Reply to: Free Microsoft TechNet Plus subscription

[voodooflux]

My subscription was disabled immediately after sign up a couple of days ago, but today it's working fine. All keys are visible and downloads are working at the moment..I'm not sure how long it will last.

Mine seems to be working again now as well, although yesterday I also managed to get on to the BizSpark program so I now have full MSDN access too

[TheRefactornator]

My subscription was disabled immediately after sign up a couple of days ago, but today it's working fine. All keys are visible and downloads are working at the moment..I'm not sure how long it will last.

[voodooflux]

Is that legal? If you've set up the account, got the keys and then they withdraw the accounts?

Not sure, there's probably something in the T&C's reserving their right to withdraw the service or something like that.

There's an update on all this at Neowin today, including reports of some UK accounts being reinstated.

[Churchill]

As well as pulling the offer it looks like they've withdrawn all the free accounts.

Is that legal? If you've set up the account, got the keys and then they withdraw the accounts?

[voodooflux]

I got my order code and Benefit Access Number.

Yesterday I had the relevant technet product added to my "Passport" now the product has gone.

Or.... Am I looking in the wrong place?

Help..... Please...

As well as pulling the offer it looks like they've withdrawn all the free accounts.

[Churchill]

I got my order code and Benefit Access Number.

Yesterday I had the relevant technet product added to my "Passport" now the product has gone.

Or.... Am I looking in the wrong place?

Help..... Please...

[voodooflux]

Sounds like Microsoft have caught on and pulled this according to an update on Ars Technica

[TykeMerc]

Error

We are unable to validate your customer information and proceed with your order at this time.

Not sure why this is happening, I've tried my old Hotmail address and a new one created through their registration process.

[voodooflux]

Thanks, now if only the same thing existed for MSDN I'd really be sorted.

If you've had your limited company for less than three years* then BizSpark might be worth a look for a cheap MSDN sub.

*and I'm told there might be a way around this.

[voodooflux]

Thanks.

I thank you.

Thanks voodooflux - really useful post.

Ta VF by the way

Thanks

Ta very muchness for the link regardless.

No worries, hope you all manage to get on there and grab yourselves some downloads

[TimberWolf]

...the javascript behind the download button just puts me into visual web developer. D'oh!

Ah, I was using Firefox

[TimberWolf]

The product keys for the Empower program didn't expire after the membership period elapsed (apparently ) so I would hope the keys issued by TechNet would also keep working beyond the end of September - although the terms of the EULA prohibit the continued use of the software beyond the term of membership.

Ta very muchness for the link regardless. I have got the keys now but the product download doesn't work for me - the javascript behind the download button just puts me into visual web developer. D'oh!

[voodooflux]

The catch is, in September they'll start hassling us trying to get us to sign up for paid subscriptions. Which is why I expect these product keys to expire then.

What happens when the keys expire?

The product keys for the Empower program didn't expire after the membership period elapsed (apparently ) so I would hope the keys issued by TechNet would also keep working beyond the end of September - although the terms of the EULA prohibit the continued use of the software beyond the term of membership.

[rsingh]

The catch is, in September they'll start hassling us trying to get us to sign up for paid subscriptions. Which is why I expect these product keys to expire then.

For those of us on the bench, it is a good cheap way to get exposure to some of the newer technologies. Its basically 4 months free training if you have the discipline.

Thanks VoodooFlux

[TimberWolf]

The catch is, in September they'll start hassling us trying to get us to sign up for paid subscriptions. Which is why I expect these product keys to expire then.

What happens when the keys expire?