Free one year subscription to Microsoft technet

From technet forums-

There was a problem that alowed anyone to create and access a free sub.
Hundreds if not thousands took advantage.
Now its damage control

On the TechNet Plus Subscriptions home page it says

............................................


Alert - Error

Duration (GMT-8): Wednesday, June 03, 2009 7:37:35 AM To (GMT-8): Unknown

Last Updated (GMT-8): Wednesday, June 03, 2009 7:38:41 AM

Benefit or Service: Impact:

* Product key access



* System slowness or access is being investigated


User Action:

* We are working to get this issue resolved. Thank you for your patience.
 
I didn't even want the serial keys just the friggin ISO.
You can find the ISO easily enough on Usenet or one of the big torrent sites - just check that the SHA1 hash is correct (the "details" links at Technet should still be accessible) to avoid any nasty surprises. You can also order replacement installation media from MS themselves for a nominal fee, but it will be exactly the same collection of bits.

The file details are as follows:

Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (x64) - DVD (English)

File Name: en_windows_vista_sp2_x64_dvd_342267.iso
SHA1: AAEE3C04533899F9F8C4AE0C4250EF5FAFBE29A3

Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (x86) - DVD (English)

File Name: en_windows_vista_sp2_x86_dvd_342266.iso
SHA1: 25AD9A776503E6A583BEC07879DBCC5DFD20CD6E
 
I bet they just remove all the legal keys so no one can activate them, wow big error on Microsofts part if they allowed anyone to the subscription.

CaptainCrash I was doing that an hour ago, found it on a lot of sites and it's even on rapidshare now.
 
I have heard from some friends back in the UK that MS are now saying the offer was only meant to go to "select customers". Sounds a bit fishy to me but in any case, don't expect this to come back online :(
 
Managed to get most of the stuff I wanted from there at 7MB/s :D. However my guess is they'll disable the keys that were distributed between x and x hours.
 
You can find the ISO easily enough on Usenet or one of the big torrent sites - just check that the SHA1 hash is correct (the "details" links at Technet should still be accessible) to avoid any nasty surprises. You can also order replacement installation media from MS themselves for a nominal fee, but it will be exactly the same collection of bits.

The file details are as follows:

Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (x64) - DVD (English)

File Name: en_windows_vista_sp2_x64_dvd_342267.iso
SHA1: AAEE3C04533899F9F8C4AE0C4250EF5FAFBE29A3

Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (x86) - DVD (English)

File Name: en_windows_vista_sp2_x86_dvd_342266.iso
SHA1: 25AD9A776503E6A583BEC07879DBCC5DFD20CD6E

do you have the ones for windows xp sp3
 
do you have the ones for windows xp sp3
Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3 (x86) - CD (English)

File Name: en_windows_xp_home_with_service_pack_3_x86_cd_x14-92413.iso
SHA1: 5A6B959AD24D15DC7EBD85E501B83D105D1B37C6


Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 (x86) - CD (English)

File Name: en_windows_xp_professional_with_service_pack_3_x86_cd_x14-80428.iso
SHA1: 1C735B38931BF57FB14EBD9A9BA253CEB443D459


These are the retail ISOs - things aren't quite as simple as with Vista, where all the discs are the same with a few exceptions. I don't think you can use them with an OEM key or vice versa, although I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. :)
 
I blame the greedy 'I need 300 keys' morons. :rolleyes:

Indeed, as always with the internet there are people who go too far and end up ruining it for others. Though to be fair though this deal was way too good to be true, essentially we could get any of their software in the next year for free! With Windows 7 out this October it didn't make sense to allow so many people to get it for free.

I'm guessing those keys already issued will be banned but what can they do for those who have already used it to active software?
 
I blame the greedy 'I need 300 keys' morons. :rolleyes:

People were getting technet accounts worth £230 odd for free due to an error by Microsoft. Download one key or be greedy and download 5000, Microsoft would still have known about it and taken the same action.
 
Just to let you all know you can still access file names and SHA1 information through the downloads section - obviously the key/download buttons are greyed out, but the details are still available :)
 
Was this cancellation listed in the EULA agreement we all signed? i didnt read it. if not, we should all sue MS for breech of contract
 
Was this cancellation listed in the EULA agreement we all signed? i didnt read it. if not, we should all sue MS for breech of contract

LOL Interesting idea. They accepted our memberships and the fee was £0.00. I wonder what part of the EULA (i.e. the contract between us) allows them to kick us off the service (thus depriving us) with not so much as a day's notice? It'd probably not be worth their time and money defending a MoneyClaim - maybe they'd settle and give you the sub back? :p
 
LOL Interesting idea. They accepted our memberships and the fee was £0.00. I wonder what part of the EULA (i.e. the contract between us) allows them to kick us off the service (thus depriving us) with not so much as a day's notice? It'd probably not be worth their time and money defending a MoneyClaim - maybe they'd settle and give you the sub back? :p

What a good idea, let us know how you get on.

I still want my downloads that i signed up for.
 
Just to let you all know you can still access file names and SHA1 information through the downloads section - obviously the key/download buttons are greyed out, but the details are still available :)

Same here, all available but download button and keys button greyed out.
 
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