Microsoft secretly yanks TechNet product keys

I must quickly say. That is for older software. Newer software is only for 2 or three installations. I am not clear (nor is MS) as to when software is officially "old"

I do a lot of installing & reinstalling, doing different things, so the number of keys concerned me. Mainly running various Windows installs on my notebook, and within VirtualBox in Mint.

But now that I have two 1TB hard drives, my having to switch things around will slow. I now have the space that I need to run the OS's that I want.

Also, I read that even if the number of activations genuinely expires, you can still obtain product keys. But my main concern is this, this program is supposed to be for IT workers, employees, and developers. At least that's the description of the program, "Resources for IT Professionals" is part of their name.

Now, what if I had to call them over anything. I don't even know what "IT" stands for, let alone being an employee or developer. I know that they have said that it's to combat piracy, and I believe that. But would they also be looking to weed those out who just likes to play, as I do? That's what I bought the subscription for, was to learn and play.

I was going to try some of the courses that comes with the package (6 per term or renewal), but the problem was this. They don't make things simple for the everyday user to understand, and there's no beginners courses. About all that I get from the program is the office packages, and OS's from XP forward. Somewhere along the line, Windows 95 through 2000 was left out, and I really wanted to see those. I do know that it had to do with Sun (now Oracle), as to why we can't get these OS's.

I'll make my decision come renewal time, as to what to do. I was really looking for a good, easy place to learn the basics, and get a good foundation under my feet, but all that I see every time that I log on is all of this "cloud" mess.

Cat

Information Technology. If you ever talk to Microsoft you simply say I run 4 OSes including 3 flavors of MS as well as Mint and I'm a major contributor to the W7 forums. I doubt seriously they would question you much past that

What would Sun have to do with Microsoft not offering 95, 98, 2000? and don't forget 3.1!

I believe it was one of those anti-trust things. That's what I read. Something about MS stealing Sun's technology to produce a VM, which is absurd, Windows Virtual PC doesn't even resemble Sun's (now Oracle's) VirtualBox. And is twice as good a product.

I only use VirtualBox in Mint to run Windows on, mainly to access my printer.

PS: They offer 3.1, but I couldn't get it to boot, even on a VM.

Cat