evaluation of server 2008

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Installing and Extending Microsoft Windows Server

2008 Trial Software

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472

Evaluating Windows Server 2008 software does not require product activation. Anyedition of Windows Server 2008 may be installed without activation.

In the Windows Server 2008 Evaluation DVD package, there is a 120-day initialevaluation period. You can extend the evaluation period to 240 days. To extend the initialevaluation and testing period, follow the steps in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472).

How to install Windows Server 2008 without activating it:

1. Run the Windows Server 2008 Setup program.2. When you are prompted to enter a product key for activation, do not enter a key.ClickNo when Setup asks you to confirm your selection.

3. You may be prompted to select the edition of Windows Server 2008 that you wantto evaluate. Select the edition that you want to install.

Note: After Windows Server 2008 is installed, the edition cannot be changed withoutreinstalling it.

4. When you are prompted, read the evaluation terms in the Microsoft SoftwareLicense Terms, and then accept the terms.

How to manually extend the evaluation period:

When the initial evaluation period nears its end, you can run the Slmgr.vbs script to resetthe evaluation period. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then clickCommand Prompt.2. Type slmgr.vbs -dli, and then press ENTER to check the current status of your

evaluation period.3. To reset the evaluation period, type slmgr.vbs rearm, and then press ENTER.4. Restart the computer.

This resets the evaluation period to 60 days.

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How to extend the Windows Server 2008 evaluation periodArticle ID: 948472 - View products that this article applies to.

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On This PageSUMMARYINTRODUCTIONMORE INFORMATIONHow to install Windows Server 2008 without activating itHow to manually extend the evaluation periodHow to automate the extension of the evaluation periodPropertiesGive Feedback

.tocTitle, #tocDiv{display: none;}

SUMMARYThis article describes how to extend, or re-arm, the

Windows Server 2008 evaluation period. The evaluation periodis also known as the "activation grace" period. Theseinstructions apply to any edition of Windows Server 2008. Thisincludes evaluation copies.

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INTRODUCTIONEvaluating Windows Server 2008 software does not require

product activation. Any edition of Windows Server 2008 maybe installed without activation, and it may be evaluated for 60

days. Additionally, the 60-day evaluation period may be reset(re-armed) three times. This action extends the original 60-dayevaluation period by up to 180 days for a total possibleevaluation time of 240 days.

Note In the Windows Server 2008 Evaluation DVD package,there is a 120-day initial evaluation period. You can extend theevaluation period to 240 days. To extend the initial evaluationand testing period, follow the steps in this MicrosoftKnowledge Base article.


MORE INFORMATIONHow to install Windows Server 2008 without activating itRun the Windows Server 2008 Setup program.

When you are prompted to enter a product key for activation,do not enter a key. Click No when Setup asks you to confirmyour selection.You may be prompted to select the edition of Windows Server2008 that you want to evaluate. Select the edition that you wantto install.

Note After Windows Server 2008 is installed, the editioncannot be changed without reinstalling it.When you are prompted, read the evaluation terms in theMicrosoft Software License Terms, and then accept the terms.When the Windows Server 2008 Setup program is finished,your initial 60-day evaluation period starts. To check the timethat is left on your current evaluation period, run the Slmgr.vbsscript that is in the System32 folder. Use the -dli switch to runthis script. The slmgr.vbs -dli command displays the number ofdays that are left in the current 60-day evaluation period.How to manually extend the evaluation period

When the initial 60-day evaluation period nears its end, youcan run the Slmgr.vbs script to reset the evaluation period. Todo this, follow these steps:Click Start, and then click Command Prompt.Type slmgr.vbs -dli, and then press ENTER to check thecurrent status of your evaluation period.To reset the evaluation period, type slmgr.vbs rearm, and thenpress ENTER.Restart the computer.

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This resets the evaluation period to 60 days.How to automate the extension of the evaluation period

You may want to set up a process that automatically resetsthe evaluation period every 60 days. One way to automate thisprocess is by using the Task Scheduler. You can configure the

Task Scheduler to run the Slmgr.vbs script and to restart theserver at a particular time. To do this, follow these steps:Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click TaskScheduler.Copy the following sample task to the server, and then save itas an .xml file. For example, you can save the file asExtend.xml.

2007-09-17T14:26:04.433Microsoft Corporation

P31Dfalse

2007-10-05T02:23:242008-09-

17T14:23:24.777true

domain\aliasPasswordHighestAvailable

PT10MPT1Htruefalse

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SlmgrSlmgr.vbs dlvHow to extend theWindows Server 2008

R...How to check activationstatus of Windo...Evaluation copyWindows server 2003ext...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/hihttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/hihttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/hihttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/hihttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/hihttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/hihttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/hihttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/thhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/thhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/thhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/thhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/kohttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/kohttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/kohttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/kohttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/kohttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/kohttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-cnhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-cnhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-cnhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-cnhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-cnhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-cnhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-twhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-twhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-twhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-twhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-twhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-twhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/jahttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/jahttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/jahttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/jahttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/jahttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/jahttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/818025/en-ushttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/818025/en-ushttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/818025/en-ushttp://blogs.technet.com/b/johnbaker/archive/2009/08/29/extending-your-evaluation-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/johnbaker/archive/2009/08/29/extending-your-evaluation-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/johnbaker/archive/2009/08/29/extending-your-evaluation-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/johnbaker/archive/2009/08/29/extending-your-evaluation-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/danstolts/archive/2009/09/16/how-to-extend-your-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2-activate-now-message.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/danstolts/archive/2009/09/16/how-to-extend-your-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2-activate-now-message.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/danstolts/archive/2009/09/16/how-to-extend-your-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2-activate-now-message.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/danstolts/archive/2009/09/16/how-to-extend-your-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2-activate-now-message.aspxhttp://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Slmgr&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Slmgr.vbs%20dlv&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20extend%20the%20Windows%20Server%202008%20R2%20evaluation%20period&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20extend%20the%20Windows%20Server%202008%20R2%20evaluation%20period&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20extend%20the%20Windows%20Server%202008%20R2%20evaluation%20period&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20check%20activation%20status%20of%20Windows%20server%202008&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20check%20activation%20status%20of%20Windows%20server%202008&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Evaluation%20copy%20Windows%20server%202003%20extend%20date&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Evaluation%20copy%20Windows%20server%202003%20extend%20date&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Evaluation%20copy%20Windows%20server%202003%20extend%20date&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/hihttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/thhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/kohttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-cnhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/zh-twhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472/jahttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/818025/en-ushttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/818025/en-ushttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/818025/en-ushttp://blogs.technet.com/b/johnbaker/archive/2009/08/29/extending-your-evaluation-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/johnbaker/archive/2009/08/29/extending-your-evaluation-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/johnbaker/archive/2009/08/29/extending-your-evaluation-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/danstolts/archive/2009/09/16/how-to-extend-your-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2-activate-now-message.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/danstolts/archive/2009/09/16/how-to-extend-your-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2-activate-now-message.aspxhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/danstolts/archive/2009/09/16/how-to-extend-your-activation-grace-period-on-windows-server-2008-and-2008-r2-activate-now-message.aspxhttp://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Slmgr&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Slmgr.vbs%20dlv&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20extend%20the%20Windows%20Server%202008%20R2%20evaluation%20period&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20extend%20the%20Windows%20Server%202008%20R2%20evaluation%20period&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20extend%20the%20Windows%20Server%202008%20R2%20evaluation%20period&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20check%20activation%20status%20of%20Windows%20server%202008&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=How%20to%20check%20activation%20status%20of%20Windows%20server%202008&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Evaluation%20copy%20Windows%20server%202003%20extend%20date&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Evaluation%20copy%20Windows%20server%202003%20extend%20date&catalog=LCID%3D1033http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?query=Evaluation%20copy%20Windows%20server%202003%20extend%20date&catalog=LCID%3D1033


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IgnoreNewtrue

truetruefalsefalsetruetruefalsefalsetrueP3D

PT0S7PT1M3

C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs-rearm

C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe/r

In the sample task, change the value of the following UserIDtag to contain your domain and your alias:domain\aliasIn the Task Scheduler, click Import Task on the Action menu.Click the sample task .xml file. For example, click Extend.xml.Click Import.Click the Triggers tab.Click the One Time trigger, and then click Edit.Change the start date of the task to a date just before the end of


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your current evaluation period.Click OK, and then exit the Task Scheduler.The Task Scheduler will now run the evaluation reset operationon the date that you specified.


PropertiesArticle ID: 948472 - Last Review: May 5, 2008 - Revision:

3.1APPLIES TOWindows Server 2008 EnterpriseWindows Server 2008 StandardWindows Web Server 2008Windows Server 2008 DatacenterWindows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-VWindows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-VWindows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based SystemsWindows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-VKeywords: kbinfo kbhowto kbexpertiseadvanced KB948472


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