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Free Technet Subscriptions

Anything pre-Windows 2000 (and including 2K also) were pulled from Technet for legal reasons stemming from the Sun/Microsoft lawsuit over the Java virtual machine bullshit. It's in the FAQ on the Technet pages:

Subscriber Downloads and Product Keys Frequenty Asked Questions said:
Q: Why are some products missing or removed?

A: Microsoft has several different Subscription programs - MSDN, TechNet, and Expression. Based on the target audiences and the intended purposes for these subscriptions, different products may be offered under some program but not others. Decisions to add or remove products are at the discretion of the Subscriptions Business Marketing units, with input from the various product groups.

Some products have been removed from Subscriber Downloads due to the terms of Java-related settlements Microsoft made with Sun Microsystems. These products are no longer available from Microsoft in any form, but may be available through third-party resellers or Web sites.

These include (although not necessarily a comprehensive list): Internet Explorer 5.5, Map Point 2002, Office 2000, Outlook 2000, Project 2000, eMbedded Visual Tools 3.0, Visual Basic (Alpha Systems), Visual Studio 6 MSDE, Visual Studio 6.0, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, Back Office Server 2000, SQL Server 7, IIS 6.0, Office XP Developer, Visio 2000, Exchange Server 2000, Exchange Server 5.5, FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions, Handheld PC 2000 SDK, Infrared Communications for Windows 95 DDK, ISA Server 2000, MapPoint 2002, Office 2000, Office 97, Plus! 98, Project 2000, Site Server 3.0, Small Business Server 2000, SNA Server 4.0 Service Pack 3 & Service Pack 4, SQL Server 7.0, System Management Server 2.0, System Stress for Windows 2000, System Stress for Windows NT 4.0, Visio 2000, Visual Basic 5.0, Visual C++ (Alpha Systems), Visual FoxPro 6.0, Visual SourceSafe 6.0c & 6.0d, Visual Studio 6.0, Windows 2000 DDK, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 98, Windows 98 DDK, Windows CE SDKs & DDKs, Windows CE Toolkit for Visual C++ 6.0, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0, Windows NT 4.0 DDK, Windows XP (32bit) SR2 Checked/Debug Build
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Quite a bit of older stuff... pretty much their entire software catalog from Windows 2000 and back as well as a few newer items... :(
 
Joe Average said:
Anything pre-Windows 2000 (and including 2K also) were pulled from Technet for legal reasons stemming from the Sun/Microsoft lawsuit over the Java virtual machine bullshit. It's in the FAQ on the Technet pages:



Quite a bit of older stuff... pretty much their entire software catalog from Windows 2000 and back as well as a few newer items... :(
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That's stupid. Screw Sun.
 
spydermonkey said:
Still, I'm not sure why my account hasn't been shut down yet. For some reason though, Vista Business has been disabled for downloading and getting new serials.
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Those are Volume License keys and ISO's, which we aren't authorized to get, so they are greyed out.

Available to Levels: TechNet Plus (VL); TechNet Plus Direct (VL); Note the VL.
 
Zepher said:
Those are Volume License keys and ISO's, which we aren't authorized to get, so they are greyed out.

Available to Levels: TechNet Plus (VL); TechNet Plus Direct (VL); Note the VL.
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I was authorized to get them a few days ago, and I do have access to a few products with VLK's.
 
i thought i saw the business keys last monday too, least i thought. they do give you one enterprise vista key....
 
I am bummed. I wasn't even going to abuse this. I got a key for XP but forgot to get one for X64 Vista, even though I got it downloaded. Vista is why I was so jazzed about this. I run all XP and Windows 7 at home and it is a pain to look things up for Vista when friends ask how to do something. Was gonna do another partition with Vista on it so I could play with it a bit. Oh well. I guess it was free. I wish they would offer like $100-200 subscriptions for those that participated in this. I'd pay that. $350 is a little much on my budget, though.
 
I too took the survey on 06/01, registered in the US, and got 'the email' this morning. My access to the Technet site ended around 5pm EST. I'm hooked though. I will buy a subscription within the month. $350.00 is tough right now, but Technet is a resource I've done without too long.
 
Knuckle-Head said:
I too took the survey on 06/01, registered in the US, and got 'the email' this morning. My access to the Technet site ended around 5pm EST. I'm hooked though. I will buy a subscription within the month. $350.00 is tough right now, but Technet is a resource I've done without too long.
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Look for a coupon and you may end up paying around $280 or so.
 
Guys, Thank-you!!
I need to wait until the next pay though.. But I'll take it. Technet is worth it.
 
Joe Average said:
Anything pre-Windows 2000 (and including 2K also) were pulled from Technet for legal reasons stemming from the Sun/Microsoft lawsuit over the Java virtual machine bullshit. It's in the FAQ on the Technet pages:

Quite a bit of older stuff... pretty much their entire software catalog from Windows 2000 and back as well as a few newer items... :(
Click to expand...

Hmm. Not that I need them (already have 98se and ME), but I really could have used 2000. I have one guy still using it, and even thought I set him up with a drive image, he has no disk if he ever needs to format. I suppose I could always get him to buy XP pro if needed.
 
As of this morning my sub is still active and good.
 
I said screw it and I went ahead and purchased it. You download one or two things and really a TechNet subscription pays for itself. The more you use it, the more value it has. I've already grabbed Vista Ultimate x64, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Virtual Server 2005, Exchange Server 2007, and Exchange 2010 Beta. For the non-beta software, the value is incredible. If I bought those things retail or OEM where applicable I'd be in for a few thousand dollars easily. This will all be a non-production enviroment, but still, to get those things legally would have cost a small fortune.

$296.96 after the promotional code is a bargain for what you get.
 
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Dan,

You mean Exchange 2007, right :) ? because, if there's a 2008 one, I can't see it anywhere in the TechNet website.
 
Dan_D said:
$296.96 after the promotional code is a bargain for what you get.
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I agree, but only insofar as one actually NEEDS those things. Otherwise you're just spending money that you wouldn't have spent.

I'll probably end up buying a sub between now and the final release of 7 just so I can get copies of 7 for my household (for 6 machines, $350 would be a bargain) but since I don't need anything else on technet in the meantime, it can't hurt to wait for another survey, bargain, super discount, etc.

I'm starting to wonder i this whole flap was engineered just to sucker people into buying technet subs. I have to admit that before this, I had no idea how cheap they were and how much it got you.
 
Devil24 said:
Dan,

You mean Exchange 2007, right :) ? because, if there's a 2008 one, I can't see it anywhere in the TechNet website.
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Yes, I keep thinking its called 2008 because some one at work always says it.
 
Sabrewulf165 said:
I agree, but only insofar as one actually NEEDS those things. Otherwise you're just spending money that you wouldn't have spent.

I'll probably end up buying a sub between now and the final release of 7 just so I can get copies of 7 for my household (for 6 machines, $350 would be a bargain) but since I don't need anything else on technet in the meantime, it can't hurt to wait for another survey, bargain, super discount, etc.

I'm starting to wonder i this whole flap was engineered just to sucker people into buying technet subs. I have to admit that before this, I had no idea how cheap they were and how much it got you.
Click to expand...

Well I needed two more copies of Vista at a minimum. The rest is for my Skulltrail server machine.
 
delvryboy said:
Since we have a definite release date, a sub now will cover it.
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Yeah but you might as well wait for another deal to come along if your only purpose is to get licenses for 7.

Besides, definite is never definite until it's definite ;)
 
Depends if you wanna wait, you know its going to go RTM awhile before the street date (to make sure they can put it on enough computers by release) which is Oct. 22 and they said they are wrapping up development in the next 2 months. I think that puts the RTM date with in the next 2 months.
 
delvryboy said:
Since we have a definite release date, a sub now will cover it.
Click to expand...

Well unless it goes 8 to 10 months past the current schedule you'd be covered with a TechNet subscription today. But I agree, waiting until you get closer to the release date is the smartest thing to do given that you just want it for Windows 7 licenses.
 
More than likely I would wait until the release date. That is if my free sub gets canceled. ;)
 
RangerXML said:
Depends if you wanna wait, you know its going to go RTM awhile before the street date (to make sure they can put it on enough computers by release) which is Oct. 22 and they said they are wrapping up development in the next 2 months. I think that puts the RTM date with in the next 2 months.
Click to expand...

I've read that they'll RTM 7 in July. I'm unsure when they typically release the image on Technet.

If it's in July or August, it's probably worth getting Technet sooner, rather than later.

In my case, I can get it for 250, so unless there's another great deal (still pissed that I missed this one...why couldn't they have sold it for a dollar, which would have put it in [H]ot deals) I'll sign up at the end of June.
 
nilepez said:
I've read that they'll RTM 7 in July. I'm unsure when they typically release the image on Technet.

If it's in July or August, it's probably worth getting Technet sooner, rather than later.

In my case, I can get it for 250, so unless there's another great deal (still pissed that I missed this one...why couldn't they have sold it for a dollar, which would have put it in [H]ot deals) I'll sign up at the end of June.
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TechNet usually gets stuff pretty early on.
 
http://blog.kristankenney.com/2009/...-technet-subscription-that-wasnt-meant-to-be/

"The Microsoft TechNet Consumer Service Pilot program was intended for use only by those invited through the ITAC program, in which you had to fill out a survey and be accepted as a member of ITAC before being sent an invitation to the TechNet Pilot program.

All of the subscriptions that are listed under the TechNet Consumer Service Pilot have been taken offline and placed "under examination". Any subscriptions created by legitimate ITAC members with valid contact information will continue to have a valid subscription. For those who are not a member of ITAC and signed up directly with the web address will have their subscriptions revoked and any claimed product keys will be placed on a blacklist with Microsoft Genuine Advantage and Product Activation to prevent against software piracy."
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So, that's about it. It's safe to say we can all kiss our keys goodbye... :)

And check the blog at:

http://blog.kristankenney.com/2009/...-technet-subscription-that-wasnt-meant-to-be/

for any further updates if they come in.
 
We'll see. I did the survey, and my TechNet sub got switched to "retail" and I can still "get" keys, but I never got an email about the ITAC (what does that even stand for?).
 
why not post the whole update and not just the scare sensationalist part.


UPDATE (06/04/2009 7:50 PM EST): I have been in touch with Microsoft TechNet Customer Service once again and was provided some updated information. At this point, management are still deciding whether or not any of the product keys claimed through these subscriptions will be blacklisted, as well as any legal implications and ramifications there may be in this event; the rest of the above information has not changed (this offer was only for ITAC, and that the subscriptions have been revoked).
Click to expand...
 
criccio said:
We'll see. I did the survey, and my TechNet sub got switched to "retail" and I can still "get" keys, but I never got an email about the ITAC (what does that even stand for?).
Click to expand...


IT Advisory Committee. It's what the whole point of the pilot.
 
My recommendation for those who managed to order a free subscription to the Microsoft TechNet Consumer Service Professional Pilot is that you simply delete the software and the product keys that you have claimed and go about your business, as you were not entitled to receive any of the licenses, software, or benefits that Microsoft TechNet includes, and would entail software piracy and violation of the Microsoft Software License Terms and the Microsoft TechNet License Terms if you continue to do so.

I wouldn’t expect Microsoft’s iron fist to come pounding at your door at 3 o’clock in the morning, unless you decide to continue using the software illegally or if you sell or otherwise share the product keys in which you obtained via your subscription. Personally, I think they have bigger fish to fry, like system builders installing cracked copies of Windows on customers computers without their knowledge, not to mention the legal costs of pursuing every person who signed up (and especially for those who didn’t know any better).
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LOL
 
Well, I gave my legitimate info fully intending to comply with the surveys/blogs/etc. In the original survey, the first question asked me USA or UK. I put USA. It accepted it.

I can't help it if the link was posted online for anyone to see.

My sub is still fully active to. I was just reading some threads in the newsgroups, and looking at my key list.

I also emailed a member of the ITAC in my area for info. Maybe I'll sign up. There was a link for it in the email about the surveys being for the UK.

I would also think that those of you who signed up with fake info will be shoo-ins for subscription deletions.
 
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Monkey34 said:
Well, I gave my legitimate info fully intending to comply with the surveys/blogs/etc. In the original survey, the first question asked me USA or UK. I put USA. It accepted it.

I can't help it if the link was posted online for anyone to see.

My sub is still fully active to. I was just reading some threads in the newsgroups, and looking at my key list.

I also emailed a member of the ITAC in my area for info. Maybe I'll sign up. There was a link for it in the email about the surveys being for the UK.

I would also think that those of you who signed up with fake info will be shoo-ins for subscription deletions.
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I was fully intending to comply with what you had to do for it as well. I gave them my home address and everything for that reason. So for them to call it piracy is fucking bullshit. It was NEVER clear if the program was intended ONLY for the UK until you actually finished the survey and were in the checkout process when you couldn't change it back to USA. For someone who has done even less than this program required and still gotten full software licenses (PowerTogether and Windows Feedback) I'm really fairly pissed. Pissed that they're backtracking on this so late and really pissed that we have more than enough fucktards on the internet to ruin it for the rest of us.
 
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markt435 said:
I'm really fairly pissed. Pissed that they're backtracking on this so late and really pissed that we have more than enough fucktards on the internet to ruin it for the rest of us.
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I'm not at all happy, either. I was, like many, directed to the ARS site, which happily reported that one could, legally, obtain a pilot Technet subscription by clicking through <this site> (for the UK) or <this site> (for the US). Being in the US, I naturally clicked the US link.

Whereupon Microsoft took my order information and I was given a benefit access number and a link to access such via an email.

For the first few hours, everything was dandy. However, when I could finally get home from work, I found that my sub had apparently been downgraded to "look, but don't touch" status. No notice of this was given to me via email or the Technet website itself.

I'm a little torqued about this, too. I didn't know anything about having to take any pre-surveys or being required to access this ITAC site. And Microsoft validated my subscription right there on the spot. If something was wrong (as in, no survey data found), then it should've red-flagged me during the signup process, not nine hours afterwards.

Seems a little bait-and-switch'ish to me. I'm not out any money, but I am out the expectation of obtaining legitimate ISOs of Vista Ultimate with SP2 already included (I have 2 Vista Ultimate retail licenses that I legitimately bought and, so far, I've found no way to download or order replacement media from Microsoft - this seemed the answers to my prayers).

So, I can't say I'm happy about any of this. Not happy one bit.
 
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