Frederick J.
That is the way in. Try again, and realize you have to choose the test
server on the server select screen, and have to make a new character
too.
run testeverquest.exe, the patcher will download some files, then go
ahead and login like you normally do. On the server select screen you
will see 2 servers, Test Server and Test Server 2. 2 is always down
and/or locked but "test server" is what you want.