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]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-26-2007 @ 11:06PM
SpexFox said...
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"
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2-26-2007 @ 11:07PM
DaveTehWave said...
Will this work on WinXP Pro as well?
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2-26-2007 @ 11:07PM
Dave M. said...
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?
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2-27-2007 @ 4:59AM
Twenty5 said...
@ 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....
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2-27-2007 @ 7:41AM
a paden said...
Why would you ever install Vista - let alone try to get it to run for 30 more days?
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2-27-2007 @ 7:43AM
duke said...
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 ?
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2-27-2007 @ 7:43AM
wasabi said...
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.
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2-27-2007 @ 7:43AM
wasabi said...
that was directed at you duke. clearly, you're the noob here.
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2-27-2007 @ 9:58AM
Andrew Hillman, Andrew Hillman said...
Why not buy the software?
Andrew Hillman
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2-27-2007 @ 10:57AM
scotty said...
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.
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2-27-2007 @ 11:00AM
Bill said...
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.
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2-27-2007 @ 6:52PM
smart said...
IMHO vista is to loooow
Very interesting! Thanks for posting.
http://allnewshere.com/search/
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2-27-2007 @ 6:53PM
fahq said...
Just use TimerLock and stop the activation timer for good.
This article sucks.
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2-27-2007 @ 9:44PM
steveyu85 said...
nice info here. thanks.
http://malaysian-agloco.blogspot.com
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3-01-2007 @ 7:45AM
Dave M. said...
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.
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3-01-2007 @ 11:00AM
Brad Linder said...
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.
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3-02-2007 @ 4:28PM
Dave M. said...
If this is so, please answer my question I posed in comment #3. That's really all I ask.
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3-04-2007 @ 2:29PM
James said...
The beta version wont have any problems for over 180 days, and you can use automatic update :)
-
http://www.WindowsVistaUserGuide.com
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3-05-2007 @ 7:35AM
sarguru said...
thanking you
Reply
3-05-2007 @ 3:23PM
MrEcoloco said...
i have a problem , i made an update of my vista trail version and now this “hack” does’t work anymore . It’s only possible to get another trail period of !!!!!3!!!!!! days.
If somebody knows what to do , HELP, PLEASE !!! ^^
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