Not too long ago I purchased a rather expensive MSDN subscription so that I could expand my testing efforts to operating systems other the basic versions of XP and Vista. At first I was very pleased with being able to get all the versions of Vista, XP, 2003 and 2008 for testing. However, I recently tried to put more of a focus on testing with older versions of Windows as well, like Windows 2000. When I tried to download a Windows 2000 ISO I was surprised that I can’t get anything older than Windows XP using my MSDN subscription. It really makes the large amount of money spent on the MSDN license seem a bit less justified. This is where the story takes a bit of a turn for the weird. This is the message displayed as a placeholder where the Windows 2000 ISOs should be:
This product is no longer available from Microsoft in any form, but may be available through third-party resellers or Web sites.
It’s available from websites? Which websites? Thanks for helping me out Microsoft. At this point I decided to talk to one of their online support agents and I was shocked by his advice. Here is a snippet of that conversation, with the agent’s name removed:
Jon: I see the operating system listed in my subscription, but it says it is no longer available for download. How can I test my software to ensure it works on older platforms?
MS: Your MSDN subscription is: VS Pro w/ MSDN Professional.
Jon: Correct, which covers operating systems as well.
MS: Since the products have been listed in your subscription, you will have the authority to use those products. You may find that you could not download the media of Windows Server 2000 from MSDN download center for a very specific reason. But you may try to borrow the CD from a friend, or from other channels.
Jon: If I do that, where will I get a license key from? I don’t seem to be able to get those from the MSDN site either.
MS: That’s right, we have removed the media of Windows Server 2000, as well as the product key. Let me locate you the toll free telephone number to contact our fulfillment center. You may get a product key from them. By the way, may I know your location, please?
Jon: Canada
MS: You may contact MSDN Customer Service Center at (800) 759-5474 (toll free). They are open from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Pacific Time, Monday - Friday, except holidays.
Jon: Would it be ok for me to download Windows 2000 from a torrent site and use it?
MS: Yes, we will not suggest you to do that. But you may download the media from a public website. We apologize for the inconvenience this issue has caused you at this time.
Jon: Ok, I’ll give that a try. Thanks.
So, apparently in order to fully use my MSDN subscription I have to either borrow the software from a friend, or use bittorrent to download a cracked version. Great, thanks for helping me write software for your ecosystem Microsoft. You really know how to treat your developers.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:24 am
Jon,
Be very careful of the cracked versions out there for download. You may find that they have improved functionality, enhanced security, and broader hardware support than the original OS. This would make it difficult to actually re-create the necessary environment for developing software for the original platform.
This could also explain why Microsoft ended distribution of these older OSs, someone actually got them to work properly and effectively ended their continued profitability.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Good point on the modified OS versions. I was able to get a version of Windows 2000 from a friend, but there’s no guarantee that it would be the same as something you would buy at retail. I’m hoing it’s not modified.
July 6th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
At some point Microsoft has to end support for operating systems. They don’t want you to make it compatible with Windows 2000, and frankly, I don’t blame them. Yes, perhaps your clients have Win2K but Microsoft would rather you encourage (or require) them to upgrade.
To make the case a bit more exaggerated - are you going to test with Windows 95? How about Internet Explorer 4? I hope not! At some point, people need to move up, not because they necessarily have to, but because even as deep pockets as Microsoft has, it doesn’t seem reasonable that they should still have to support an OS that’s about 9 years old now. I know IBM and other big vendors do it for their proprietary hardware, but look at their support contract costs, too!
Now I agree with you, that Microsoft, as is often the case, is putting out mixed messages, saying you can get it, but not from them, which is lame. The left hand often doesn’t know what the right is doing at the Borg in Redmond.
As for a Win2K CD with key - I don’t think you’ll have any trouble getting one either online, or perhaps try a local user group, and it seems Microsoft at this point, doesn’t care.
All the best,
Paul
Florida
July 6th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Sorry, but I’m a bit pedantic, but there be some difference here…
I believe he offered for you to acquire the software via other means and to use a license key which MS CS center will provide you (toll free! ;D) with upon your request.
I do not believe he said that you should pirate a cracked version, infact he specifically stated that “we will not suggest you to do that” (as far as legalities rear-covering goes).
On a different query, other than say school PCs who in the world still uses Win2k? Spartan, this is madness!
July 6th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
@Paul: I completely agree that Microsoft shouldn’t have to support older operating systems, I don’t expect them to. Unfortunately, sometimes people who write software often do need to support older operating systems. I will never support any of the 9x systems, but I would like to be able to support the NT based systems properly (excluding Windows NT 4).
@Ramification: I tried calling their toll free support number to get a Windows 2000 Pro license key and was told they no longer provide them. He said that he wouldn’t suggest that I do that, but that I may download it from a “public website”. That’s a mixed message if I’ve ever heard one. Oh well, I haven’t dedicated too many brain cells to this issue, I was just hoping to be able to add Windows 2000 to my test environment.