Extend Evaluation Period to 240 days
Probably you want to use Windows Server 2008 as your default operating system, but because of the 60 day limit you haven’t installed it yet. This guide will explain how to reset up to 3 times so you have 240 days (4 x 60 days) time to evaluate. Don’t rearm if you don’t need to, because if you do that you waste the evaluation time you had remaining! Microsofts Knowledge Database explains a way to configure it will automatically reset each 60 days, but the Task Sheduler gives an error when you try to import the Task, because the maximum interval between triggers is 31 days, and the .xml file tries to set a delay of 59 days. The information in this guide is the same information as the KB article.
1. First we are going to take a look how many days we have left to evaluate Windows Server 2008. Click Run in the menu Start, then type slmgr.vbs -dli and click OK. Be patient after clicking OK because it will take some time before it will show you a Windows Script Host message window that says how much time you have remain.
2. If the message window previous screen says you have only a few days left do the following to reset the evaluation period back to 60 days. Click Run in the menu Start, then type slmgr.vbs -rearm and click OK. After a couple of seconds it will show you the message window that the command has completed. Restart your system to apply the reset!
3. To verify your evaluation period is reset after reboot click Run in the Start menu, enter slmgr.vbs -dli and click OK. A few moments later it will show you, you have 60 days left again!
Tags Server 2008 Workstation
March 9th, 2008 at 15:34
What happens if the evaluation period expires? Is it still possible to re-arm the trigger afterwards?
March 11th, 2008 at 0:04
When I run the ’slmgr.vbs -dli’ I get a 59 days remaining time. But because it’s a VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel, it will attempt to do a automatic activation within 3 days.
March 12th, 2008 at 13:09
If you have access to MSDN - Partner Program - your key works perfectly. Also, the key works with the 2008 Workstation build that is floating around on usenet.
April 30th, 2008 at 18:45
Hello,
A gift for you and your readers !
http://windows2008.blogdns.com/index.asp
http://windows2008.blogdns.com/slides/0.asp
40 slides that you can watch if you click the red arrow on the right side.
“no cracks, no serials, nothing. JUST WINDOWS. Have fun !”
A huge thank to Mcfly
Valorisa
May 4th, 2008 at 21:20
IIRC, it is 30 days for retail SKUs and 60 days for MSDN SKUs.
May 8th, 2008 at 0:56
mr valorisa,i do it in my machine to ur project (http://windows2008.blogdns.com/slides/0.asp) but last (SLUINotify.dll)file dosn’t delate (destination folder acces denied)you need permission to prform this action. how can delate this plz tellme…thanks
May 8th, 2008 at 15:40
Hello,
If you can’t delete one of these files (SLUI, SLLUA or SLUINotify.dll) you can try to move SLUINotify.dll to a place of your choice, for example the Desktop or an other place (but not in c:\windows\system32 or c:\windows). I have had the same problem and have found this solution.
A good advice : make a directory on your hard disk and name it “SLUI_backup” and move the 3 files SLUI, SLLUA and SLUINotify.dll to this directory. Do not delete these files…
Let us know the result.
Thanks.
Valorisa
May 11th, 2008 at 11:17
Does anyone know how to do the automatic rearm so you do not have to do all this manually, I have the code but dont understand how to do it
May 11th, 2008 at 13:32
Hello,
You can use the CLI (command line interface) with “schtasks” to activate a dynamic rearm but don’t forget that at the end you will have to buy the product or try the Sergio Mcfly’s method…
Valorisa
May 20th, 2008 at 12:48
I try this one, but after updating files on micro$oft, i got a note on the right side bottom of the windows Very near in the clock when I restart my computer, not coz it is to fast say:”The copy of this file is not Genuine” please clarify…
Admin: Are you sure you haven’t entered any serial during the installation and haven’t tried any activation crack available on the internet? None of the pc’s i installed it on has this problem.
May 20th, 2008 at 21:45
Hello,
The indication “The copy…is not genuine” is normal but this method (without crack, serial or malware) works if you have followed the differents steps.
valorisa
May 20th, 2008 at 21:48
The new lik :
http://windowsserver2008.dyndns.org/activation.asp
and click on “ByPass”
valorisa
May 29th, 2008 at 0:50
All that does is turn off the Activation nag warning. After 60 days your computer goes into non-compliance mode like any other failed-to-activate computer, which means you fail WGA checks, can’t download from Microsoft Update, etc.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:10
Hello,
At least, have you made a backup of SLLUA.exe, SLUI.exe and SLUINotify.dll like said previously ?
After 60 days, you can again launch a “slmgr.vbs -rearm”. The Windows Update works fine. Today I have did a Windows Update and no problem.
Now after 240 days (60 days + 3 * rearm), I don’t know how W2k8 reacts with Windows Update.
An notification please here to check that this works or not ?
valorisa
May 29th, 2008 at 12:32
Perhaps you are right but with Vista installed there is 1 year, the Mcfly’s method allow the Windows Update. Can you send us a screenshot about your problem please ?
I continue to investigate the problem.
Isn’t there anyone here for a confirmation please ?
valorisa
May 30th, 2008 at 11:15
Hello,
If the system clock of your machine is out-dated, the Windows Update won’t work.
valorisa
May 31st, 2008 at 7:38
I did it !
If you follow all the steps since the installation your copy will work for everything. I tested a bunch
Thanks MCFLY.
May 31st, 2008 at 18:51
Hello all, if I was able to follow the McFly slides (awesome)
and delete all of the three files should I see “activate today” instead of “60 day(s) to activate” ?
Is the method simply to delete those files or did I possibly do something out of order or wrong that leaves me with the 60 day left warning.
I am trying this on server 2008 enterprise x64.
Thankyou!
June 1st, 2008 at 5:54
I think I just answered my own question by setting the clock forward a few months and rebooting.
I now see “activate today” and I was offered to change my password.
I also see a product key near the “activate today” I can’t remember if that was there before or not.
Thanks to all those that brought this to light and McFly, you are golden!
June 1st, 2008 at 5:59
btw, you don’t need to type run for most of this other very useful stuff. Just type the name of the service or the command in the search box. If you can’t remember the full name of say, services.msc (is that even it? I forget
) just type service and names start popping up above for you to click on.
June 1st, 2008 at 8:56
I thought I added another comment?
I think I answered my own question, by setting my date a few months forward and restarting I did see “activate today” and I was prompted to create a new password!
thanks
June 1st, 2008 at 12:21
Hello,
It’s for me the best method because it’s a clean method that doesn’t add a malware or other software within the system and the most important : the Windows Update works fine if the date is correct.
Thanks dOGHAIR and Eric for your response and your tests about this method. If you set the date of few months or years forward, you will see the message “active today” because the period of 60 days will be finished.
Don’t delete the 3 files but make a backup if a day they are required by the system.
Valorisa
June 12th, 2008 at 19:07
I found another clean method to delay the activation:
Open regedit, then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SL and modify the key SkipRearm to 1 and then you will be able to rearm again.You need to modify this registry key every time you want to rearm again.
June 12th, 2008 at 22:47
Hello,
Thanks Sawo. I’ll try this soon. An other good news to rearm infinitely W2K8.
Valorisa
June 13th, 2008 at 15:25
Yes, i tried it on virtual pc 2007 and so far it works flawlessly!
June 13th, 2008 at 18:53
Hello,
I’ve tried your method but it’s doesn’t work if you have applied before the Mcfly’s method. Normal because the SL UI Notification Service is disabled and SLLUA.exe, SLUI.exe and SLUINotify.dll have been moved or deleted.
I think that your method works fine. So, it’s a method or the other but not both.
Thanks for your test.
Valorisa
June 13th, 2008 at 20:55
Yeah it will probably not work if you remove the activation service etc, but it may work if you put back the deleted files and the service.I will test that scenario if i have free time these days.
June 16th, 2008 at 13:33
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SL
those reg keys are all at the above location
change skiprearm to 1
change vlactivationinterval to 240
change vlrenewalinterval to 20160
run slmgr.vbs -rearm
reboot
run slmgr.vbs -dli
result window says Licensed
with no information pertaining to evaluation period at all
is it fully licensed now… maybe since the evaluation details are now gone
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:01
Ive tried these methods.. but now i get the “this windows is not genuine” watermark. Did i do something wrong?
June 25th, 2008 at 17:54
vlactivationinterval sets the retry period for KMS initial activation attempts. At 240 minutes it will retry every 4 hours, probably not what you want. vlrenewalinterval is the required interval to re-contact the KMS server to keep the activation from lapsing. The default is 30 days. At 20160 minutes it gives you 2 weeks, again probably not what you want.
Disabling the SL service simply turns off the nag warnings. After 60 days you still go into non-compliance mode.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:50
The image host for your slide presentation has taken down the images. Perhaps you can just use flickr and make a photostream?
July 23rd, 2008 at 17:12
change skiprearm to 1
just do that and get back 3 times to rearm
July 24th, 2008 at 14:20
It is so so terribly sad that this x64 OS expires on me after about 220 days.
Why can’t we get a good deal on having it prolonged for a small donation? I mean, seriously, I’m not going to buy this at their server-pricerange for my laptop, no matter what they try.
I got a Vista license with my laptop, but it was worthless for me from day 1! I replaced it with 2008, and it’s perfect this way.
For this 2008 OS I’d be prepared to pay a small fee (something like €30, but not more). If that will not be an option I have two choices:
Switching to OpenSuse (or another 64 bit linux distro), or turning the illegal route.
I sure hope I can keep on using it for years to come.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:31
Out of curiosity, has anyone who has used the McFly method tested it after a long period (60 days for example) and been able to perform Windows Updates, etc.
I am thinking of trying this out on my desktop but don’t want to get stuck with an OS that won’t update.
I’m running win 2k8 server as a vmware guest just fine, but i’m curious to try gaming out.. which i can’t w/o 3d support.
anyway.. just curious what others had experienced.
thanks.
August 2nd, 2008 at 16:45
Whill the notification go if simply turning off the SLUI service ?
August 9th, 2008 at 8:14
Whatever method you do it may seem to work but then you will actually notice the computer will reboot every two hours… and not very gracefully.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:45
In case it isn’t clear from the above, **none** of the tricks described above will thwart WGA or Vista/W28K product activation. At best you can disable the nag warnings and extend the trial period from 60 to 240 days. There is no way to bypass WPA2 product activation past 240 days using any of the above techniques.
Pay for your software and stop trying to pirate it from Microsoft.
August 24th, 2008 at 0:34
Oh yeah, that really makes sense. Pay $999 for a copy. Any other bright ideas Gideon the fucktard?
August 24th, 2008 at 22:25
If you can’t afford it, you don’t need it, bitch.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:25
Does that apply to the starving nations abroad?
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:55
I say we all abandon Windows and resurrect our Atari ST computers! Then we can use Xformer for Atari XL Virtualization!
September 9th, 2008 at 5:56
Gideon7….you mentioned ["In case it isn’t clear from the above, **none** of the tricks described above will thwart WGA or Vista/W28K product activation. At best you can disable the nag warnings and extend the trial period from 60 to 240 days. There is no way to bypass WPA2 product activation past 240 days using any of the above techniques."]
So your saying that even if you use (1)[slmgr.vbs -rearm] and (2) [skiprearm to 1] every 3 rearms, you still cant get past 240 days?
September 9th, 2008 at 19:57
The slmgr -rearm business originated from Brian Livingstone. He later retracted his claim about it working past 240 days. He was wrong.
All SkipRearm=1 does is cause the next execution of slmgr -rearm to be ignored. The purpose is to avoid decrementing the rearm limit (3) during SysPrep. It has no other use. If you use SkipRearm it will simply ignore your attempt to use slmgr -rearm. Probably not what you want.
People who claim that SkipRearm=1 allows “infinite” slmgr -rearm are wrong. In fact it does the opposite: it causes Windows to ignore the slmgr -rearm, leaving the expiration date unchanged.
After 240 days WPA2 will *always* go into non-compliance mode. No matter what.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:31
“After 240 days WPA2 will *always* go into non-compliance mode. No matter what.”
–Thats definitely not what I want…thanks for the replay!
September 10th, 2008 at 10:33
“After 240 days WPA2 will *always* go into non-compliance mode. No matter what.”
Then all we have to do is reinstall OS and we get 240 days again
plain and simple. I really wouldnt like reinstalling every 60 days, but every 8 months I am ready to do that.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:48
[# pierre Says:
August 24th, 2008 at 22:25
If you can’t afford it, you don’t need it, bitch.]
^^^
This is most stupidest thing I have heard this year. Maybe even ever.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:49
this is really a wonderful thing to test vista it a bit longer.
thanks for that.
but:
the server version doesn’t give me the possibilty to select “hibernate” or “standby” at the shut down menu.
any idea how to get these useful options?
Arris: See see topic Standby / Hibernate at the forum about how to enable/use Standby and Hibernate.
September 27th, 2008 at 11:39
For the record, McFly method does work after 240 days. The only downside is that it shows ‘This copy of Windows is not Genuine’ watermark on your desktop, and it is tricky to get rid of (strings are not in the same location as vista dll, and you must get around DEP)
September 28th, 2008 at 17:14
bantha_fodder… how much time have you tried it after 240 days?
Another question.. I had a server 2008 enterprise with 239 days running, and trying to “save” my information I applied a tick of replacing the “tockens.dat” file, as described here: http://www.thehotfix.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=19435&pid=136858&st=20&#entry136858
Is there any way to turn back to my original server version, and apply Mcfly’s method? I do have a copy of the original tokens.dat file.
Server is now recognized as Vista Ultimate, but I would like to know if it is possible to go back to original? anyone?
October 6th, 2008 at 15:04
Hello,
Have you tried this as Admin:
takeown /F “C:\Windows\System32\SLLUA.exe”
takeown /F “C:\Windows\System32\SLUI.exe”
takeown /F “C:\Windows\System32\SLUINotify.dll”
icacls “C:\Windows\System32\SLLUA.exe” /grant administrators:F
icacls “C:\Windows\System32\SLUI.exe” /grant administrators:F
icacls “C:\Windows\System32\SLUINotify.dll” /grant administrators:F
del “C:\Windows\System32\SLLUA.exe” or ren “C:\Windows\System32\SLLUA.exe” “SLLUA.exe.bak”
del “C:\Windows\System32\SLUI.exe” or ren “C:\Windows\System32\SLUI.exe” “SLUI.exe.bak”
del “C:\Windows\System32\SLUINotify.dll” or ren “C:\Windows\System32\SLUINotify.dll” “SLUINotify.dll.bak”
pause
In the script it’s :
or
but not both on the same line.
script extracted from
http://defcon5.biz/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=999
valorisa
October 10th, 2008 at 6:22
Well I try both and still every 2 hours(not exatly 2 hour) it reboot!!
when I disable auto reboot on error
the blue screen tell me that the error cause by License Notify something (forgot) but something like the License cause an error
any idea how to fix it?
Arris: Write down the STOP code and look it up on the internet. If you can’t find anything, post it on the Microsoft Technet Forums and they ‘ll help you!
October 12th, 2008 at 16:28
@Shy Evsa
What do you try both ? you talk about the script ?
What is your environment ? (W2K8) on physical machine ? VMware ? Without or with the converter ? Can you give us more precisions please ?
Have you updated your material with the newest driver for your problem ?
Best regards.
Valorisa
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:52
guys, you are missing the point. the 60/240 days or whatever just gives microsoft the chance to implement and check multiple redundancies in their licensing. anyone who thinks that manipulating slmgr is going to permanently activate their software is mistaken. every component has its own verification that it checks, and is in turn checked to ensure nothing has been bypassed. this is one of the main reasons that bios cracks were so easy to thwart.
it is unrealistic to identify and override every check so ultimately your software expires unless you register it. sorry
October 29th, 2008 at 16:00
No matter, what, but just before the 240 days go off, we can use the Vista activation - by replacing that file from Vista and then it will be genuine, but it will be thinking that it’s vista in some cases.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:24
anyone who thinks that manipulating slmgr is going to permanently activate their software is mistaken
anyone who thinks that it is even POSSIBLE to “permanently” activate their microsoft software is mistaken. even if it was legally purchased. it’s always possible for microsoft to revoke your activation and require you to go through the process again. a failed WGA check (which can happen to anyone) will trigger it. so will a reformat/reinstallation of the OS. you will have to call their indian support guys and beg for a reactivation code.
the software is LICENSED, not purchased, so dealing with MS activation will always be an ongoing affair, regardless of whether you paid for the software or not. the nag screens are only slightly more infrequent if you actually did pay
windows desktop installations tend to go “stale” after awhile anyway, so it’s not that big of a hassle to reinstall every 240 days and use slmgr.vbs -rearm each time to delay activation. it validates and updates throughout the entire period, and it’s much less of a hassle than calling microsoft every time the activation screws up.
if I decide I really want to continue without reinstalling after the 240 days, I could always enter my 1-year-trial product key from HHH. I just don’t see the need to use it yet (and start that 1-year timer) if I can get 240 days without entering any key at all… besides, after I go through this process once or twice there will be a new OS that I will probably want to install and try out.
Pay for your software and stop trying to pirate it from Microsoft.
we’re talking about using w2k8 as a home-use, desktop OS, and there’s just no way to justify the cost of w2k8 for that application. it just wouldn’t make any sense to pay for it. the only reason to purchase a license is to shield yourself from legal liability (like if you use the OS to run your business server software). just ask microsoft, they handed these things out like candy at their national conferences. they would LOVE for us all to try it out free of charge and maybe encourage us to upgrade our servers in our IT admin jobs. in the end, they sell more licenses this way.
November 2nd, 2008 at 21:55
Installing the sp2 beta resets the activation period, maybe by reïnstalling it you can always keep in the trial period.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:50
Does anyone know how to determine the remaining rearm counts that you have in a Windows 2008 system??
Thanks.
November 12th, 2008 at 7:17
Okay, here’s some information. I did the McFly method, the rearm things says I have tonnes of days left, but the Setup screen says activation in 2 days. In exactly 2 days, what is going to happen? Will it start saying it’s not genuine?
As for the whole piracy thing, Microsoft make enough cash from businesses buying licences, you’d think end users were chump change compared to all the licences being sold OEM?
Oh wells, if this doesn’t work, it’s back to XP x64 corp, rofl, it’s the king of easily pirated operating systems.
November 16th, 2008 at 1:31
You guys are terrible, and pretty delusional. The fact you are going to use it for your desktop and not for your business server shouldn’t matter. You can’t buy a Porshe and get it for free if you aren’t going to drive it faster than 20mph. Many of you have terrible logic.
Microsoft has never given away their software and will never. If you want to have a free OS why not try something like Ubuntu. I would assume because it is clearly inferior compared to Microsofts Server 2008.
“Oh wells, if this doesn’t work, it’s back to XP x64 corp, rofl, it’s the king of easily pirated operating systems.”
^ That comment is bad for business. Terrible…
November 19th, 2008 at 23:19
Hello, people,
what’s gonna happen, if after 60 or 120 or 240 days I REINSTALL 2008 server? Will it work 240 days more as a trial version? I’m desperately trying to go legal (for as long as I can) :]