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Run Windows Vista for 120 days without activation key
When you first install Windows Vista, you can run it for 30 days without entering a product key. This is the evaluation period, but what happens if your thirty days runs out before you buy an activation key; if you're not sure you want to buy one; or if you were only trying out Vista and don't plan to buy it, but have some files you need to get off of that computer?Well, as Dwight Silverman found out the hard way, on day 31 Windows boots up and gives you a warning message that you're running a version of Vista that's not "genuine." Then Internet Explorer opens up and asks if you'd like to purchase an activation key. Silverman was able to figure out how to open a few programs and move a few files around through the Internet Explorer interface, which was necessary because he wanted to clean up the PC before returning the evaluation computer he'd been using.
But it turns out there's an officially supported way to turn that 30 day evaluation period into 120 days.
You can "re-arm" the trial period for another 30 days, and do so up to 3 times. Here's how it works:
- Click on the start button and type "Cmd" into the Start Search box.
- Press Ctrl-Shift-Enter to open the command prompt.
- Type "slmgr -rearm" and hit enter.
- Reboot the computer.
- Make sure to re-arm the system again 29 or 30 days later.
[via Hackzine]
Comments
25
Subscribe to commentsSpexFoxFeb 26th 2007 11:06PM
This is kinda old news, but a good idea to post it up.
oh, and if you want to extend your trial infinitely, try Googleing "slmgrhack"
DaveTehWaveFeb 26th 2007 11:07PM
Will this work on WinXP Pro as well?
Andrew Hillman, Andrew HillmanFeb 27th 2007 9:58AM
Why not buy the software?
Andrew Hillman
Dave M.Feb 26th 2007 11:07PM
Question: Is it possible to get a copy of Vista without having to pay the $399 first?
How can you call this an "evaluation" if you have to pay $399 first, then install it and "evaluate" it. I can't imagine any store allowing someone to return the software after 4 months.
Even then, I have to pay the $399 which I may or may not have, then return it a few days later and with for my refund assuming that the store doesn't just give you a Store credit card.
Can you download Vista from Microsoft without having to pay for it?
a padenFeb 27th 2007 7:41AM
Why would you ever install Vista - let alone try to get it to run for 30 more days?
NeogeneMar 6th 2007 4:07AM
And if you end the time in the iexplorer window type c:\ in the address bar and you'll turn iexplorer in the file explorer and you'll be able to use some apps (wmplayer and few others) and move the files or burn them.
dukeFeb 27th 2007 7:43AM
why are these noobs keep asking dumb questions ?
yes microsoft ftp them for you to download
and yes just get the hack it will work forever
but the question is, Why ?
Why torture yourself with any more of microsoft's products ?
Twenty5Feb 27th 2007 4:59AM
@ duke:
why so much hate with Microsoft Products? I mean, by saying that you just sound like another stupid Apple fanboy!
My point is that, for each its own.
I have both a PC and a Macbook Pro, I love both btw....
wasabiFeb 27th 2007 7:43AM
hahaha. always a controversy when it comes to anything microsoft. if you don't like it, just don't comment. seriously, don't pretend that microsoft has such an impact on your life that you need to defend or even trash it. the only people who have these rights are it professionals who have worked closely with these software and are able to clearly discern their pros and cons. a lot of people are just bumbling fools jumping on band wagons. keep it to yourself unless you have something more to say than an empty attack on their products.
wasabiFeb 27th 2007 7:43AM
that was directed at you duke. clearly, you're the noob here.
scottyFeb 27th 2007 10:57AM
The logical reason why you might want to hack the timer, even if you bought a legitimate copy: If you upgrade the components of your desktop system frequently. Or if you intend to move your copy of Vista onto another system later. The fact that Microsoft has hard-coded Vista's antipiracy measures to the unique hardware signature of the system it's installed onto makes doing these two things precarious.
BillFeb 27th 2007 11:00AM
I wasn't aware there was an evaluation version to download. I anonymously ftp'd to ftp.microsoft.com but don't see it. Is there another Microsoft ftp server I should be using? I'd like to check it out on a spare pc.
smartFeb 27th 2007 6:52PM
IMHO vista is to loooow
Very interesting! Thanks for posting.
http://allnewshere.com/search/
fahqFeb 27th 2007 6:53PM
Just use TimerLock and stop the activation timer for good.
This article sucks.
steveyu85Feb 27th 2007 9:44PM
nice info here. thanks.
http://malaysian-agloco.blogspot.com
Dave M.Mar 1st 2007 7:45AM
It is becoming more and more clear to me that Weblogs, Inc. has become too much a corporation and lost it's weblog feel. Posts are being made for the sake of filling a quota instead of content and the authors don't bother to read the comments left after the posting.
Examples are the daily posts covering all the posts of the day and all the cross posting that goes on.
I feel the need to find new blogs that actually care about what they are reporting instead of trying to fill a quota.
Brad LinderMar 1st 2007 11:00AM
Hey Dave,
Sorry you feel that we've lost our soul. I'm not sure why you think we don't care about the topics we're covering or that we're trying to fulfill a quota. Everyone here at Download Squad has a passion for software and we try to bring you the latest news, tips, and information regarding software every day.
Dave M.Mar 2nd 2007 4:28PM
If this is so, please answer my question I posed in comment #3. That's really all I ask.
JamesMar 4th 2007 2:29PM
The beta version wont have any problems for over 180 days, and you can use automatic update :)
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http://www.WindowsVistaUserGuide.com
sarguruMar 5th 2007 7:35AM
thanking you