Beta Software, Chat & Support

This forum, Beta Software, Chat & Support is intended to encourage all members to post support questions and general discussion on beta software of any description.

The Betas Team and many of our members are experienced beta testers, with systems specifically setup to be able to throw just about anything at them with little or no ill effects - well nothing that a reformat won’t fix. So try us, if you are having a problem with some unruly code that just won’t co-operate.

As with the rest of our forums, please do not post about or ask for warez, cracks and keys. Here are some answers to questions you may have:

What exactly is a Beta?

Beta software is a pre-release version of software which companies give out to get feedback on. Generally it is expected to have some bugs, and the designers are interested in feedback from the testers concerning what works and what doesn't in the program, as well as suggestions for features they would like to see in the final release version.

What do I have to do to test Beta software?

As Beta software can sometimes cause unforseen results, it is advisable to install it on a test machine, or at least using a test Operating System on a seperate partition which does not contain important files or programs which cannot be easily replaced or reinstalled.

Beta testers are encouraged to report any bugs they may find, or make suggestions for improvements to the program. The most important thing when reporting bugs is to be specific and include any needed details such as hardware and software being used, steps required to reproduce the bug, and any specific error messages you encounter. Many companies also appreciate screenshots of the problem so they can actually see what is going on. Most companies that provide Beta releases will have information concerning bug reporting on their website.

Where can I get Beta software?

The Betas Team, and the News Team at PROnetworks are constantly on the lookout for the newest Beta Releases, and you can find a huge number of Beta releases with program descriptions and download links in the Beta News Forum.