**** you 2 Microsoft

Just wow... I was upset when they decided to end Technet, but I made peace with that. However, Microsoft was not content with the humble submission of those who only seek to LEARN. I discovered today whilst firing up my Server 2012 home lab (Hyper-v, AD, Exchange 2013, Sharepoint 2013, Win 8.1 test client, etc...), not only were all my existing licences REVOKED, but now my servers & VM's reboot every hour of every day until I apparently get more MSDN keys. It doesn't prompt to save work, it just kills every process, shuts down, and ransoms my lab for money. What kind of Tom & Jerry B.S is this? You can't stop what your trying to stop. I could use one of the many workarounds, or piracy options to circumvent this slap in the face, but you know what? You don't want me to use your software (WHICH I ALREADY PAID FOR) in my lab? Fine! I WON'T...EVER AGAIN! Open Source from now on 110% freedom from business politics/greed which I am starting to believe only consumes & destroys anything worth seeking in this world. Why do you want me to be a Linux user so bad?

Did I mention I was really upset at losing months of work I put into learning all these new products, and features only to have them taken away from me at the end? I built it you should at least let me keep what I bought and built on my own...if I sold model airplanes I wouldn't trash the ones you already assembled once your club membership expires, on top of which I forced the expiration date...

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JustFred

This thread made me almost spit coffee on my screen. lol.

I thought i was the only person cursing the hell out of Micro$oft. I never really got over Technet. Wouldn't mind seeing those who made the decision serving time at the international court of justice.

Asif Dasl

You probably won't do this, but I'll mention it anyways. Become a Microsoft partner and you will get all of that software you are using now. It's a bit of a hassle I'll admit, but it seems to be the only way to get free software for your lab now that TechNet is gone. My TechNet subscription runs until November so I'll have to sign up to be a MS Partner before that by the looks of things.

MacGuffin

Yep. I was there too at one point. Actually it was several points where I was just livid at the crap that Microsoft pulled. I've been using all kinds of computer systems over the years and I've always been fascinated at what Microsoft has been able to get away with and yet people put up with them. I have a few stories.

There was a period where Microsoft Office was just craptastic. The Windows versions were always getting macro viruses and unless you had the latest and greatest processor it ran dog slow. The Macintosh versions were crash happy and slow. The curious thing was that the faster the computer the slower it ran, something to do with new processors doing things different than the old.

Here's a precious one, a certain version of Microsoft Word for Mac would actually delete the file you were working on if you saved it too many times. Since people were always nervous of Word crashing on them at any minute people would save often. As I recall the issue Word at that time would not save the file in the same spot, it looked like it did to the user but in the background it was actually creating a new file, saving it, deleting the old one, then renaming the new file the same as the old. Problem was that if you saved too many times the counter that kept track of the new file names would over flow, it would not save the new file but would still delete the old! Good job there geniuses. Microsoft's fix? Buy their new version. I recall WordPerfect had record sales that year.

That was a long time ago, back when Windows ME was new. Microsoft licensing has been an issue since Windows ME. Had to keep real good track of those license codes or it'd lock you out of your own files.

I've got all kinds of stories but those were some of my earliest and more memorable ones. I haven't had to do much computer support lately but I've yet to hear anything good about what's coming out of Microsoft. The best praise I've heard has been the latest version doesn't suck as bad as the previous version.

I've noticed people around me buying more Apple stuff and shifting over to Linux in the last few years. I have three brothers and for years they made fun of me for buying Apple computers. Now two of them own Apples and the third is real close to buying one.

Microsoft has always been a support nightmare. The OP complaint here is on licensing but the technical issues were just as painful. I remember when you bought a new license for Microsoft software you'd get this fancy shrink wrapped package of documentation and an installation CD. Then it was a jewel cased CD with a little booklet inside. Then they had a cardboard sleeve with the CD inside and the license code on the back. Then it turned into a sort of fancy printed postcard with your license code on it, you'd download the software. Then is was an e-mail with your license code. Each time the media cost was a fraction of what it was before but it sure does not seem like the savings was passed on to the buyers.

Microsoft isn't alone in this but it's real expensive now that you don't buy a license to use their software, you rent it. That makes Apple look real good and Linux look even better.

Cisc0kidd

Asif Dasl wrote: »

You probably won't do this, but I'll mention it anyways. Become a Microsoft partner and you will get all of that software you are using now. It's a bit of a hassle I'll admit, but it seems to be the only way to get free software for your lab now that TechNet is gone. My TechNet subscription runs until November so I'll have to sign up to be a MS Partner before that by the looks of things.

How does being a Partner get you free sw? I was a Partner about 5 years ago and all I got out of it was free tech showd.

jibbajabba

Free software = access to keys without reporting them to SPLA (I guess).

NetworkingStudent

DexterPark wrote: »

Just wow... I was upset when they decided to end Technet, but I made peace with that. However, Microsoft was not content with the humble submission of those who only seek to LEARN. I discovered today whilst firing up my Server 2012 home lab (Hyper-v, AD, Exchange 2013, Sharepoint 2013, Win 8.1 test client, etc...), not only were all my existing licences REVOKED, but now my servers & VM's reboot every hour of every day until I apparently get more MSDN keys. It doesn't prompt to save work, it just kills every process, shuts down, and ransoms my lab for money. What kind of Tom & Jerry B.S is this? You can't stop what your trying to stop. I could use one of the many workarounds, or piracy options to circumvent this slap in the face, but you know what? You don't want me to use your software (WHICH I ALREADY PAID FOR) in my lab? Fine! I WON'T...EVER AGAIN! Open Source from now on 110% freedom from business politics/greed which I am starting to believe only consumes & destroys anything worth seeking in this world. Why do you want me to be a Linux user so bad?

Did I mention I was really upset at losing months of work I put into learning all these new products, and features only to have them taken away from me at the end? I built it you should at least let me keep what I bought and built on my own...if I sold model airplanes I wouldn't trash the ones you already assembled once your club membership expires, on top of which I forced the expiration date...

Have you tired the re arm Command?

Please see this site:

how to extend Windows Server 2012 evaluation peiod?

Architect192

I agree that getting rid of technet is a stupid decision, however OP, the license you get when subscribed is not a permanent license. It's a license for usage WHILE you are subscribed. Which you no longer are, so it is their right to revoke the licenses. Sucks, I agree, but that's what you paid for when you subscribed to technet. (I went through the same thing...)

Marc

jibbajabba

Also, remember what they've done with XP back in the day ? When the VLK was found on torrent sites? Microsoft revoked the key and all VLK activated XP PC on the planet lost their activation and the key had to be changed ..

That was so much ............ fun ...

Asif Dasl

Cisc0kidd wrote: »

How does being a Partner get you free sw? I was a Partner about 5 years ago and all I got out of it was free tech showd.

You get 10 licenses of Windows 8, Office 2013, 5 x Server 2012 licenses (different versions). 10 CALs for Server 2012, Sharepoint, Exchange, Lync & SQL. 1 license of Visio 2013 & Project 2013. Check here:

https://mspartner.microsoft.com/en/us/pages/membership/action-pack-solution-provider-software-contents.aspx

ally_uk

That's why I run Linux

none of this licensing madness, Why did they pull technet?

aftereffector

What happened to TechNet? It still works for me - unless I'm missing something. We are talking about the knowledge base articles, right?

Asif Dasl

They got rid of TechNet subscriptions because it was being abused, you could buy it retail and Microsoft wouldn't know who the actual owner was and yet it would be installed on 10+ computers. So they stopped it.

I think with the MS Partner program they don't have this problem, because you can't buy it retail and you have to give them all your details.

You get the latest software for $329 but none of the old software that was included in the TechNet subscription. It's not a bad compromise to me. If you want the old software then go for an expensive MSDN subscription.

@aftereffector - We are talking about TechNet subscriptions not TechNet articles which are still working and free..

aftereffector

Ahhh okay... that makes sense. If they cut off TechNet articles, I would be screwed. That resource has saved my butt on several occasions.

DexterPark

Wow, so they've been pulling this stuff since humans started walking upright. Now I'm wondering what their level of involvement was in the Assassination of Julius Caesar.

MacGuffin wrote: »

Yep. I was there too at one point. Actually it was several points where I was just livid at the crap that Microsoft pulled. I've been using all kinds of computer systems over the years and I've always been fascinated at what Microsoft has been able to get away with and yet people put up with them. I have a few stories.

There was a period where Microsoft Office was just craptastic. The Windows versions were always getting macro viruses and unless you had the latest and greatest processor it ran dog slow. The Macintosh versions were crash happy and slow. The curious thing was that the faster the computer the slower it ran, something to do with new processors doing things different than the old.

Here's a precious one, a certain version of Microsoft Word for Mac would actually delete the file you were working on if you saved it too many times. Since people were always nervous of Word crashing on them at any minute people would save often. As I recall the issue Word at that time would not save the file in the same spot, it looked like it did to the user but in the background it was actually creating a new file, saving it, deleting the old one, then renaming the new file the same as the old. Problem was that if you saved too many times the counter that kept track of the new file names would over flow, it would not save the new file but would still delete the old! Good job there geniuses. Microsoft's fix? Buy their new version. I recall WordPerfect had record sales that year.

That was a long time ago, back when Windows ME was new. Microsoft licensing has been an issue since Windows ME. Had to keep real good track of those license codes or it'd lock you out of your own files.

I've got all kinds of stories but those were some of my earliest and more memorable ones. I haven't had to do much computer support lately but I've yet to hear anything good about what's coming out of Microsoft. The best praise I've heard has been the latest version doesn't suck as bad as the previous version.

I've noticed people around me buying more Apple stuff and shifting over to Linux in the last few years. I have three brothers and for years they made fun of me for buying Apple computers. Now two of them own Apples and the third is real close to buying one.

Microsoft has always been a support nightmare. The OP complaint here is on licensing but the technical issues were just as painful. I remember when you bought a new license for Microsoft software you'd get this fancy shrink wrapped package of documentation and an installation CD. Then it was a jewel cased CD with a little booklet inside. Then they had a cardboard sleeve with the CD inside and the license code on the back. Then it turned into a sort of fancy printed postcard with your license code on it, you'd download the software. Then is was an e-mail with your license code. Each time the media cost was a fraction of what it was before but it sure does not seem like the savings was passed on to the buyers.

Microsoft isn't alone in this but it's real expensive now that you don't buy a license to use their software, you rent it. That makes Apple look real good and Linux look even better.

DexterPark

Asif Dasl wrote: »

You probably won't do this, but I'll mention it anyways. Become a Microsoft partner and you will get all of that software you are using now. It's a bit of a hassle I'll admit, but it seems to be the only way to get free software for your lab now that TechNet is gone. My TechNet subscription runs until November so I'll have to sign up to be a MS Partner before that by the looks of things.

Well, that is a very good suggestion; I already am an MS partner so I could get a whole bunch more keys, but at this point just seeing how mercilessly and swiftly they can destroy my LAB, I don't want them in it anymore. Matter of principles I guess, but glad you mentioned that so others suffering the same fate have options, +REP!

DexterPark

Yeah, this isn't the first time I've gotten burned. I could also remove that stupid "Windows Licence Monitoring Service" too, but like I said, I could use these workarounds but I won't. I don't need them to have an awesome homelab, and I refuse to let them be my only option.

NetworkingStudent wrote: »

Have you tired the re arm Command?

Please see this site:

how to extend Windows Server 2012 evaluation peiod?

JasminLandry

If some of you guys are still students, you can also use DreamSpark. Of course you're limited in what you can get but I got licences for Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2012 R2 and also SQL 2012. You can also get Visual Studio Pro 2013 and a couple more developer tools that I don't really use.

msteinhilber

DexterPark wrote: »

You don't want me to use your software (WHICH I ALREADY PAID FOR) in my lab? Fine! I WON'T...EVER AGAIN!

First off, previous Technet subscriber here for about 5-6 years now (and purchaser of the Action Pack prior to that) and my subscription expired February 14th.

That out of the way, you purchased a years usage rights to those licenses for evaluation purposes. Depending on when you made the purchase of your one year subscription, you may have also received a free 90 day extension. You received what you paid for and perhaps then some depending on when you ordered it. Yes, it sucks but if you had read everything thoroughly when you made your initial purchase then you would know you received everything Microsoft promised to you. Truth be told, people abusing Technet as you seem to have intended to do, are likely a large part of the reason Microsoft has decided to end the program as it used to be.

DexterPark

msteinhilber wrote: »

First off, previous Technet subscriber here for about 5-6 years now (and purchaser of the Action Pack prior to that) and my subscription expired February 14th.

That out of the way, you purchased a years usage rights to those licenses for evaluation purposes. Depending on when you made the purchase of your one year subscription, you may have also received a free 90 day extension. You received what you paid for and perhaps then some depending on when you ordered it. Yes, it sucks but if you had read everything thoroughly when you made your initial purchase then you would know you received everything Microsoft promised to you. Truth be told, people abusing Technet as you seem to have intended to do, are likely a large part of the reason Microsoft has decided to end the program as it used to be.

Well, obviously I'm not going to defend clicking through the itunes agreement, but what's all this about abuse? I am not a company and I never used any of my technet purchases to run anything in production. To reiterate I just wanted to go back to my server labbing, and discovered that they set my DEV environment on fire...yet you are suggesting that I am the reason they stopped dishing out Technet subscriptions.

gkca

msteinhilber wrote: »

First off, previous Technet subscriber here for about 5-6 years now (and purchaser of the Action Pack prior to that) and my subscription expired February 14th.

That out of the way, you purchased a years usage rights to those licenses for evaluation purposes. Depending on when you made the purchase of your one year subscription, you may have also received a free 90 day extension. You received what you paid for and perhaps then some depending on when you ordered it. Yes, it sucks but if you had read everything thoroughly when you made your initial purchase then you would know you received everything Microsoft promised to you. Truth be told, people abusing Technet as you seem to have intended to do, are likely a large part of the reason Microsoft has decided to end the program as it used to be.

It depends on when you purchased your subscription and whether or not you accepted the new terms, so if you're subscriber for about 5-6 years as you stated and didn't accept the new terms which came around July 2012 or so, then you have non-expiring keys and not limited in term of use to one year.

LeifAlire

So the time for the MSDN expired and you need to repurchase the "Subscription based software" ? Now your complaining?!?! The Linux forums are that away LINUX+ Forums

DexterPark

LOL, yeah that's pretty much sums it up! Mostly I'm complaining about how viciously they repo'd my lab.

MacGuffin

JasminLandry wrote: »

If some of you guys are still students, you can also use DreamSpark.

I'm not familiar with DreamSpark but I am familiar with student licensing. When I was in college there was a proposal for Microsoft license fees to show up on our college bill, just like tuition and other fees. This was not received well by many. I don't recall the dollar amount it would have been but the complaint from students was that the value from the fees would have varied widely. Some students would get immense benefit while others got none at all. Students could not opt out of the fees, Microsoft would have required all students pay the same fee or they would not offer their software at the discount.

Where I went to school the proposal from Microsoft was shot down because enough students opposed it. Where my brother went to school the Microsoft fees and licensing was accepted. He thought it was great, he had "free" Microsoft Office and the latest version of Windows. The software was available from the school servers for download or it could be had on CD for the price of the media.

I mention this for two reasons. First, if you are a student and you want Microsoft stuff it may be possible to get it at significant discounts from the school. Second, Microsoft tried real hard to basically give their software to college students. The fees were really not a whole lot but many saw the deal for what it was, it was a marketing effort. It was, "the first one's free" marketing for the most part.

As the OP points out the complicated licensing and the remote control self destruct builtin to the software can leave many people with a very memorable bad experience. I understand the need for every company to protect their intellectual property. The problem is the heavy hand Microsoft has in enforcement. The wide variation in the quality of their products does not help.

Cert Poor

Haha, Microsoft just Binged us. *Biiiinnngggg!*

tpatt100

I grabbed every ISO I could when I had access to Dreamspark.