Private support newsgroups for Microsoft Partners

These newsgroups are only open to Microsoft Partners (like CompuMentor), and are staffed by real tech support personnel paid for by Microsoft. They're quite good at answering your questions, even proactively following up via email if they haven't heard for certain that your problem is solved. Usually I get a response within 24 hours, frequently less.

These newsgroups are for break/fix issues. That is, something is broken and you need help fixing it.

The newsgroups can be accessed through the Web (registration required) or via a newsgroup (NNTP) reader. A password is required for newsreader access, and can be obtained from the Microsoft Partner Web site.

Instructions for using Outlook Express to view Supported Newsgroups

We highly recommend printing out and carefully following these instructions if you've never used an NNTP newsreader before.

Install an NNTP newsreader, such as Outlook Express. Outlook Express is included with Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Once you've got Outlook Express installed, follow these instructions carefully to set up your account!

1. To start, double-click the Outlook Express icon.
2. In Outlook Express, on the Tools menu, click on Accounts.
3. In the Internet Account dialog box, click the Add button and click News.
4. In the Internet Connection Wizard, for the Display name, type your name and click Next.
5. For the E-mail address, type your email name and click Next.
6. To specify the News (NNTP) Server, type privatenews.microsoft.com.
7. Click to select My news server requires me to log on and click Next.
8. Click to select Log on using and for the News account name type privatenews\DirectAccess (Note: the uppercase D and A with no space are required).
9. For the Password, type portal (all lowercase) and click Next.*
10. For a Friendly Name, leave the value of privatenews.microsoft.com and click Next.
11. Click to select the Internet connection you use, click Next and then click Finish and Close.
12. When asked, “Would you like to download newsgroups from the news server you added?” click Yes.
13. Click to select the newsgroups you want to view, and then click the Subscribe button.

* In an effort to secure NNTP access to Microsoft Managed Newsgroups, the password will change every 6 months.

To use Outlook Express for reading newsgroups, simply click the newsgroup you want to view from the left pane, and you can read the message in the right pane. The toolbar of Outlook express has an option to compose a message or reply to an existing message. It's pretty much like email from here on out.

If you're having problems installing Outlook Express and/or seeing these newsgroups, please call us at (888) 456-5570, (U.S. Only).

Comments

[John Taylor]

Hi
Do you have any idea what the new password is to access the Microsoft privatenews\DirectAccess news groups?

My company is a MS Partner but I cant find the new password anywhere on the MS web site. Nothing new there!

TIA
John

[no comment]

try "solutions" :)

[Zac Mutrux]

The password for the Microsoft Supported Newsgroups changes from time to time. You can always find it here: https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40010090