How To Extend The Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Evaluation Period

Microsoft released Windows Server 2008 to manufacturing last week. I wrote about this here: Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 RTM.

Since then I have installed Microsoft Windows Vista SP1: Installing Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 and downloaded Microsoft Windows Server 2008. The download is available on MDSN.

It was pretty quick to create a VMware image of Windows Server 2008. Windows Server 2008 now ships with the same activation as Windows Vista. No more VLK keys to activate the server for an eternity! By default when you install Windows Server 2008 without entering a product key you will get a 60 day evaluation period. This can be short if you are evaluating certain software or need to use it for a specific purpose. So how do you extend the evaluation period?

Microsoft has published an article on their support site which shows you how to extend the evaluation period for a total possible evaluation time of 240 days.

Evaluating Windows Server 2008 software does not require product activation. Any edition of Windows Server 2008 may be 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-day evaluation period by up to 180 days for a total possible evaluation time of 240 days.

I am just about to start testing ArcGIS Server 9.2 SP4 on Windows Server 2008 and this is great to know that I extend my evaluation period for up to 240 days!

You can find the article here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472.