Technet accounts reduced to 5 keys per OS

[wirednuts]

i just noticed it yesterday, but it looks like all of our technet accounts have been reduced to 5 keys each.

i have opened a support ticket with microsoft, and the technet team will write back with details but so far this seems like it might just be a website error. the part that worries me is there is rumors that all keys will now expire once your sub is expired....

anyone else notice their accounts have been changed without notice?

 

[monkey333]

yeah, my account now sez 1/5 keys claimed...

hope they don't expire...

 

[hclarkjr]

just checked mine as well, only 5 now.

 

[hclarkjr]

this is not true, i just did an online chat with MS about this. read for yourself -


harry: Initial Question/Comment: why are accounts being limited to 5 keys now?

http://tinyurl.com/nz38gn

Kevin Liang has joined this session!

Connected with Kevin Liang. Your reference number for this chat session is 2522194.

Kevin Liang: Thank you Harry for contacting the TechNet Online Concierge. Please give me a moment while I review your question.

Kevin Liang: Harry, this is a web site issue. Our TechNet team is working on it. Sorry for the inconvenience.

harry: oh, it is not new policy from Microsoft?

Kevin Liang: It is just a web site issue. When it is fixed, the subscribers can request 10 product keys again.

harry: ok, it is being reported that MS is changing it's policy and limiting keys to 5

Kevin Liang: That's not true.

harry: thank you for clearing that up. i will post what you have told me to correct that

Kevin Liang: It is my pleasure to help you.

harry: have a nice day.

Kevin Liang: Have a nice day.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

good sleuthing there hclarkjr, thanks

 

[wirednuts]

yeah thats pretty much the same convo i had with a guy named alan on the technet live help chat. he said he was never informed of any changes whatsoever, and he was almost certain it must be a mistake on the webpage.

glad this is! i can understand if they changed the rules for new subs, but to have my already paid sub change stuff up in the middle of the deal i wouldnt have been too happy.

 

[bruceb]

I don't have Technet, but I hope they don't change the terms. Or decide your licenses are only good for as long as you have a valid Technet account. But I could see Microsoft pulling this as a way to stop Technet subscribers from illegally selling the programs, in some cases, multiple times. When that happens, eventually the Key gets Blacklisted and it stops working.

 

[wirednuts]

i have a feeling technet aids too greatly in microsofts quest to monopolize the computer os industry to cripple the benefits of the program....

 

[hclarkjr]

funny enough my account is still limited to 5 keys today. wonder how long it takes to fix a website? wondering if there is something up?

 

[wirednuts]

they just split the technet program into two teirs, one professional and one standard... so i im thinking that has something to do with it. not sure why its effected existing accounts though... it is microsoft.

 

[hclarkjr]

i have a pro account so mine should not be 5

 

[wirednuts]

so do i.. and when i paid for it two months ago it was 10 keys each. but like the tech support said, even if they did change the default set to 5 you can always request more keys without issue. but more importantly, there is no change to technet pro accounts and this is just a website error, things will be back to normal soon.

 

[stlcardinals]

I've had a TechNet account for over 6 years and I don't think I've ever requested more than 1 key per Operating System/Application. Each key is good for 10 activations.

 

[Mojoed]

Wait, what?...

Each KEY is good for 10 activations?

So 5 keys = 50 activations? You sure about this?

 

[bruceb]

Per MS Technet forum Technet Standard is now 2 Keys

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...k/thread/160411d7-c6f5-4ed8-81e8-4059ed0cddd3

You need to wade thru the post to find it (post by Mike Kinsman)

 

[hclarkjr]

I've had a TechNet account for over 6 years and I don't think I've ever requested more than 1 key per Operating System/Application. Each key is good for 10 activations.

that is wrong at least for pro keys. the key i have been using for 7 ultimate has been activated at least 16 times with no trouble at all. so the 10 activation thing is not correct

 

[hclarkjr]

just has this posted on technet forums --

I'm sorry for the delay in our response here. This first change went through on the website a little bit sooner than the folks who were doing the messaging, and we finally have both nailed down. We will be updating the Subscriptions FAQ shortly to reflect this as well.

As of last Wednesday, the number of keys per product TechNet Standard customers is 2 keys. The new limit for TechNet Professional customesr is 5 keys .

If customers have previously claimed more than 2 or 5 keys for these products, those keys are still visible, and activations performed using these keys will still be valid.

Thanks,
Mike


seems lime MS has changed it's policy

 

[hclarkjr]

here is the post on technet about it - http://social.technet.microsoft.com.../thread/160411d7-c6f5-4ed8-81e8-4059ed0cddd3/ not sure if non members will be able to read that though???

 

[Soundmanred]

Craigslist pirates must be livid.

 

[wirednuts]

well thats sort of shitty to change peoples accounts that are currently active isnt it? you would think they would just enforce the policy on new subs or renews, and i know it doesnt really matter because you can always request more keys... but still... you pay for one thing and then it gets changed. doesnt seem quite honest. (im sure the agreement says something about them being able to do whatever they want though)

 

[hclarkjr]

it doesn't bother me that much. i am only using 1 key for 7 ultimate and 1 key for office 2010 so far. so no big deal to me, i am sure those that use more keys in their homes or such will have complaint though

 

[Evadman]

just has this posted on technet forums --

I'm sorry for the delay in our response here. This first change went through on the website a little bit sooner than the folks who were doing the messaging, and we finally have both nailed down. We will be updating the Subscriptions FAQ shortly to reflect this as well.

As of last Wednesday, the number of keys per product TechNet Standard customers is 2 keys. The new limit for TechNet Professional customesr is 5 keys .

If customers have previously claimed more than 2 or 5 keys for these products, those keys are still visible, and activations performed using these keys will still be valid.

Thanks,
Mike


seems lime MS has changed it's policy

That's pretty crappy. Changing the process for those that already bought it? What's to prevent MS from removing features from Win7 if it is already purchased? It's a pretty shady business process, though I doubt a lot of folks will actually be affected. It is going to be more a publicity thing I think; with lots of folks getting PO'd at MS.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

My Technet Pro expires next week, and this is the first time in 4 or 5 years where I don't plan on subscribing unless I can find a renewal coupon. $250 is just too much when I don't anticipate any major new releases to test in the next year, and this change helps make my decision even easier.

 

[hclarkjr]

isn't windows 8 supposed to hit next year?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

isn't windows 8 supposed to hit next year?

We might see a beta, but the last report I saw had it landing in 2012 so I will just sign up for Technet next year.