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Possible Duplicate:
Windows 7 activation period
I installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on my laptop a few days ago. Today I got a message in notification bar saying that I have 25 days remaining to register windows with the product key.
Now, I do not have a product key at all. I want to ask what happens after 25 days if I do not enter the product key at all.
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Windows will shut down forceably after 1 hour. Your background will go black, and you will be constantly reminded that you are on an illegal copy of Windows.
BloodyIron
Posted 2012-05-03T16:54:56.717
Reputation: 1 981
It's doing it to me right now while I try to debug IE. The https://www.modern.ie/en-us images are trial images, so after 90 days it starts shutting down every hour. No questions asked. Fun times.
– Wolfy87 – 2014-10-30T13:35:09.0971
"Windows will shut down forceably after 1 hour." Do you have a source for this? This other answer in a similar, older question does not mention that.
– galacticninja – 2012-08-31T03:08:20.997Microsoft has said it repeatedly when they talk about trial modes for W7. Sorry but I'm not finding a link easily just yet, but I've seen them talk about it repeatedly in articles. – BloodyIron – 2012-08-31T14:16:21.833
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After a month when you get the "Activate Windows Today" message you can open a command prompt (as administrator) and type "slmgr -rearm" (without the quotes). This will extend the trial license for 1 month. You can do this three times.
Don't you have a restore disk/partition?
BJ292
Posted 2012-05-03T16:54:56.717
Reputation: 2 028
Doing what you says gives the error: "is not recognized as internal or external command....." – None – 2012-05-27T06:12:39.560
1@myselfpoddar That can sometimes happen if you have installed any dodgy software. From an admin command promt try slmgr /dlv - after a couple of seconds this will pop a window displaying license info including the status of your current license. For ease of use open the command prompt this way - Start Menu - All Programs - Accessories - right click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator. This is a useful facility for evaluation/testing - eventually you should buy a license. – BJ292 – 2012-05-27T11:26:26.893
I have to ask. If you don't own a product key why did you install an operating system that requires a product key? – Ramhound – 2012-05-03T17:26:31.403
3@Ramhound
Got the answer you were looking for? – None – 2012-05-03T17:29:13.240
Great detail in the comment response. One further question. What happened to the product key that came with your laptop when you got it initially? You know... the Windows product key sticker that was on the bottom of the laptop? You could have reinstalled that version of Windows with that product key. – Bon Gart – 2012-05-03T18:49:16.487
3@BonGart My laptop is around 1 year old and I am not able to read anything written on the sticker, it's just unreadable now. – None – 2012-05-03T18:52:03.870
Well, then this puts you in an awkward position. You need to switch to Linux, which is free, or find a friend who has a product key they aren't using any more, or actually scrape up the money to pay for Windows. – Bon Gart – 2012-05-03T18:55:49.707
3If this is an OEM laptop, try contacting your OEM's Tech Support and see if you can get the product key from them. If you bothered to register your laptop with the OEM through the use of their bloatware (preinstalled software), you may get some luck. I'm going out on a limb here but if you provide them your information and serial number of the laptop (which is unique to every machine manufactured from the OEM) they may be able to provide you the CD key that came with the machine. – White Phoenix – 2012-05-03T19:08:42.720