Extending Windows Server 2008 w/o Activation

 

How to manually extend the evaluation period

When the initial 60-day evaluation period nears its end, you can run the
Slmgr.vbs script to reset the evaluation period. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Command Prompt.
2. Type slmgr.vbs -dli, and then press ENTER to
   check the current status of your evaluation period.
3. To reset the evaluation period, type slmgr.vbs
   –rearm, and then press ENTER.
4. Restart the computer.

This resets the evaluation period to 60 days.

How to automate the extension of the evaluation period

You may want to set up a process that automatically resets the evaluation period
every 60 days. One way to automate this process is by using the Task Scheduler.
You can configure the Task Scheduler to run the Slmgr.vbs script and to restart
the server at a particular time. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Task Scheduler.
2. Copy the following sample task to the server, and then save it as an .xml
   file. For example, you can save the file as Extend.xml.
   

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
   <Task version="1.2" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2004/02/mit/task">
     <RegistrationInfo>
       <Date>2007-09-17T14:26:04.433</Date>
       <Author>Microsoft Corporation</Author>
     </RegistrationInfo>
     <Triggers>
       <TimeTrigger id="18c4a453-d7aa-4647-916b-af0c3ea16a6b">
         <Repetition>
           <Interval>P31D</Interval>
           <StopAtDurationEnd>false</StopAtDurationEnd>
         </Repetition>
         <StartBoundary>2007-10-05T02:23:24</StartBoundary>
         <EndBoundary>2008-09-17T14:23:24.777</EndBoundary>
         <Enabled>true</Enabled>
       </TimeTrigger>
     </Triggers>
     <Principals>
       <Principal id="Author">
         <UserId>domain\alias</UserId>
         <LogonType>Password</LogonType>
         <RunLevel>HighestAvailable</RunLevel>
       </Principal>
     </Principals>
     <Settings>
       <IdleSettings>
         <Duration>PT10M</Duration>
         <WaitTimeout>PT1H</WaitTimeout>
         <StopOnIdleEnd>true</StopOnIdleEnd>
         <RestartOnIdle>false</RestartOnIdle>
       </IdleSettings>
       <MultipleInstancesPolicy>IgnoreNew</MultipleInstancesPolicy>
       <DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>true</DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>
       <StopIfGoingOnBatteries>true</StopIfGoingOnBatteries>
       <AllowHardTerminate>true</AllowHardTerminate>
       <StartWhenAvailable>false</StartWhenAvailable>
       <RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>false</RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>
       <AllowStartOnDemand>true</AllowStartOnDemand>
       <Enabled>true</Enabled>
       <Hidden>false</Hidden>
       <RunOnlyIfIdle>false</RunOnlyIfIdle>
       <WakeToRun>true</WakeToRun>
       <ExecutionTimeLimit>P3D</ExecutionTimeLimit>
       <DeleteExpiredTaskAfter>PT0S</DeleteExpiredTaskAfter>
       <Priority>7</Priority>
       <RestartOnFailure>
         <Interval>PT1M</Interval>
         <Count>3</Count>
       </RestartOnFailure>
     </Settings>
     <Actions Context="Author">
       <Exec>
         <Command>C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs</Command>
         <Arguments>-rearm</Arguments>
       </Exec>
       <Exec>
         <Command>C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe</Command>
         <Arguments>/r</Arguments>
       </Exec>
     </Actions>
   </Task>
   
   

3. In the sample task, change the value of the following “UserID” tag to
   contain your domain and your alias:
   
   <UserId>domain\alias</UserId>
4. In the Task Scheduler, click Import Task on
   the Action menu.
5. Click the sample task .xml file. For example, click Extend.xml.
6. Click Import.
7. Click the Triggers tab.
8. Click the One Time trigger, and then click
   Edit.
9. Change the start date of the task to a date just before the end of your
   current evaluation period.
10. Click OK, and then exit the Task Scheduler.

The Task Scheduler will now run the evaluation reset operation on the date that you specified.

Pasted from <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472>