Why are a number of the newsgroups disappearing?

[sheana]

Hi,

I subscribe to a number of MS newsgroups, but, for example, when I clicked
on the newsgroup for word.general I got a message that that newsgroup was
not available from the MS server. Is MS phasing out the
communities/newsgroups? Let me know, because I find them incredibly helpful.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Alias]

Hi,

I subscribe to a number of MS newsgroups, but, for example, when I
clicked on the newsgroup for word.general I got a message that that
newsgroup was not available from the MS server. Is MS phasing out the
communities/newsgroups? Let me know, because I find them incredibly
helpful. Thanks in advance.

They're history. MS wants you to go to their web forums where they can
control the content and suppress free speech (and not to mention having
a new Hotmail account they can sell to spammers as valid). Other news
servers are still carrying MS groups but for how long is not known.

 

[SC Tom]

Hi,

I subscribe to a number of MS newsgroups, but, for example, when I clicked
on the newsgroup for word.general I got a message that that newsgroup was
not available from the MS server. Is MS phasing out the
communities/newsgroups? Let me know, because I find them incredibly
helpful. Thanks in advance.

I'm truly surprised you haven't seen this on any newsgroup in the last few
months:

"What is Happening?
This message is to inform you that Microsoft will soon begin discontinuing
newsgroups and transitioning users to Microsoft forums.

Why?
As you may know, newsgroups have existed for many years now; however, the
traffic in the Microsoft newsgroups has been steadily decreasing for the
past several years while customers and participants are increasingly finding
solutions in the forums on Microsoft properties and third party sites. This
move will unify the customer experience, centralize content, make it easier
for active contributors to retain their influence, mitigate redundancies and
make the content easier to find by customers and search engines through
improved indexing. Additionally, forums offer a better user and spam
management platform that will improve customer satisfaction by encouraging a
healthy discussion in a clean community space. To this end, Microsoft will
begin to progressively shift available resources to the forums technology
and discontinue support for newsgroups.

In addition to offering a compelling online browser experience, for those
users who prefer to use an NNTP (newsgroup) reader to participate in the
newsgroups community, we have developed a solution called the NNTP Bridge
which allows a user to connect a variety of supported NNTP readers to the
forums they would like to participate in and continue having the NTTP reader
functionality. You can find instructions on how to download and set up the
NNTP Bridge here: http://connect.microsoft.com/MicrosoftForums/

Which Newsgroups Are Affected by this Shutdown?
All public newsgroups will eventually be closed between June 1, 2010 and
October 1, 2010. Microsoft will be closing newsgroups in a phased approach,
starting with the least active newsgroups and moving eventually to more
active ones throughout the course of the next six months.


Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup is
scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to invite you
to participate at
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xphardware/threads
forum(s). An exact date will be posted in advance as plans are finalized.

Should you want to visit the other Microsoft Forums, please go to
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/forums/default.mspx

Who Should I Contact with any Questions?
Send any questions about the process, recommended forums and timing to
(e-mail address removed) "

 

[s-sandra]

Hi,

I subscribe to a number of MS newsgroups, but, for example, when I clicked
on the newsgroup for word.general I got a message that that newsgroup was
not available from the MS server. Is MS phasing out the
communities/newsgroups? Let me know, because I find them incredibly helpful.
Thanks in advance.

It's aliens, run for the hills.

 

[sheana]

I haven't been reading the newsgroups lately. but since I will have to
migrate to the forums, where are they? Thanks in advance.

 

[Ǝиçεl]

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/categories

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I subscribe to a number of MS newsgroups, but, for example, when I
clicked on the newsgroup for word.general I got a message that that
newsgroup was not available from the MS server. Is MS phasing out
the communities/newsgroups? Let me know, because I find them
incredibly helpful. Thanks in advance.

I'm truly surprised you haven't seen this on any newsgroup in the
last few months:

"What is Happening?
This message is to inform you that Microsoft will soon begin
discontinuing newsgroups and transitioning users to Microsoft
forums.
Why?
As you may know, newsgroups have existed for many years now;
however, the traffic in the Microsoft newsgroups has been steadily
decreasing for the past several years while customers and
participants are increasingly finding solutions in the forums on
Microsoft properties and third party sites. This move will unify
the customer experience, centralize content, make it easier for
active contributors to retain their influence, mitigate
redundancies and make the content easier to find by customers and
search engines through improved indexing. Additionally, forums
offer a better user and spam management platform that will improve
customer satisfaction by encouraging a healthy discussion in a
clean community space. To this end, Microsoft will begin to
progressively shift available resources to the forums technology
and discontinue support for newsgroups.
In addition to offering a compelling online browser experience, for
those users who prefer to use an NNTP (newsgroup) reader to
participate in the newsgroups community, we have developed a
solution called the NNTP Bridge which allows a user to connect a
variety of supported NNTP readers to the forums they would like to
participate in and continue having the NTTP reader functionality. You can
find instructions on how to download and set up the NNTP
Bridge here: http://connect.microsoft.com/MicrosoftForums/
Which Newsgroups Are Affected by this Shutdown?
All public newsgroups will eventually be closed between June 1,
2010 and October 1, 2010. Microsoft will be closing newsgroups in
a phased approach, starting with the least active newsgroups and
moving eventually to more active ones throughout the course of the
next six months.

Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup
is scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like
to invite you to participate at
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xphardware/threads
forum(s). An exact date will be posted in advance as plans are
finalized.
Should you want to visit the other Microsoft Forums, please go to
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/forums/default.mspx

Who Should I Contact with any Questions?
Send any questions about the process, recommended forums and timing
to (e-mail address removed) "

I haven't been reading the newsgroups lately. but since I will have
to migrate to the forums, where are they? Thanks in advance.

You obviously not only "haven't been reading the newsgroups lately" but do
not bother to read the postings you reply to. ;-)

Let me repeat what you replied to that tells you quite clearly where to go:

Where Should I go with the Closure of this Newsgroup?
In an effort to enhance and improve your experience, this newsgroup is
scheduled for closure in the upcoming months and we would like to invite
you to participate at
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xphardware/threads
forum(s). An exact date will be posted in advance as plans are finalized.

Should you want to visit the other Microsoft Forums, please go to
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/forums/default.mspx

That help? ;-)

If not - there was also a place listed in the reply to ask more questions.
I will repeat that part now:

Who Should I Contact with any Questions?
Send any questions about the process, recommended forums and timing
to (e-mail address removed) "

Hopefully that gets you where you need to go.

 

[MapleE.]

I agree with OP, because I too have received incredible helpful and good
solutions whenever I posted my queries over the years. Then, I truly miss
all of those wonderful and selfless MS volutenterrs I've been reading for
many years.

My question is;
All those 'terrific,' 'expert' and 'wonderful' volunteers have been
migrating to all listed MS forums?

Thanks,

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I agree with OP, because I too have received incredible helpful
and good solutions whenever I posted my queries over the years.
Then, I truly miss all of those wonderful and selfless MS
volutenterrs I've been reading for many years.

My question is;
All those 'terrific,' 'expert' and 'wonderful' volunteers have been
migrating to all listed MS forums?

Some. Some may dislike the different format enough to avoid going there
ever. Some may try it for a while and then fade away. Others may just go
to other newsgroups (or the same newsgroups hosted on free news servers.)

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

See...

Microsoft Responds to the Evolution of Communities:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx

Right now, this page lists the NGs that were dropped on June 1st:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx

Not listed are NGs dropped on Juy 1st, including your favorites IE General,
OE General & Windows Update.

You will find support for Internet Explorer in this MS forum now:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/InternetExplorer/threads

You will find support for OE in this WinXP-specific forum:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/xpnetwork/threads


You will find support for Windows Update in this MS forum:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/threads

Always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; WinXP 64-bit SP2;
Vista SP1; Vista 64-bit SP2; Win7; Win7 64-bit) as well as your current IE
version (e.g., IE6, IE7, IE8) in your first post in these forums, please.

 

[VanguardLH]

I subscribe to a number of MS newsgroups, but, for example, when I clicked
on the newsgroup for word.general I got a message that that newsgroup was
not available from the MS server. Is MS phasing out the
communities/newsgroups? Let me know, because I find them incredibly helpful.
Thanks in advance.

Stop using Microsoft's NNTP server. Microsoft is abandoning their
4-year experiment to attempt usurping the 30-year old Usenet. Connect
your newsreader (Outlook Express) to another NNTP server. Many are
free, like albasani and eternal-september, and some are very cheap, like
individual.net ($16USD/yr). Netiner Usenet or the microsoft.public.*
newsgroups are disappearing. It's Microsoft that's leaving Usenet.

 

[Jose]

I agree with OP,  because I too have received incredible helpful and good
solutions  whenever I posted my queries over the years. Then, I truly miss
all of those wonderful and selfless MS volutenterrs I've been reading for
many years.

My question is;
All those 'terrific,' 'expert' and 'wonderful'  volunteers have been
migrating to all listed MS forums?

Thanks,

The new forums present a very different and unique environment.

You do get to accumulate points though and maybe when you get enough
points, you get a medal or something.

I am saving up my points for a pony (or maybe a new puppy).

 

[mm]

I haven't been reading the newsgroups lately. but since I will have to
migrate to the forums, where are they? Thanks in advance.

I don't think you will have to migrate. Though the newsgroups that
start with microsoft. have ms in their name, they are not the property
of ms.

I've been reading them for 15 years, and never used an MS server.
For 10 years I used my ISP erols, for two weeks I used another ISP
Verizon, for three months I used something related to ForteAgent, and
for a couple years I've used eternal-september. It's free but there
are servers with longer retetion times that cost 3 or 4 dollars a
month. (and which carry binaries, that don't interest me.)

Plus, and no offense meant, there are other windows newsgroups without
MS in their names.

The only problem I foresee is if too many posters move exclusively to
MS forums. Even with high-speed access, I hate webforums -- Usenet
works far better -- and I hope they won't move. There is nothing else
as good as usenet and the people on it who help others.

I think one way to discourage moving is if we all stay here, using
another newsserver if necessary.

Hmmm. I like VAnguard's answer better than mine.

 

[mm]

The new forums present a very different and unique environment.

You do get to accumulate points though and maybe when you get enough
points, you get a medal or something.

I am saving up my points for a pony (or maybe a new puppy).

I think with enough points they will give you VP 2.4, Virtual Pony.

Once you turn off the monitor, you don't need to provide hay.

 

[Dave F.]

I think with enough points they will give you VP 2.4, Virtual Pony.

You obviously didn't read the T&C's. They don't "give" you the pony just
the right to use it until they decide to withdraw that right.

 

[sheana]

Where do I find these other NNTP servers?

Stop using Microsoft's NNTP server. Microsoft is abandoning their
4-year experiment to attempt usurping the 30-year old Usenet. Connect
your newsreader (Outlook Express) to another NNTP server. Many are
free, like albasani and eternal-september, and some are very cheap, like
individual.net ($16USD/yr). Netiner Usenet or the microsoft.public.*
newsgroups are disappearing. It's Microsoft that's leaving Usenet.

 

[sheana]

I signed up for eternal-september, and when I got a list of their available
newsgroups, I didn't see anything relating to MS products. I put configured
my eternal-september account with the user id and pw they sent me, which
they said was necessary to view all available newsgroups.

I took a look at albasani, and used their contact form to request an
account. So I'll have to wait on that.

But how do I find the Microsoft groups on eternal-september?

Which NNTP server are most of the MVP's migrating to?

Thanks in advance,

sheana

 

[Peter]

I signed up for eternal-september, and when I got a list of their
available newsgroups, I didn't see anything relating to MS products. I
put configured my eternal-september account with the user id and pw they
sent me, which they said was necessary to view all available newsgroups.

I took a look at albasani, and used their contact form to request an
account. So I'll have to wait on that.

But how do I find the Microsoft groups on eternal-september?

Which NNTP server are most of the MVP's migrating to?

Thanks in advance,

sheana

Did you try refreshing the newsgroups?

 

[NimbUs]

But how do I find the Microsoft groups on eternal-september?

See other messages in the thread, and see below...

Which NNTP server are most of the MVP's migrating to?

Look Sheana, it doesn't matter much which NNTP server the MVPs (or
you or me) are using; the way net news work, is any server (should)
receive and present all of the articles - wherever each such was
initially posted to. That's in the principle. In practice, some news
servers might be better managed than others, have different policies
(concerning retention delay, spam filtering, etc.). Also each news
server on the planet has administrators who may choose not to reflect
individual groups for whatever reasons. As a consequence, I don't
know for sure that "eternel september" is broadcasting the ms.*
groups or not (as I'm not using that server), but - since other
knowledgeable responders have pointed you to that server - I would
rather assume it has them.

 

[John McGaw]

Hi,

I subscribe to a number of MS newsgroups, but, for example, when I
clicked on the newsgroup for word.general I got a message that that
newsgroup was not available from the MS server. Is MS phasing out the
communities/newsgroups? Let me know, because I find them incredibly
helpful. Thanks in advance.

MS has announced the shutdown multiple times in every one of their
newsgroups AFAIK. Yes, they are shutting down. A little bit annoying but at
least it will kill the trolls...