Turn activated Vista back into 30-days trial?

[Sven Berg]

I want to give a clone of my system (Ultimate) to colleagues with very
similar hardware. If they get convinced, they would buy license keys
of their own. As long as they test it, they should not run it with my
license, but as a 30 days trial. Of course, my Vista is already
activated. So, how can I turn its image back into an unactivated
trial? (A clean install is no option for my colleagues, since I
installed applications, drivers, tweaks and hacks, which only make the
value of this particular installation.). Many thanks, Sven

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

I want to give a clone of my system (Ultimate) to colleagues with very
similar hardware. If they get convinced, they would buy license keys
of their own. As long as they test it, they should not run it with my
license, but as a 30 days trial. Of course, my Vista is already
activated. So, how can I turn its image back into an unactivated
trial? (A clean install is no option for my colleagues, since I
installed applications, drivers, tweaks and hacks, which only make the
value of this particular installation.). Many thanks, Sven

Hand them your install DVD and wish them luck... then run for cover
because they're bound to be after you in a hurry for destroying their
working XP system.

 

[David B.]

I'm curious as to how you determined that the recipient of the system clone
has any XP systems, XP was not mentioned anywhere in the OP.

 

[Jack]

How similar that hardware is?
If there are some differences Vista does not like it will ask for activation
again.
However it will give you 3 days only.
Jack

 

[Sven Berg]

Good to know, thanks!
Will slmgr -rearm definitely fail to grant a prolongation?
Sven

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

I'm curious as to how you determined that the recipient of the system clone
has any XP systems, XP was not mentioned anywhere in the OP.

The post was obviously in reference to an "upgrade".

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

I'm curious as to how you determined that the recipient of the system clone
has any XP systems, XP was not mentioned anywhere in the OP.

Actually, I was avoiding the "clean Install is no option" line... this isn't legal, period.

The moment the OP's install appears on a new motherboard, the show is over.

 

[David B.]

I can't see how you came to that conclusion, granted the OP is probably
asking for trouble with his scenario, but your assuming quite a bit, more
than you should be.

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

I can't see how you came to that conclusion, granted the OP is probably
asking for trouble with his scenario, but your assuming quite a bit, more
than you should be.

I sit corrected.

It is however, easy to get the impression that either his copy is OEM without a
DVD, pirated, or his DVD of the OS is suddenly not available to his mates. At
any rate, his scenario could *only* work as an upgrade if 'clean install' using
the Vista installation DVD is not an option. How is that so difficult to ascertain?


Cheers,

DM

 

[David B.]

We must be looking at it differently. I got; he has a Vista install on his
PC that he has tweaked or customized for some reason, he wants to remove the
license, in effect converting it to the 30 day trial that anyone can use,
and image it so someone else can use it to test out his tweaks on their
hardware for the trial period of 30 days.
Any number of scenarios could result, most of which conclude in the image
not working on the test PC. I see nothing to suggest he lost his DVD or has
a pirated copy, but I wouldn't hold out much hope of it working either.

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

Any number of scenarios could result, most of which conclude in the image
not working on the test PC. I see nothing to suggest he lost his DVD or has
a pirated copy, but I wouldn't hold out much hope of it working either.

But everything to indicate the illegality of the entire proposition.

It's a dumb stunt and deserved an even dumber response.

I filled that bill..... ;-)


Cheers,

DM

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Sven

You left out a lot of information?

Did your copy of Vista come pre-installed (OEM)? If it did, you cannot clone
the system and use it as a trial version on another PC. This only works if
you have a retail installation DVD. If the clone was installed on another
system, they would have 3 days to reactivate that installation, even if it
did work.

A system with "similar hardware" doesn't work. The system has to have the
same BIOS information as the original PC where it was installed, if it is
OEM.

Any way you look at it, this is a bad idea, simply because it could result
in your PC losing it's activated status and require you to re-activate your
system using the telephone option.

 

[Sven Berg]

We must be looking at it differently. I got; he has a Vista install on his
PC that he has tweaked or customized for some reason, he wants to remove the
license, in effect converting it to the 30 day trial that anyone can use,
and image it so someone else can use it to test out his tweaks on their
hardware for the trial period of 30 days.
Any number of scenarios could result, most of which conclude in the image
not working on the test PC. I see nothing to suggest he lost his DVD or has
a pirated copy, but I wouldn't hold out much hope of it working either.

Thanks for paraphrasing my post, you understood my issue precisely.

Now, I don't worry about the image running on a different machine due
to hardware conditions. Since there are nearly no differences, it
might run well and prove its capacities as expected. Rather, my point
is to prevent a distribution of my license key. How can my image get
rid of its activation before being passed? Jack's hint that an
existing activation may vanish, and a 3 days' respite will be granted,
comes close to my requirement. Are there conditions known for
extending this period?
Understandly I will not get anybody to invest one or two working days
for creating himself a system configuration which meets our particular
working needs.
Regards, Sven

 

[Mick Murphy]

You can extend it by 30 days at a time up to a max of 120 days.
But you have to know what you are doing!
And I refuse to tell you,as I think you are a shonk.

Let use your disk, and you do the tweaks

Your chances are Vista it won't start at all.; none of this crap that you
have 3 days to activate!

Even if the hardware were exactly the same, it would not work, as
configuration would be different from comp to comp.

 

[Sven Berg]

You can extend it by 30 days at a time up to a max of 120 days.
But you have to know what you are doing!

Ok, I can extend the 3 days' time limit for reactivation to a longer
period which meets the requirements for a serious test. But my main
concern remains: People might reactivate their image with the key
which they got within the image, i.e. with MY key. Which, of course,
I do not agree with at all. When the trial period is over, they shall
have to buy a key of their OWN. So again: how can I eliminate my key
from the image?

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Sven

There is no "deactivation" component or process associated with product key
activation.
The way you are going about this is completely contrary to the license
agreement for the product.

You are on your own.

 

[Sven Berg]

Ronnie, thanks for mentioning an eventuality, but my version is
retail.
As for deactivation: can I trust the built-in "change product key"
that it overwrites my key?
Sven

 

[David Morgan \(MAMS\)]

Ronnie, thanks for mentioning an eventuality, but my version is
retail.

If your version is 'retail'.... then hand them your installation DVD.

They can wipe their HDs in 30 days and go buy their own copy....
or not. Stop trying to screw the system by attempting to remove
the most secure code implanted in the OS.