Extending the evaluation period for Windows Server 2008

Recently I have been experimenting with Windows Server 2008 64 bit, to see how useful Hyper-V might be.

I have found that you can extend the evaluation period beyond the initial 60 days. You get an evaluation period if you skip adding a Product Key during the install. To see how long you have remaining of you evaluation period, type the following at the command prompt:

slmgr.vbs -dli

This will present you with a dialogue box. To extend you evaluation period by an additional 60 days, type the following at a command prompt (you need elevated privileges for this):

slmgr.vbs –rearm

A dialog box will confirm this evaluation period has been extended. This process can be repeated 3 times giving you up to 240 days evaluation if you include the initial 60 days. For more information see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472

This also works with Windows Vista.