Windows 7 runs free without activation for 120 days with simple command
By Paul Miller 
posted August 21st 2009 10:10AM
posted August 21st 2009 10:10AM
We know how it is: you've paid $300 for your brand new copy of Windows 7, but what a hassle to enter in that activation code! Well, you don't have to worry about it now for a good four months after install: Microsoft has given its sort-of blessing to a simple hack to keep that non-activated copy of Windows 7 humming for a full 120 days before full-on nag mode sets in. All you have to do is enter "slmgr -rearm" into the command prompt at the end of every 30 day period, and your copy of Windows gets a whole new lease on life -- an action that can be repeated three times. The same command is available to Vista users, and we have to say that Microsoft has come a very long way since its unforgiving WGA kill switch days.[Via Telegraph]
Same as Vista, sweet.
It'll probably continue working even after the 120 days like Vista as well, you just have to wait for the countdown dialog box anytime you reboot
Or... you could not put up with this crap AND not pay $50/copy by being a student whose university/college participates in the MSDNAA and therefore already has a free copy of Windows 7 Business on his netbook, laptop and desktop.
@Mark
Yes... everyone go back to college and pay $50k a year so you can get a free copy of Windows 7! Woo!
Altho I am glad I get a free copy through my university since I am still in school.
Yes, Mark, paying tens of thousands a year in tuition is clearly the economical alternative here.
-1 internets for me
Tens of thousands? Hardly, up here it's about seven thousand per year plus board. Still being in univeristy like I am helps. Alternatively you can convince your boss/IT department that Windows 7 is imperative to increasing your productivity.
@UnixSystemsEngineer
I give you +1 internets for agreeing with me
@Mark
our point is still valid, $7,000 >>>>> $150
OMG! Just enter your freaking key already!
+1 to OneLove.
Same as Vista then....
Mark, alternatively you can get a job and not worry about the $300 at all...
Same as Vista, however I hope it isn't completely the same:
Does it require a crappy third party DVD codec for WMP? Cyberlink hangs a few of my clients machines during startup making for 15 minute reboots. That sucks.
I'm hoping that $300 just comes with a codec like every other OS or is this another MS UNoperating system to bleed us slowly with extras and such... oh wait, that would eliminate sys admin jobs.... nevermind!
What with and the months left to run on RC and RTM it's going to be a good year and a half before I actually need to pay for this.
How long is left on the RC?
I believe RC is good until June 2010
It's actually March, after March, your computer will shut down every 2 hrs.
June is the absolute end.
For those that think this is some major exploit, its practical reason is for imaging. You pull down an image, modify it to your needs, and "rearm" it so that when you next down the image, it gives the user 30 days to reactive even if it has been more than 30 days since the uploading of the image.
So you may not have those 3 rearms at all if your image has been modified by your distributor?
how kind of ms
the unforgiving WGA kill switch link is broken
http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/04/vista-sp1-kills-the-wga-kill-switch/
They had an extra "http://" at the beginning
This isn't exactly new. I remember doing the same thing to some early version of Vista.
FTFA:
"The same command is available to Vista users, "
Apparently you didn't read . . . .
I like ice cream.
Sorry, that last comment was for HTD. >_>
I heard about this a long time ago. I'm surprised it took this long to make a tech news site.
@ Jarhead... I can't believe they made a post out of this either.
This is kind of funny because 2 days ago I posted about using the rearm trick to keep my RTM alive till October 22nd. I was just helping I guy out with Media Center stuff. I'm so cool I was 2 days ahead of engadget. /sarcasm
http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/08/19/directv-cisco-and-samsung-have-whole-house-dvr-plans-with-rvu-a/comments/20994991/
You know. you could just activate the RC and you'd be fine until next year.
why do they think people will pay $300 for windows 7 which is essential just a patched up vista?
Did you generate that opinion all by yourself?
No, it's a tarted up XP.
Troll /ignore
"No, it's a tarted up XP."
You guys are funny. That was actually meant as a complement. I like XP. I didn't like Vista. Windows 7 is what Vista should have been.
There is no anti MS talk allowed on engadget. Even if you were joking, engadget comment system is serious business to the 5 people with 70 accounts each who do all the down ranking.
Uh, because they don't want an unpatched Vista?
i just downloaded windows 7 RTM (torrents)- i've also seen some patches or key gens - is that necessary?
There are no keygens for 7, just like there have been no keygens for Vista. So if you download anything that claims to be a keygen - you will probably get a nasty surprise.
There are however activation bypasses which fully activate the RTM version of 7 (read about it on DownloadSquad) using the infamous Lenovo Windows 7 Ultimate OEM SLP key that leaked last month and this version runs indefinitely until MS chooses to do something about it. In October however when more SLP keys are released by manufacturers like Sony, Dell, HP etc, Microsoft will have no chance of stopping it since these keys will be out in the retail channel and stopping them will also cut off legitimate customers. Microsoft could do something with regards to this Lenovo key simply because nothing is being sold yet so installed products can easily be recalled.
LOL , I remember doing that for Vista years ago . I was like " WHOA , Vista loooks AWESOME " So just borrowed a Vista CD from a friend . Eh , first few days with Vista were horrible , no sound drivers =X
That's weird. The UAA means that audio usually works out of box with Vista/7.
That sounds annoying, but I just did an XP reinstall on a Sony Vaio and I forgot how annoying those are. No modem, ethernet, or sound. I didn't have the driver discs, and I didn't have a thumb drive, so I was left scratching my head as to getting the thing on the internet. Luckily someone came along with one, but this contrasts starkly to my Windows 7 install on my laptop, which recognized everything from the touch screen to the wireless to the fingerprint reader.
Running the RC and I love it. But I do agree it should be free for vista users.
Of course... and the Prius 3 should be free for the suckers that bought Prius 2.
It is free, it's called Windows 7 RC.
Hah, that last hyperlink doesn't even link to anything... it's fun to roll over though.
http:// http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/04/vista-sp1-kills-the-wga-kill-switch/
I wonder how long it will take for this command to become a one stop shopping for users.
And engadget swoops in again with 3-month old news... what would I do without you
Yeh, this news is seriously old.