Microsoft offering free TechNet Plus subscription

MM PC Solutions

MM PC Solutions

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As many of you would know, TechNet Plus is a Microsoft service which offers full, legitimate versions of software to IT professionals (or whoever wants to pay for it). The subscription usually saps your wallet for $349 US, if you only want downloads, or $599 if you'd like disc versions too. However, as you can see, this is pretty pricey... the good news is, if you live in the US, the UK or Canada, our friendly Redmond-based software company has you covered.

you will need the following information: First name, last lame, street address, city/town, state, postal code, email, and contact phone number. You'll obviously need a valid address if you wish to get CD/DVD media, but otherwise you can use any for the direct software downloads.


Free Technet US
Free Technet UK
Free Technet Canada

Once that's all done, you'll need to do a few more things before you have a wealth of freebies within your grasps:

1. Sign In: Visit the TechNet Subscriptions Benefits Portal (you may be prompted to re-sign in using your Windows Live ID).
2. Register: You will be required to enter your first name, last name, e-mail address (exactly as they appear in your "Ship to" information) and Benefit Access Number: XXXXXXXXXX and accept the license terms.
3. Access Benefits: Once you have completed the registration, you will be able to access your online benefits, including Subscriber Downloads from the TechNet Subscriptions Management page. Each time you visit you will sign in using your Windows Live ID.

Update
I am now hearing that this is part of a pilot program that is set to expire on September 30, 2009, which means it's more of a three month deal, but hey, free is free! Currently, the expiration date reads "1/1/1900" but Microsoft is working on fixing that.
Click to expand...

Source: arstechnica

Well, I signed up for it & have received my first email from Microsoft with regards to this.

Hopefully this will be useful for others.
 
Keys????For what

Quick questions on this, Why do they provide you with Keys?? Is it full versions of the softwares or what? Whats the purpose of them? Or is it on a time period limit??
 
full versions for TESTING purposes. You can't use them to setup production systems or use them for your personal machines that you use every day. For testing this is great because they offer volume license keys, retail keys, etc. so you are able to test many different environments.

But if you are trying to learn Server 2008 with Vista, XP and 7 clients, you can set them all up in some VMs (or real machines) and fiddle to your heart's content. This is what I use it for.

Just don't download and install Server 2008 and decide to offer hosting for your clients on it.
 
http://www.technibble.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6889

We've been talking about this since last night. If you check my posts one of them has directions for generating a bunch of keys and saving them out. So far I've downloaded Vista 64 SP2, XP Home Retail, XP Pro Retail, XP 64 Retail, and Vista 32 SP2 is downloading now. I'd suggest hitting up the Vista ISO's first since they're likely to work with OEM keys.
 
It seems the links are no longer active. At least they are not working for me. Just my luck. Anyone have any alternate links for this?
 
I have been down loading various since this morning and it is still going strong for me. Also genearted a few keys to use. I have just upgraded my main PC so some of these will be going to test on my old pc.
The problems may be with the sign up link but once you have your codes the downloads working well
 
I actually tried the other thread last night and it gave me some crazy error that based on my answers I did not qualify...I didn't answer any questions I just clicked the link.

This one allows me to fill out the form, just gives me an error when it process, which I would assume is from the hammering.
 
you guys posting the link to forums killed it.

TechNet Plus is temporarily offline for the pilot program.

Thank you all for your wonderful interest and energy around the TechNet Plus Pilot Study. We have halted recruiting for the TechNet Plus pilot program after having reached our quotas for all intended markets. Unfortunately, one of the study participants posted the TechNet Plus registration link on a public blog in direct violation of the terms and conditions agreed to at the start of the study and for membership in ITAC.

The TechNet Plus links have been deactivated. The TechNet Plus site is currently offline for pilot participants while we mitigate the issues resulting from this situation. Please bear with us.

We need to remind everyone on ITAC and in the TechNet Plus study that participation in the portal and the various research studies/pilot programs launched on ITAC is governed by terms and conditions that prevent the sharing of proprietary study information with outside entities. All of you are privy to private, non-public and proprietary information while on ITAC and we are sorry to say that sharing information presented to you by Intrepid or our clients, is in violation of the agreements that each one of you signed upon entering.

Again, we are grateful for everyone's participation and enthusiasm, this situation has just served as a reminder to us all.

Kindest Regards,

Intrepid ITAC Team
Click to expand...
 
MrUnknown said:
you guys posting the link to forums killed it.
Click to expand...
Why? Technet is aimed at computer professionals, just like this site.

It's certainly been abused elsewhere, but I would have thought the intended target audience for this site would have been ideal candidates.
 
did technet nuke all members that subscribed to this program cause i was able to login using my live id now i dont seem to be able to lol..
 
Mine's still letting me login, but the key and download servers both seem to be down. Can't get anything right now.

But, I'm a Microsoft Partner and did sign up before arstechnica released this. I was actually planning on buying the membership yesterday before this came up and will be buying it when this expires.
 
I can login, but if I go to download I get an error screen. I'm guessing they nuked everyone.
 
Sorry, I didn't mean those on this forum. either way, it was an invite-only program apparently. Also people were posting links to actually "purchase" the subscription for free. So those on the other forums like FatWallet and such really ruined it.

Nevermind the fact that the company who is supposed to manage it completely failed. Their contact emails do not even work.
 
I can get all the way to the download screen, however the "keys" and "download" links are grayed out. I got alot of stuff last night, worth staying up until 2am to do it.
 
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