How to Use Windows Vista and Windows 7 for One Year Without Activation?

Recently we told you how to use Windows Vista and Windows 7 for 120 days i.e. 4 months without activating or installing Product key. Now we’ll tell you another method to extend this period for approx. one year.

First read the previous topic:

Extend Windows Vista and 7 Trial Period from 30 Days to 120 Days

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You have to use the same slmgr -rearm command in this method too.

So here is the step-by-step method:

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 Start Menu Search box and press “Ctrl+Shift+Enter“.

2. Now provide following command:

slmgr -rearm

Extend_Windows_Vista_and_7_Trial_Period.png

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

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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. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to following key:

For Windows Vista:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SL

For Windows 7:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

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

Extend_Windows_Vista_7_Trial_Period.png

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

Published in: Windows 7, Windows Vista

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. Cool! A hidden Rearm feature! And I thought Microsoft stopped including easter eggs…hmm guess not.

  2. Oh & btw it’s ALMOST a year, because a normal year is 365 days and 6 hours (6×4=24 so a leap yr gets an extra day) 😉

  3. “Windows 7 Build 7601 This copy of Windows is not genuine” what to do?

  4. Hi,

    I tried the above mentioned method. When I used the rearm method 3 times I only received 3 days to activate. The I tried the regedit but I do not have the software protection platform under current windows. Could you please assist me? I don’t know what else to do

  5. I did exactly as stated and got this Error: 0xC004F025 Access denied: the requested action requires elevated privileges
    … help please?!

  6. becky, type cmd in the windows start bar and right click the icon and select run as administrator and then proceed as normal.

  7. It also works on Windows Server 2008 which I am also using at the moment.
    Windows Server 2008 is very much like Vista on a lot lighter and less bloated.
    Sily thing is that you can download Windows server to try out as an evaluation but you cannot buy a product key for it as Server 2008 is no longer being sold in the store.
    But this means I won’ have to reinstall for another year.
    Thanks for sharing this is really handy to know this.
    Andrea.

  8. Thank you sooo much!i just need to get my genuine to work again, but i’m not really that good with these kind of stuff, so I’ll live with this

  9. This is excellent! What can be done after the additional 8 rearms expire?

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