Windows 7 Enterprise Trial

[Guest]

[Ronc]

I downloaded this about 3 months ago to test it on my 2+. I noticed that I had only 16 days left on the 90-100 day trial period, so I researched to find if there was a way to extend the trial period. I'd like to share my findings:

Info about the trial and the download: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc442495.aspx

Download still available in 2011 thanks to Windows Intune.  (Scroll to bottom of page: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/windowsintune/pc-management-best-windows.aspx "Find out if you need the trial.")

Tool to convert the ISO file to a DVD: http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool

You start the activation during the first 10 days and it counts down the days starting with 90. If you need more time, before the 90 days are up, you can reset the license to start all over again (at 100 days max). You do this by typing "slmgr /rearm" at a command prompt and reboot. If you are curious as to how many rearms are left you can type "slmgr /dlv". After doing this once (rearm followed by activation), I found that my activation expiration is in 90 days and that my remaining rearm count is 4 (see attached). Therefore we can conclude that the 90-day trial is actually good for up to 600 days (including the 5 rearms).  [EDIT: Now 700 days and 6 rearms; see post dated June 10, 2011.]

[stuartguthrie]

Hi RonC,

Many thanks for sharing that with us. May I ask why you installed Windows 7 Enterprise rather than Professional or Ultimate? Have you found any benefits? Have you used the UNIX app support feature? If yes, how have you found it?

Stu

[Ronc]

May I ask why you installed Windows 7 Enterprise rather than Professional or Ultimate? Have you found any benefits? Have you used the UNIX app support feature?

Enterprise = Ultimate except for the need for the volume license when purchased. This is a way to test Ultimate for free for 100 days and using the rearm command to extend the trial to 600 [now 700] days. The only benefit over Windows 7 is the free initial cost since it's a trial. I didn't know Windows 7 supported UNIX apps, but I have no use for that anyway. (Note that the trial version can't be converted to Enterprise even if you decide to buy it. When done with the trial, you're free to install anything you choose since you are essentially starting at the point you were before the trial.)

[alan51745]

My adventures with W7 Enterprise:

I was using the expiring W7 Rc, so...

DLed the Enterprise version as per Ronc above.  Followed the steps...

Enterprise asked if I wanted a clean install, which I did.  Installed, but lost WiFi and some other functions.

Reinstalled.  Tried to load drivers.  Install told me that my W7 was not a legal copy, it then proceeded to install W7 E anyway, then gave me a black desktop with my icons and all of my programs which worked okay, but again no WiFi, no scrolling, etc.  W7 RC expiration/illegal copy notice appeared on the desktop at lower right side.

Installed XP from the OQO XP disk.  Installed perfectly and WiFi and all functions worked.  Of course it wiped out everything, at least I thought so.

Installed W7E over XP.  W7E asked if I wanted to wipe the HD,  again, yes.  W7E installed, gave me the same illegal message as above, same black desktop with my icons as though the clean install never happened.  RC message again.  No WiFi.

Reinstalled XP.  Everything perfect.

I am bewildered about the install of W7E.  I assume it cannot go on top of RC and there is no way to completely wipe the RC copy.  Even the HD format done by XP leaves something behind from the RC version.  Hopefully if I decide to buy the upgrade of W7 it will work over XP since it will load from boot, which W7E seemingly did not.

[Ronc]

...I am bewildered about the install of W7E...

If you install on top of RC you should read this:
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/upgrade_04.asp

As for myself I was/am using Enterprise to evaluate Ultimate on a 2+, which is significantly different hardware-wise. In addition I bought a new hard drive (ssd) to install it on since I did not want to risk loosing my Vista setup on the original hard drive. So far...so good. The main problem is getting the Gobi modem to access AT&T as a back up service to my Sprint account. AT&T works in Vista but not in Win7 when using the Gobi modem.

EDIT: I did manage to get AT&T to work with the original Gobi-OQO driver that came with the 2+. (The newer driver posted on oqo.com has a problem when used with OQO Manager set for AT&T in the US; solution posted here: http://forum.oqoasis.com/showthread.php?p=4154#post4154)

[alan51745]

Just tried extending the trial period and it now only re-ups for ten days. 

[Ronc]

Just tried extending the trial period and it now only re-ups for ten days.  

It's officially a 90-Day Trial but you have 10 Days to activate it. The 90 Days start after activation so the time available per rearm is about 100 days. The initial period plus 5 rearm periods can add up to 600 days.

EDIT: Microsoft increased the number of rearms to 6 so now the trial can last 700 days. (See post dated June 10, 2011.)

[Ronc]

SP1 now available on Windows Update. If you're up to date it's a small download but still takes a while to install during the reboot (~half hour perhaps).

By the way, it looks like the trial iso is still available for download from Microsoft. Next week I do the last rearm (+activation 10 days later) which will take me into June.

[Ronc]

....Next week I do the last rearm (+activation 10 days later) which will take me into June.

Well it's been 100 days since that rearm and I've noticed that Microsoft has increased the number of rearms from 5 to 6 since the remaining rearm count stayed at 1. So I just did it today for the last time which should take me into September. (The remaining rearm count is now zero.)

I have also installed the "90-day trial" on my other OQO 2+ and it shows a remaining rearm count of 6 which further confirms that one 90-day trial installation is actually good for 700 days. (Of course you have to rearm and activate 6 times at the appropriate times during that period.)