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guy - 28 Oct 2007 13:06 GMT

I have an expired MSDN subscription and need to install some software (Server
2003 and VS) from it that requires a product key. Despite the FAQ explicitly
stating that I can use the software after the subscription has expired there
seems to be no way of getting a product key without a subscription.

Any Ideas?

Guy

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Scott M. - 28 Oct 2007 18:51 GMT

That's true, you do have a perpetual license to use the software, but the
product keys are only provided while your subscription is active. You can
try calling or emailing customer support for MSDN subscriptions and have
them look up your expired account info. They may be able to help you out
with the key.

>I have an expired MSDN subscription and need to install some software
>(Server
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Guy

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clintonG - 28 Oct 2007 20:02 GMT

What product do you need the key for?
I have some of them documented for this very reason and they can likely be
found when using a BitTorrent client.

>I have an expired MSDN subscription and need to install some software
>(Server
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Guy

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clintonG - 28 Oct 2007 20:06 GMT

Sorry, I forgot to mention. My partner has had to reinstall his instance of
XP Pro from our expired MSDN subscription on a new disk and explains it will
not update via Windows Update indicating there may be some hokey-pokey going
on.

>I have an expired MSDN subscription and need to install some software
>(Server
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Guy

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Scott M. - 29 Oct 2007 00:52 GMT

Then that copy of WinXP did not come from a standard MSDN license. Pirated
copies of Windows tend to not allow the Windows Update feature to operate.

I frequently reinstall XP and Win2K from an MSDN subscripiton that expired 3
years ago without any problems or limited functionality.

> Sorry, I forgot to mention. My partner has had to reinstall his instance
> of XP Pro from our expired MSDN subscription on a new disk and explains it
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>>
>> Guy

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clintonG - 30 Oct 2007 18:32 GMT

I paid for the subscription myself. Maybe because it was through the Empower
ISV program which has expired for us as we were unableto meet the final
terms. We haven't determined the update facts yet and the partners failed
updates could be for some other reason. It just happened this week so more
time may be needed to pin it down. Its good to hear contrary confirmation
thanks...

<%= Clinton

> Then that copy of WinXP did not come from a standard MSDN license.
> Pirated copies of Windows tend to not allow the Windows Update feature to
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>>>
>>> Guy

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Scott M. - 30 Oct 2007 20:17 GMT

I don't believe it has anything to do with Empower. Although the Empower
license is not perpetual (like normal MSDN subscriptions), you still get the
same software and license keys as a normal MSDN subscription would have.
So, the software itself wouldn't "know" it was associated with a specific
license.

I do know that Microsoft has said that pirated copies of Windows will
function, but without much of its' Internet capabilities (ie. Windows Update
& Windows Help). This is meant to annoy the user of the pirated copy so
much, they'll want to go out and buy the real thing.

-Scott

>I paid for the subscription myself. Maybe because it was through the
>Empower ISV program which has expired for us as we were unableto meet the
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>>>>
>>>> Guy

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Jon Skeet [C# MVP] - 30 Oct 2007 20:56 GMT

> Sorry, I forgot to mention. My partner has had to reinstall his instance of
> XP Pro from our expired MSDN subscription on a new disk and explains it will
> not update via Windows Update indicating there may be some hokey-pokey going
> on.

Is his instance of XP Pro entirely for development/test? You shouldn't
be using an MSDN licence for an OS which is used for
non-development/test (e.g. browsing, reading mail).

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Jon Skeet - <skeet@pobox.com>
http://www.pobox.com/~skeet Blog: http://www.msmvps.com/jon.skeet
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