The installation of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 includes an evaluation period that allows you to using full features of both products for a period of 30 days for Windows Vista and 60 days for Windows Server 2008 without having a valid and legal product key.
Also, Microsoft includes by default a supported and legal way to extend that evaluation period for three more times. In this way, you can evaluate Windows Vista without having a valid product key for a period of time of 120 days and Windows Server 2008 for a period of time of 240 days.
The procedure is so easy as to execute a .vbs script that is included by default into C:\Windows\System32 directory. This script .vbs script is named slmgr.vbs and the commando to execute before the evaluation period expires, for example the day before, is the following :
C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs –rearm
You must to restart the computer to apply the new evaluation period after the command execution.
You have the chance to apply this procedure for three times.
There are many options related to licensing topic that you can manage with this .vbs script, as you can see in the following usage instructions:
Usage: slmgr.vbs [MachineName [User Password]] [Option]
MachineName: Name of remote machine (default is local machine)
User: Account with required privilege on remote machine
Password: password for the previous account
Global Options:
-ipk
Install product key (replaces existing key)
-ato
Activate Windows
-dli [Activation ID | All]
Display license information (default: current license)
-dlv [Activation ID | All]
Display detailed license information (default: current license)
-xpr
Expiration date for current license state
Advanced Options:
-cpky
Clear product key from the registry (prevents disclosure attacks)
-ilc
Install license
-rilc
Re-install system license files
-rearm
Reset the licensing status of the machine
-upk
Uninstall product key
-dti
Display Installation ID for offline activation
-atp
Activate product with user-provided Confirmation ID
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