Vista Documented Workaround

Microsoft's latest nail in their coffin, Vista has a Microsoft programmed ability to by pass it's own activation. As stupid as it sounds Microsoft actually wrote a tech doc for it to help network administrators get around the system.

• You go to Window button --> Instant Search and type "cmd" and Press enter
• In the command screen type "slmgr -rearm"
• Note: If you receive any privilege error messages you must type cmd in the instant search but then right click the icon in the menu and select "Run as Administrator" or press "Ctrl + Shift + Enter" then type slmgr -rearm
• Wait for a window to open and say it was successful.
• To make it so you can do this indefinitely you need to open "regedit"
  
• Explore down to the following Registry key:
  
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ SL
• Right-click the Registry key named SkipRearm and click Edit. The default is a Dword (a double word or 4 bytes) with a hex value of 00000000. Change this value to any positive integer, such as 00000001, save the change, and close the Registry Editor.
• (http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/fd2f79c9-3049-4b8c-bcfd-4e6dc5771ace1033.mspx?mfr=true).

Well let me lay a couple facts on you in case you don't know. Every Vista disk has every version of Vista on it. If you install vista without entering a code, you are actually given a OS selection screen to pick which product you purchased lol. From Vista Home Basic to Vista Ultimate. Once installed you have 30 days to activate it.

So lets put it all togther. Any version of Vista you want and the ability to extend the trial period indefinitely. Humm. Let me think now. Not to bright there security king.

But what if your version has already expired. Well here is the way you can take care of that too.

• When your computer comes up allow it to start in limited mode.
• In the address bar of Internet Exploder, type "c:" and press enter.
• Note: If Vista isn't loaded on the C drive type the letter of the drive it is loaded on.
  
• This will put you in the root of your hard drive.
• Double-Click Windows --> System32 folders
• In the folder find "cmd.exe" and right-click the icon and select "Run as Administrator"
• In the command prompt type "slmgr -rearm"
  
• Wait for a window to open and say it was successful.
  
• Once rearmed, restart the OS and boo-bam your done.

Now remember you are doing all this on your own! Do not get all pissed with me if you screw something up or if Microsoft patches their document feature. I take no responsibility for screw-ups and don't ask me to fix it lol. Beyond that have fun while it lasts!