Microsoft to shut down TechNet subscription service

OMG, that's where I obtain all my OS's, Office, Virtual PC etc. etc. My subscription is good until 4/12/2014. MSDN is an expensive alternative I suppose but out of my financial league.

I haven't received the letter yet.

Do all my licenses expire along with the subscription on that date? That's not clear from those FAQ's.

I suppose I will then have to go out and purchase the software again just to obtain a valid license.

Thanks Microshaft.

Hello Peter,

I would suspect that all TechNet keys will no longer be any good afterwards.

That's what I thought. It means I will have to purchase W7 Ult w/SP1, W8 Pro and Office 2010/13 retail copies simply to continue using my current OS's & Office by changing the keys. Boo Hoo.

(Already own Vista Ult. & the 8 MC upgrade thank goodness).

I can't see that happening though. MS is evil, but that evil.

I was hoping they'd let us continue using existing keys. I guess time will tell. Maybe they'll relent and offer a discount on MSDN subs to exisiting Technet members.

I think it's really mean-spirited. But that seems the norm these days unfortunately.

Patonb said:

I can't see that happening though. MS is evil, but that evil.

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Well, what you get from TechNet is for evaluation purposes only while you have a current TechNet subscription, so I would suspect that the keys from TechNet will no longer activate when your TechNet subscription expires.

Well I do evaluate, the trouble is its software installed on the OS. So I suppose in a way I am not adhering to the letter of the agreement. I better get ready for some major expenditure when my subscription expires.

But there is this statement:

It also changed the terms so that usage rights expired when the subscription did (although product keys continued to work).

Click to expand...

and

[Product keys downloaded as part of a TechNet subscription won’t expire, although license rights for products downloaded as part of a current subscription will cease when the subscription ends.

Click to expand...

Which is a grey area.

At least one website I saw today said the same thing.

I don't have a technet account but do have a dreamspark subscription since I am a student. When subscription ends I am unable to download programs or OS's but the ones that are currently activated are permanent. I'm not sure if its the same but this command seemed to clear things up for me:

Mine says permanently activated too, but I've learned over the years that nothing is really permanent. We shall see I suppose, but thanks for posting that.

No worries, while Windows says it is you are right, Microsoft could release a critical Patch which would automatically deactivate product keys that they choose so who knows

They could indeed, but let's hope they don't. I have almost a year left on my subscription so time will tell. I've already emailed them suggesting they offer long-term Technet subscribers a break on an MSDN subscription. God knows they could afford to be generous despite their dismal Windows 8 results.

To ensure that I have at least one OS working after my subscription ends I just changed the product key on my Vista back to my own copy. Had to do a phone activation but it worked fine. Also digging through my stockpile I notice that the only copy of Office that I actually own is 2007 Home & Student. which has extended support up to 2017. I guess that will have to do for now. Office is darned expensive to buy, but I'm afraid I don't like Open Office, otherwise I wouldn't have any worries. Now the only things I have to beat are Windows 7 Ultimate and possibly Windows 8 although I am rather leery of what will happen to that last one. The original W8 RTM key was Technet but I bought the upgrade and Media Center key which it now uses, (the MC edition uses its own activation key) so will it have rug pulled out from under it or not I wonder? (Question already under discussion in the 8 Forums).
I'm planning rather early I realize as my Technet licenses are good until my subscription expires in April, 2014.