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Thread ID: 31106	2003-03-12 04:33:00	The truth behind trial versions of XP... (Read it! Really!)	agent (30)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
127491	2003-03-12 04:33:00	Last Sunday my trial version of Windows XP Professional expired. I use the term "expired" because it said it had 0 days left in the evaluation period. I continued to use it until this morning. The truth is, on Saturday, I put the system clock (in BIOS) back a few days, just to see if Microsoft had truly gone past this method of trial versions of software. When I logged in, it still had the same number of days left. So, had Microsoft really gotten over relying on the system clock? The answer is no. From Sunday through to today (Wednesday), it still said there were 0 days left in the evaluation period. Except it never expired during that time. So, not wishing to be so unsporting, I put the system clock back to normal this morning. Rebooted, logged in, and BAM - "Windows has expired. Please buy the retail version and upgrade...". Changed the system clock back a week, it still said that. Tried booting in Safe Mode - and it worked. I assume this is because safe mode bypasses all registry entries, as the little text down the bottom saying "Windows XP Evaluation Version" wasn't there (you can remove that by deleting two registry entries, though I haven't done that). Soon, I hope, I'll be getting the full version of XP Pro. But it shocks me that Microsoft relies on the system clock for the time bomb function. If I really wanted to, I could have been using my computer for far longer than the 124 days I did.	agent (30)
127492	2003-03-12 06:10:00	LMAO - I know there used to be some software I used.... It relied on you turning it on one day... Each time you turned it on and the day was not the last in an excrypted file, itd add one to your day! Wonder why MS dont use that idea?	Chilling_Silence (9)
127493	2003-03-12 07:26:00	>>But it shocks me Why be shocked? Assuming that your hypothesis is correct, Microsoft can probably afford to give you a few days grace on the 120 day licence. It may well trash your disk after the 135th day :D	Dolby Digital (160)
127494	2003-03-12 07:34:00	perhaps they're having it report back with info like that... to see how many people try to turn back their BIOS!!!! :D	Chilling_Silence (9)
127495	2003-03-12 08:02:00	Microsoft probably doesn't see the point. People out there somehow find ways to hack past this "expiry" barrier with some kind of software.	somebody (208)
127496	2003-03-12 08:07:00	Yeah, I guess... A quick search aroud finds that if you run this file immidiately by booting into safe mode after install and then delete reg-key X, you've got an activation free windows. I havent tried it... but ya know. So far, all stuff like that... DVD's included etc, there's been a way past it made/found pretty quickly!	Chilling_Silence (9)
127497	2003-03-12 08:08:00	Microsoft probably don't worry about the date thingee. They probably expect that everyone to buy the full version 5 minutes after installing the trial version, seeing as XP is so marvellous, and the greatest thing on this planet. LOL. Or so the adverts on telly said anyway!	Baldy (26)
127498	2003-03-12 08:18:00	> Microsoft probably don't worry about the date > thingee. They probably expect that everyone to buy > the full version 5 minutes after installing the trial > version, seeing as XP is so marvellous, and the > greatest thing on this planet. LOL. > :D > Or so the adverts on telly said anyway! Ive not seen these.. Only the Office XP ad that Clueless sent me via ICQ :D	Chilling_Silence (9)
127499	2003-03-12 09:15:00	the adverts are the ones when XP first came out........... Talking of XP, do you know what Apple call the default desktop theme of XP (the one with the rolling green hills, and loverly blue sky?) Telly Tubby Land	Baldy (26)
127500	2003-03-12 10:15:00	Yep, I ordered 10 copies, 4 . 5 minutes after installing the evaluation version of XP . Its all in the marketing you know . Spend millions of dollars to get the sales .	Dolby Digital (160)
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