Technet subscription questions

[GodAtum]

I have various Windows Server and desktop trial VMs in my lab at home. if i buy a subscription how many times can I activate say Windows 7 Pro? Their site is a bit confusing.

 

[HarryPainful]

If you're labbing then you will find you don't often activate the VM, the trial period is usually enough to get by on.

Its different for W8 and Server 2012, you need to input a key to install it.

 

[Saundie]

As HarryPainful says, you don't need to activate the VMs; you can just use them in evaluation mode. If you find that the evaluation period isn't long enough, you can extend it by running "slmgr -rearm" from an administrative command prompt.

To answer your question, I think you get 10 activations for the MAK and retail keys, but I can't recall where I read that. It's possible to check to see how many activations you have left using the Microsoft VAMT - there's more information here; http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh825141.aspx

 

[jameshurrell]

Also have a look here which explains it a bit more. It seems as though it is limited to 10 activations per 24hr period, which should be more than enough for anyone with a lab:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/hh319889.aspx

 

[Venares]

It actualy meens you can gererate 10 keys in a 24 hour period on the site.
You can just run on a trial basis and use the rearm command if needed.

 

[jameshurrell]

It actualy meens you can gererate 10 keys in a 24 hour period on the site.
You can just run on a trial basis and use the rearm command if needed.

You're right. Mea culpa. It's the next para that talks about activations. But it doesn't specify how many, it's just that they are not unlimited.

 

[oddjob62]

I was investigating this recently, and this thread seems to hold all the answers (unless MS have changed things since)

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...k/thread/c379a4bb-97ba-4b25-9281-b02229280e2c