120 Days 'no key' RC/RTM usage?

Yes, you're right, Orbital Shark. In fact, I had replied to one of your posts in another thread that even with no key, people would have up to 120 days, not up to 90 days as you had suggested.

One can enter a Product Key and NOT activate or not even enter a Product Key at all. Of course, if you don't have a valid Product Key and just want to test and play with Windows 7, then just skip entering a Product Key.

One gets the initial 30 days to activate and if Windows 7 is like Vista, then you can re-arm the activation "countdown" three (3) times resetting it back to 30 days for a total of up to 120 days before one has to enter a Product Key and Activate. Of course, at the end of the 120 days, the only other option besides entering a valid Product Key and Activating is to format and reinstall OR use the "crippled" Windows as a result of not having a activated copy.

I for one will be purchasing Windows 7 and can only hope they continue the good work even further with Windows 8 or whatever they call it.

Orbital Shark said:

This just dawned on me (well, 4 seconds ago)....

If Windows 7 RC/RTM allows 3 rearms then that actually equals 120 days.

30 Days - Rearm(1) - 30 Days - Rearm(2) - 30 Days - Rearm(3) - 30 Days

Total = 120

It does seem a bit much so I could be wrong but that's currently how i see it.

Snuffy, I've never heard of this... could you or someone else elaborate?

I'm only aware of (at least with Vista) the command line "re-arm" command which be can/could be done up to 3 times. I'm not aware of anything done with the Registry.

Thanks in advance.

Snuffy said:

Now if you continue to "reset the -rearm switch via REGEDIT back to default. You get 1 last final rearm. = additional 30 days.= 150 days.

Complete the RTM voting today. (father's day present?)

NEW RTM BRANCH
6.1.7264.0.win7_rtm.090620-1900
now to find the leak.....
bur rearm is found via start -> cmd (right click run as admin)
popup slmgr.vbs -dlv