It is a commonly-known fact that Microsoft allows would-be users of Windows to install and run the operating system on their machines for up 30 days without entering a product activation key. Things will be no different with its latest and greatest, Windows 7, but reports on Windows Secrets today reveal that it is possible to reset this trial period up to three times using a less-familiar command.

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okay dumb question, why would an admin need more than 30 days to activate?

Well, cheap admins like myself tend to not activate licenses used in personal virtual machines. Use the image for a month then recreate it. This little trick will be enjoyed.

Hell I practically reinstall every 3 months on my physical machine... this could be fun.

ok, this may be a dumb question, but why do you need this trick when windows 7 is free for a year?

I'd love to know where you got that nugget of information from? Care to post a link?

Ignore the other Guest, he/she is dumb enough to think that the RC1 is the same as RTM.
RC1 is free until early 2010, RTM is not (which should be obvious).

sure, heres the link. i guess you dont read much.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/installation-instructions.aspx

the rc is no loonger available for download. if you didnt dl it, you can probably still get it on p2p though.

The 'trick' is for the RTM version of 7

and so . . . why would u want RTM when RC1 is free for a year?

The RTM is final version. RC is just a unfinished version. The RTM is better if you RTFM.

in addition to that MS has said that there are going to be some major features in the RTM version that are not included in the RC 7100 build...which would make sense.

good points, thank you.

In addition, I believe RC will start to boot every hour after August or September. Not sure of the exact date.

it will start to shut down every two hours on march 1, of 2010, it will become inoperable on June1, 2010

This may also seem like a dumb question but here goes. Why is it in nearly every post anymore someone feels need to berate other posters instead of simply discussing the topic intelligently like an adult?

Because this is the internet?

sadly Guest #3648-1C ( i started numbering the guest's) lol anonymity turns some into inconsiderate, and rude buffoons. my theory is its because they feel like they have no control, or feel inferior so they take it out on others and don't have to face any consequences on the internet....same reason some people are jerks to say wait staff....and it accounts for road rage... but that's just my opinion

Why dontcha all just steal a sew hubcaps, maybe mug the paperboy and just buy a f****** copy.

....your mum