I've been a member of the technical beta program since Windows 3.11, Windows 8 is the first time I haven't received an invite to the Windows beta program and searching the web I've found some statements that the technical beta program was disbanded after Windows 7 but nothing official from Microsoft. I've emailed all of the beta aliases I know but never received any replies by Microsoft. Did the technical beta program get disbanded? If so that's very sad, I thought it brought quite a bite of value to MS as well as myself and my clients.-Keith Elkin

This is the most direct answer I have ever been able to find from Microsoft: To apply to become a beta tester for Microsoft Corporation, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://connect.microsoft.com Use your Microsoft Passport Network credentials (the e-mail address and password that you use to sign in to the Passport Network) to sign in. If you do not have a Microsoft Passport Network account, visit the following Microsoft Web site to create one: http://www.passport.com After you sign in to your Passport Network account, your request will be forwarded to the appropriate product group for review and consideration. Because of the volume of requests that is received, you will be contacted only if you are chosen to participate. Source: How to apply to become a beta tester for Microsoft

This doesn't answer my question, this just tells you how to sign up for the connect website which obviosuly as a previous technical beta tester I have already done. The question is what happened to the technical beta program. Thanks, -Keith -Keith Elkin

I think it is as clear as an answer you are bound to find. Microsoft and most other companies are usually not very transparent about their closed beta programs. On this forum you mostly find enthusiasts like yourself, for whom the beta program is a black box as well. But you might be lucky and find a Microsoft employee with inside information about how the beta program works who is also allowed to share the information on the forums.

Hi, Our Windows 8 Consumer Preview is already released to public, you can download the image and test it as well. If you encounter any problem, please ask at http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/w8itpro. About that program, I donot know how it works, so I cannot tell more. Sorry. Juke Chou TechNet Community Support

Hi, Can I ask for your priviledge to mark this thread as "Answered"? Also, if you have further questions on this, please let us know. Juke Chou TechNet Community Support

Hi, Can I ask for your priviledge to mark this thread as "Answered"? Also, if you have further questions on this, please let us know. Juke Chou TechNet Community Support If you must, even though the question has not been answered. -Keith Elkin

Hi, Can I ask for your priviledge to mark this thread as "Answered"? Also, if you have further questions on this, please let us know. Juke Chou TechNet Community Support If you must, even though the question has not been answered. -Keith Elkin And you are not going to get an answer in this forum because it has absolutley nothing to do with the Microsoft Windows Technical Beta program! This is what is referred to as a peer-to-peer forum for exchange of information directly related to Windows 7. You will have to contact the section of Microsoft that is responsible for the Windows Technical Beta program if you want more information about it, including an answer to your question!Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.