How does the Trial Work?

[scmartindale]

I heard that Windows 7 has a 120 day trial option. How does this work?

If Vista is anything to go by, I imagine that one installs it from the disk, with no key, and it works in trial mode for 120 days. If you then buy it, you simply put your key in and it activates. Am I right?

Some concerns:

1. Is the trial fully functional, or is it crippled?
   
2. Can one install the trial from an RTM disk?
   
3. Has anyone here tried out the trial?
   

I want to see it before I buy it.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

1 = fully fuunctional

2 = yes

3 = I have yet to use a key on any of my HOME pc's (I prefer to keep them unused since I reformat all the time anyways)

[MagicAndre1981]

there is NO 120 days Trial. It has a 30 day time where you can ACTIVATE it.

If you want a trial, use the 90 days Trial of the Windows 7 Enterprise Edition.

Edited October 22, 2009 by MagicAndre1981

[Kelsenellenelvian]

WITH the cmd of "slmgr -rearm" you CAN extend the trial period...

Edited October 22, 2009 by Kelsenellenelvian

[MagicAndre1981]

you can expand the GRACE period, not the TRIAL, because there is NO trial except the special 90days Trial of Windows 7 Enterprise. With Windows 7, MS added a timebased activation for Trial purpose.

[scmartindale]

Thanks, Kelsenellenelvian, those are perfectly sufficient and concise answers.

Am I right in saying that the "grace" period makes a better trial than the "trial" period? I read that the 90-day trial can't actually be activated after 90-days, where the 30-day grace period (extended with the rearm command) CAN be activated at the end?

[cluberti]

Trial software is just that - if you decide to purchase, you MUST reformat and reinstall with non-Trial media. However, "regular" media has a 30-day grace period that doesn't require a reformat if you choose to purchase - you just enter the product key from installation media and activate.