Technet keys after expiration


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I've googled around and am getting conflicting answers... what happens to your technet keys after your subscription expires? Does the product still activate?

 

Normally I wouldn't have to worry about such things, as I would just renew my subscrption, but since MS made the ridiclously goofy decision of ending subscriptions, I'm left with this question.

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They're supposed to expire but I'm not convinced. I've got a couple VMs I use for testing sites in older version of IE and they're still activated via (a now expired) TechNet sub.

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Previously, subscribers were allowed to keep using the products that they had installed on systems. With the change this is no longer the case.

The subscription provides you with access to software and associated benefits. When your subscription concludes, you will no longer have access to the software or any associated benefits and must discontinue your use of the software.

While it is technically still possible to continue using the products after a subscription has expired, it is now explicitly prohibited to do so.

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You shouldn't but doesn't mean they wont work except for maybe the Windows 8 / Server 2012 as they now have activation validity periods in-place (see Pro Media Center keys) for this kind of thing where keys can expire whereas on WIndows 7 / earlier era they didn't.

 

EDIT: The current Windows 7 MSDN and TechNet keys appear to be the same at time of writing for my account (can't compare for Windows 8 as my TechNet account isn't eligible for it).

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They're supposed to expire but I'm not convinced. I've got a couple VMs I use for testing sites in older version of IE and they're still activated via (a now expired) TechNet sub.

If it has been activated during your subscription you will be fine. It is supposed to be if you try to activate it after your sub is up it will not activate, it will not deactivate after your sub is done.

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That makes sense I guess, So am I right in thinking if I had to format my hard drive tomorrow I could still activate my PC using the key I was previously using that came from Technet? 

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That makes sense I guess, So am I right in thinking if I had to format my hard drive tomorrow I could still activate my PC using the key I was previously using that came from Technet? 

 For 7 and below it should be fine, for 8 maybe / maybe not.

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