Windows 7: Technet query

Look I know everyone is probably sick to distraction with this subject but I have read and read everywhere and the more I read the more I get confused as to what the heck this is about.

Sorry I just need a simple no big words answer as to a) who can access it b) how much does it cost ( I cannot get any sense out of the M$ site) c) does Technet let me activate any version of Windows (or other apps) on machines other than mine.

I only ask because I do a bit of fixing for friends and work colleagues who cannot afford the techs or new machines and it would be handy to have a bit of leeway when I am doing this.

Anyone who pays for a subscription


Not sure these days tbh.

The 'standard sub' gives you two keys per OS and apps. Each has a 10 times activation limit. ie One key can be activated on 10 ten different machines.

You aren't meant to install an OS on machines other than yours. To install on machines other than yours is in violation of the terms and conditions.

Thanks mate thats just all I needed to know sounds pretty fair - providing it doesn't cost an arm and a leg LOL!!

The last time I looked the subscription for the initial year was $199.

There are 2 levels of Subscription. The first is the standard subscription and costs $199 for the first year ($149 renewals). The second level is the Technet Professional and it costs $349 for the first year ($249 renewals). There is a third option which is the professional version with media (meaning that MS will physically send you all of the software on disk) This option is $599.

This page provides a good breakdown on what you get with each version;
Buy a TechNet subscription

Honestly, the cost of Technet is tiny for everything you get. But as other have said, these keys are not intended to be shared with others, sold, or used to support a business in any way. They are strictly for your own personal evaluation use of the software