* Mike Brannigan:
Both the use of the 30 day grace period for activation and the use of the
"rearm" function to extend this are NOT there to allow the use of the
product for evaluation purposes.
Prove it.
Show me where it says who may or may not use those functions,
and how/when they are to be specifically used.
If you do not have a VALID license for Windows Vista then installation
without one is using unlicensed software (also known as piracy.
Then why does Vista even allow such an install? Vista will actually use
a default key when you install without one. Technically speaking, you
are not using Vista without a key even if you don't enter one.
It really is that simple.
Yes, it is. Microsoft could have *easily* kept this from being allowed, and
they could have *easily* stated which type of users and circumstances allowed
the use of installing without a key and the use of "rearm". Does the EULA
state you may not install Vista without entering a product key?
Does the EULA state only IT administrators and/ or businesses may use
the command "slmgr -rearm"? Does it?
This information has been available for a long time- where's Microsoft's
clarification? This information isn't just available at "pirate" sites, but at
respected sites and posted by Microsoft cheerleaders, such as Ed Bott,
Brian Livingston, and Paul Thurrott. Has Microsoft asked for the information
to be removed? Has it? No.
Ed Bott and many others have posted entries about ways to extend the 30 day
period or even try and by pass it completely.
Ed Bott does *not* condone piracy, and you know that, you big dingleberry.
If he thought suggesting this was considered piracy, he never would have.
I also believe that Microsoft would have "corrected" him.
However none of this is relevant.
Your constant fellation of Microsoft is irrelevant,
although, it is quite comical.
During the install process you must agree to be bound by the EULA you
cannot do this is you do not hold a valid license for the product
Yes you can do it, and Microsoft even assigns a default key
depending on the version you pick to install.
and thus
you must not continue the install process otherwise again you are using
unlicensed software. (even eval software is operated under specific
licensing terms from Microsoft when made available)
Yet, the install does continue when it could have *easily* not been allowed at
all. You remain confused.
Windows Vistas is not made available under any licensed terms for evaluation
purposes except as the downloadable VHD or through approved programs such as
TechNet Plus.
(If Windows Visa was available for eval from Microsoft by any other approved
means it would be posted on the site along with all of the other
downloadable eval products. Ask your self the very simple question - are
you allowed to just borrow any software that is sold under licensed terms
from someone and run it for as long as you want or even until it demands
activation because you are "evaluating" it? Of course not - it is no
different with Vista.)
The from a technical perspective what Ed and he other poster have mention is
feasible but it is not permitted under the licensing terms.
Show me the specific language where it says you can not use Vista
without entering a product key. Obviously, you can. As I said, you
aren't actually using Vista without a product key, because Vista will
use one once you pick the version you want to install, and that key is
good for 30 days. *Unless* you use "slmgr -rearm" to extend that.
Now, show me where it says you can't use that. Obviously, you can.
Show me where it says who may use that command.
The OP was
asking about this form a corporate perspective and it would not be advisable
for a corporate body to indulge in unlicensed software usage.
They should either use one of the approved methods or if they have one deal
with their Microsoft Account Manager.
What about these links, Mike? The links below have been all over the internet since at least
the beginning of April. Why haven't they been shut down or changed? Require a password?
They are freely available to anyone who knows how to google. Why does Microsoft tolerate this?
They could also *easily* fix this.... but, they don't. Why? Because, ultimately, Microsoft
doesn't
care how you obtain the software, all they really want is for you to end up purchasing a key.
http://digg.com/software/Windows_Vista_Retail_Direct_Download_Links_Leaked
http://filenetworks.blogspot.com/2007/04/windows-vista-retail-direct-download.html
So, back to "entering no key" and "slmgr -rearm", Microsoft could have been
*precise* in who could use these functions, more importantly- they could have
*easily* kept them from working at all.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129148/article.html
<quote>
A Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed the feature and command on Friday. "Yes, 'rearm' can be run
up to three times from the release media from Microsoft," she said in an e-mail response to
some questions. "This means [that] a total of 120 days total time is available as a grace
period to customers that take advantage of rearm."
Microsoft has documented this option on its Vista Volume Activation 2.0 support site. Although
the bulk of the technical information posted is aimed at corporate administrators, the sections
dealing with repeated activation also apply to consumer users of the operating system.
Extending the grace period, the spokeswoman continued, is not a violation of the Vista End User
License Agreement (EULA). Microsoft introduced product activation in 2001's Office XP and next
used it in that year's Windows XP. The feature was toughened up for Vista, however; after the
grace periods, nonactivated PCs running Vista drop into what Microsoft calls "reduced
functionality" mode. In reduced mode, users can only browse the Web with Internet Explorer, and
then only for an hour before being forced to again log on.
</quote>
-Michael
