How to extend the evaluation period of Windows 2008 server to 240 days

Posted Date: 19-Aug-2010		Category: Microsoft Windows
Author: D.Jeya Kumar(JK)	Member Level: Diamond
Rating:	Points: 20 (Rs 15)

How to extend Windows Server 2008 evaluation version to 240 days by extending the default evaluation period of 60 days to 240 days in a legal way without using 3rd party software or modifying the registry values

How to extend the evaluation period of Windows 2008 server

Windows Server 2008 evaluation version can be extended to 240 days from the time of installation without reinstalling the operating system. You can add some grace period to the evaluation version of Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2008 evaluation version will allow you to work with the trial period of 60 days after the installation which will not require product activation. You can extend the Windows Server 2008 evaluation period to 240 days beyond the initial evaluation period. First time you can extend up to 60 days and then 3 times you can extend once the previous time is over.

Installing Window Server 2008 without the activating the operating system. During installation you need to skip the activation by selection No option will allow you to install the operating system without activating it. After selecting no option you will be asked for the edition of the Windows server and you need to select the type of edition and continue installation. Once the installation is completed you cannot change the edition of the Windows Server 2008 edition.

Evaluation time will start from the day which you installed the operating system. Check the system evaluation period frequently to know the evaluation date by running the Slmgr.vbs vb script from the System32 folder.

Windows server 2008 evaluation

Open the command prompt then go to Windows\System32 folder and type slmgr.vbs –dli and hit enter to see the present evaluation time. Do resetting of the evaluation period on the final day of the evaluation time, because if you reset on 10th day instead of the 60th day you will lose 50 days.

To reset the evaluation time to 60 days on the first day type slmgr.vbs -rearm and then hit enter to reset the evaluation time.

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