Install and Use Windows Vista Free for 120 Days

Maybe you didn't know this, but Windows Vista can legally be installed, used and run without any license, product key or the need of activation for 30 days. In other words you can use it as a fully functional trial version - to "try it out" for 30 days. After that, if you don't enter a valid key and activate Windows, Windows Vista will lock your computer into Reduced Functionality Mode.

It appears that Microsoft built in a way around this. Almost since the day Windows Vista was release, people all over have discovered a way to "re-arm" Vista to extend the remaining time for activation to another fresh 30 days, for up to 3 times. That gives you a full 120 days before you have to register and activate Windows Vista.

Guess what? It's perfectly legitimate. It's legal. And, now Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Vista can be used and run for 120 days or 4 months (3 rearms). And, extending the activation grace period is not a violation of the Windows Vista End User License Agreement (EULA). All versions of Vista include Windows Vista Ultimate allow up to four 30-day free trial periods without activation, except the corporate-oriented Vista Enterprise, which supports only one three-day trial.

To extend, reset or restart the initial grace period of Windows Vista to another 30 days, use the following steps:
 

• Click on Vista Start button and key in Cmd in Start Search box.

• Press on Ctrl-Shift-Enter to open Command Prompt with administrative credentials (equivalent to “Run as Administrator”).

• In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter when done: slmgr -rearm  (Make sure you leave the space between slmgr and the dash!)

• Reboot the computer.

• You can "Rearm" Windows Vista again when the remaining activation grace period timer counts down to 0 days.

• Rearm option resets the computer’s activation timer and reinitializes some activation parameters.

You can do this 3 times beyond the initial 30 day trial period.