuspecting and unprepared public just makes it that much worse. I've been a beta tester since the days of Windows 3.1 and never experienced anything like this. No more will I defend Microsoft or its software as I have in the past.
We, as Beta testers, were asked to perform "upgrade scenarios" because Beta 2 was stable enough to do so. That was nothing but a lie. It is not stable by any stretch of the imagination. Build 5381 was far more stable than Beta 2 and that's unacceptable.
Beware and be warned that Microsoft can no longer be trusted as far as I'm concerned. And the $5.00 maximum for damages they refer to in the Beta 2 EULA is a joke for a multi-billion dollar company. I would venture to bet that no one ever receives one cent for their losses. I know I won't recoup anything for the losses I have suffered - all my emails from January 2006 through May 2006 are lost forever and most of them were business related correspondence.
I am so stressed out and frustrated at this point, I want nothing to do with Windows Vista or Microsoft products ever again. I don't feel like the company can be trusted at all. If/when a class action lawsuit comes out of this premature release of an unstable beta to the general public, I will be sure to get in on it as quick as I can. -- When all else fails.... read the instructions. -- When all else fails.... read the instructions.

Do not install Beta anything unless you are prepared for: A Clean Uninstall to resolve any issues caused directly or indirectly by any Beta. Total data loss. The list goes on, but of course you are well aware of this since you have "been a beta tester since the days of Windows 3.1" Anyone unwilling to accept the possibilities of the above should not install Beta anything from any source.
Apparently you failed to read available information: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx Note the red section.
But these are not really issues for you since someone as experienced will have back-ups of all important data. Surely you know hard drives can and do fail taking all data with them making a back-up plan for important data essential.
"The fact that Beta 2 was unleasehed on an unsuspecting and unprepared public..." Well, those that read the appropriate information were neither.
"We, as Beta testers..." Probably not in your case. The Technical Beta is private and has other private newsgroups, are you a member of that or another private group? Most participants in this newsgroup only have access to the public Beta and are not Beta testers. Instead they are participants in the Customer Preview Program (CPP). Completely different programs with different objectives.
To quote you one more time: "When all else fails.... read the instructions" Next time do just that.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"Kolohe Wiz" wrote in message

If you are running Outlook 2003 and install Vista Beta 2 Business as an upgrade and try to backup your Outlook file you are in for a rude awakening. You will lose all the emails that you thought you had backed up and the original backup file and archive backup will both get corrupted and rendered useless. I found this out the hard way earlier today. I've lost over $600.00 worth of software that was purchased and downloaded over the past 6 months because of this MAJOR problem. Without the emails with the order info and serials, etc. the software cannot be replaced.
The fact that Beta 2 was unleasehed on an unsuspecting and unprepared public just makes it that much worse. I've been a beta tester since the days of Windows 3.1 and never experienced anything like this. No more will I defend Microsoft or its software as I have in the past.
We, as Beta testers, were asked to perform "upgrade scenarios" because Beta 2 was stable enough to do so. That was nothing but a lie. It is not stable by any stretch of the imagination. Build 5381 was far more stable than Beta 2 and that's unacceptable.
Beware and be warned that Microsoft can no longer be trusted as far as I'm concerned. And the $5.00 maximum for damages they refer to in the Beta 2 EULA is a joke for a multi-billion dollar company. I would venture to bet that no one ever receives one cent for their losses. I know I won't recoup anything for the losses I have suffered - all my emails from January 2006 through May 2006 are lost forever and most of them were business related correspondence.
I am so stressed out and frustrated at this point, I want nothing to do with Windows Vista or Microsoft products ever again. I don't feel like the company can be trusted at all. If/when a class action lawsuit comes out of this premature release of an unstable beta to the general public, I will be sure to get in on it as quick as I can. -- When all else fails.... read the instructions. -- When all else fails.... read the instructions.