Step 1: Create Your Posting Alias

By registering your no-spam alias, you have successfully completed the first stage of gaining access to the MSDN Managed Newsgroups. Your no-spam alias identifies you as an MDSN Subscriber entitled to use the MSDN Managed Newsgroups. Registering your no-spam alias is only the beginning of becoming an active community member in the worldwide MSDN Managed Newsgroups. Over time we hope that you not only post in order to find a resolution to your problem, but that you will also assist the community with their issues using your knowledge and experience.

The no-spam e-mail address that you have created is the only e-mail address that will entitle you to receive the managed newsgroups support. In order to receive a response from the community or a Microsoft engineer, make sure you include your no-spam alias on every post.

MSDN Managed Newsgroups are available in English to MSDN subscribers to receive free technical support on select Microsoft technologies as well as to share ideas with other subscribers.

There are more than 200 MSDN Managed Newsgroups currently being offered as part of the NNTP USENET public newsgroups. Because the MSDN Managed Newsgroups are part of the NNTP Public USENET hierarchy, you are not required to log on to Microsoft to gain access to these newsgroups. See the list of MSDN Managed Newsgroups .

Step 2: Choose and configure your Newsgroup Client

You can use any newsreader to access Microsoft newsgroups. We suggest Microsoft Outlook Express, which is installed as part of Microsoft Internet Explorer.

When you configure your newsreader, you must enter the following information:

In the Display Name box, type the name you want other people to see when you post a message. In the E-mail Address box, add the no-spam alias you registered. If you post with any other e-mail address, we cannot guarantee a response from the community or a Microsoft Support Engineer within two business days. In the News (NNTP) Server box, type the name msnews.microsoft.com .

Once you have Outlook Express or another Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP)newsreader installed on your computer, you’re just one step away from being able to access our newsgroups. The remaining step comes when you click on a link to a newsgroup. At that point, if you haven’t done so previously, you’ll be asked to provide configuration information. When prompted for News Server, specify msnews.microsoft.com.

Step 3: Post your question- After you have created your posting alias and configured your newsgroup client, you can post questions using the Web News or your NNTP client to more than 200 MSDN Managed Newsgroups.