"Jef Gorbach" wrote:
So will google groups still access this forum once
it relocates??

That is not really possible, well at least not without significant
investment by Google.

Google relies on a particular network protocol (NNTP) to access the
Microsoft forums archived on the MSnews server. Actually, Google relies on
Giganews, which in turn relies on the MSnews server.

Hypothetically, Microsoft might still mirror new forum activity on their
MSnews server. That is how the current "Discussion Groups" forum works.

But my understanding of their explanation is that they will not. They
write:

"Microsoft has a long history of establishing newsgroups that channel users
and issues into the newsgroup (NNTP) space where information is shared and
problems can be addressed by the community. [....] Using forums as the
online support strategy will reduce the number of redundant resources and
centralize content, making community contributions more broadly available
and impactful. Beginning in June 2010, Microsoft will begin closing
newsgroups and migrating users to Microsoft forums".

It seems clear that they are contrasting "newsgroup" access with "forum"
access, and they will be limiting access to the "forum" only through their
interface.

Theoretically, Google could design a program that "reads" the Microsoft web
interface, sorts things out, and archives inquires and responses in the form
that Google is accustomed to. After all, parsing HTML is Google's core
business.

However, I doubt that would happen. It would require that Google treat the
Microsoft "newsgroups" differently from the many thousands of other
newsgroups that Google archives.

Moreover, Google Groups is not the only other way to access Microsoft
newsgroups today. Even if GG implements a solution, users of the other
alternatives will be affected adversely.

To put all this in a positive light, I suspect that Microsoft's purpose is
to shield its forums from spam. That would be a good thing, if Microsoft
weren't so inept at supporting reliable forums.

Of course, maybe Microsoft will change. ;-)