Turn Off Windows Activation

Are you tired of 30-day trials? There are ways to bypass or ignore these messages, depending on the version of Windows you are using, which can help for those times when you can't find your old product key or are installing Windows on a computer that Microsoft won't let you register. See Step 1 below to learn how.

Steps

Windows 7

1. Download InfiniteRearm. This program will allow you to reset the activation timer automatically every 30 days, preventing the activation method from ever appearing. Make sure to download InfiniteRearm from a trusted location to protect yourself from malware.
   • Bypassing activation for a copy of Windows that you did not purchase is considered piracy and is illegal in most countries.
   • InfiniteRearm is now called Trilogy, and is packed with some other tools for Office and Adobe.
2. Run the InfiniteRearm program. You will be presented with a text menu that will allow you to use the program. InfiniteRearm needs to be installed in order to work.
3. Install the patch. Use the "Install" command to begin running the InfiniteRearm patch. It will install itself into your system and run automatically every thirty days. This will keep you from ever seeing the activation message.
4. Use Windows normally. By using this program Windows will be seen as Genuine and you will be able to update and install service packs. InfiniteRearm will run automatically when the trial timer is up, but if it doesn't you can run the program again.

Windows Vista

1. Open the Registry Editor. You will be enabling the SkipRearm function, which when combined with another command will allow you to continually extend your trial period, effectively disabling registration.
   • Press the Windows key + R to open the "Run" dialog box.
   • Enter regedit and press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the correct folder. In the left frame, you can navigate to the different folders in the registry. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE → SOFTWARE → Microsoft → Windows NT → CurrentVersion → SL
3. Double-click the "SkipRearm" entry. This will open a box allowing you to change the value. At default, it will read 00000000. Change the value to 00000001 and press OK.
   • Close the Registry Editor after editing the entry.
4. Open the Command Prompt. You will need to do this as an administrator. To do this, click the Start button and enter cmd into the field. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open it as an administrator.
5. Enter the command to restart the Software Licensing Manager. Entering in this command will reset the timer on your trial, and because you enabled SkipRearm in the previous step, you can perform this action indefinitely. Type the following and press Enter: slmgr -rearm. Close the Command Prompt by typing exit and pressing Enter.
6. Repeat the process every 30 days. You can repeat these steps every 30 days in order to reset your trial timer. You may or may not need to change the registry each time, it varies from system to system.

Windows XP

1. Open the Registry Editor. You will need to make a tweak in your registry in order to make the activation messages disappear. Note that this method will only hide the notices, it will not bypass the activation. Windows will still need to be activated after 30 days. in order to truly crack Windows XP, you will need to download a cracking program or pirated key, which will not be discussed here.
   • Press the Windows key + R to open the "Run" dialog box.
   • Enter regedit and press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor
2. Navigate to the correct folder. In the left frame, you can navigate to the different folders in the registry. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE → SOFTWARE → Microsoft → Windows NT → CurrentVersion (or "Current Version") → WPAEvents.
3. Double click the OOBETimer entry. This will open a new dialog box where you can change the value.
4. Enter in the new value. Delete what's in the box and enter the following line. Click OK when you're done:
   • FF D5 71 D6 8B 6A 8D 6F D5 33 93 FD
5. Right-click on WPAEvents. Select Permissions from the menu.
6. Click the "SYSTEM" group. In the "Permissions for SYSTEM" frame, check the "Deny" box for the "Full Control" entry. Click OK when you're done.
   • Click "Yes" when asked to confirm your action. Exit the Registry Editor.

Tips

• If you have a legitimate key and cannot activate your copy of Windows, contact Microsoft by phone to get assistance. if you have a valid code, they will almost always be able to activate your Windows

Warnings

• Disabling your Windows XP activation notices will not disable the actual activation requirement.

Related Articles

• Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications
• Disable/Enable the Windows XP Welcome Screen
• Disable CD and DVD Autorun in Windows XP
• Turn off UAC in Windows 7
• Shut Down Windows 8

Sources and Citations

See also

• Use Windows Logo Keyboard Shortcuts
• Change the Text on the Windows Start Button
• Install Brico Pack for Windows Vista Inspirit
• Run a Free and Open Source OS on a Windows PC
• Change Windows Time Display to Include Your Name
• Customize Your Windows Control Panel
• Update Windows
• Start Windows in Safe Mode
• Zoom in on a PC
• Resolve No Sound on Windows Computer

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