How-To Geek

i just stumbled upon this hack.

1. Click on “Start button -> All Programs -> Accessories“. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run As Administrator“. If you are prompted to enter password, enter the password and continue. You can also open Command Prompt in Administrator mode by typing “cmd” in Startmenu Search box and press “Ctrl+Shift+Enter“.

2. Now provide following command:

slmgr -rearm

3. You'll be prompted to restart Windows, restart it and the trial period will be reset to 30 days again.

4. You can use the same command 3 times. In this way you'll be able to use Windows for 120 days without activation.

5. Now its time for the main trick. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ SL

6. In right-side pane, change value of SkipRearm to 1.

7. Now you'll be able to use the slmgr -rearm command 8 more times. So you'll get total 360 days for using Vista and 7 without activation:

120 days by using slmgr -rearm command before registry editing

+

240 days after registry editing

||

360 days

from

EDIT: cant post the link to the original website for some reason. ill get back to you with that.

thank you so much,. this hack is useful to those who do not have internet connection but still want to use the beta version for a long time like me.

not at all, go ahead.
well i actually dont have the rights to say yes or no. i found it from askvg.com so it doesnt belong to me. but if you want to use it, you have a go ahead from me.

It isn't really a hack, since Microsoft is the one that came out and explained how to do this. I don't know where the article is right now, I read it from a Microsoft spokesperson. But yeah, it still is helpful.

Although DINESH, you're online when you post here, it take about thirty seconds to google for a key (microsoft only handed out about ten different keys for the beta testing, so this isnt illegal), and you can activate your copy by phone once you have your key. Just trying to help.

Actually, that will not work to use Windows 7 beta for a year.
It will activate Windows 7 beta for one year but Windows 7 beta has another piece of code that will kill the install in August regardless of activation status.
The timebomb feature as it's called has been in every Microsoft product beta since at least Windows 98 came out before activation ever existed.
I read somewhere the reason is because some computer manufacturers installed a beta copy of Windows 95 on computers they sold.

@jack7h3r1pp3r: I have no idea but I would assume if you set the date backwards before the timebomb feature went off then you could keep but it's not the best idea. If your date is incorrect then you have bad calendar reminders and such.
It doesn't matter anyways as by August there will a new beta of Windows 7 out.

actually from what i have heard is that as long as there are not any major flaws they will be releasing it soon after aug 1st