This article describes the behavior of the evaluation
version of Windows Server 2003. It also contains information about the 14-day
activation grace period and the 180-day evaluation period, and it describes what
occurs when these time periods expire.
Windows Product Activation (WPA)
The End User License Agreement (EULA) for an evaluation version of
Windows Server 2003 requires that you activate your installation of Windows
Server 2003 within 14 days from the time that you install it. If you choose not
to activate Windows the first time that you start it, an
Activate icon
is displayed in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar. This icon periodically displays
notifications to remind you of the number of days remaining in the 14-day grace
period. After this period expires, you must activate your installation of
Windows Server 2003 before you can continue to use Windows.
None of the information that is collected during product activation will be used to personally identify you. For more information about Windows Product Activation, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
:
Evaluation time period
The evaluation version of Windows Server 2003 expires 180 days
from the time that you install and start it. You are reminded periodically of the
number of days that are remaining in the 180-day evaluation period. Messages
are logged to the Application Event log, and you also receive notification
messages that are similar to the following when you log on to the computer:
The evaluation period for this product will expire in Number days. Please upgrade this version to the retail product.
When the kernel time bomb period expires, you receive an error message
that is similar to the following:
The evaluation period for this installation of Windows has expired. This system will shut down in 1 hour. To restore access to this installation of Windows, please upgrade this installation using a licensed distribution of this product.
After approximately one hour (this time period may vary), you may
receive the following Stop error message, and the computer may automatically
restart:
*** STOP: 0x00000098 (parameter1, parameter2, parameter 3, parameter 4)
END_OF_NT_EVALUATION_PERIOD
When the WPA time bomb period expires, you receive an error message after you log on to Windows that is similar to the following:
STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error}
The Windows Logon Process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc0000268 (0x00000000 0x00000000).
The system has been shut down.
When you receive this error message, you can no longer use the evaluation copy of
Windows Server 2003. You must obtain and install the retail, released version
of Windows Server 2003.
Important You can log on to the computer in safe mode only if you log on to
the computer by using the local administrator account. You can upgrade to the
retail, released version of Windows Server 2003 while you are in safe mode. The option to upgrade in safe mode may not be available if your computer is running as a domain controller.
Use Winver.exe to Determine the Expiration Date
You can run the Winver.exe command-line tool to determine the
version of Windows Server 2003 that is installed on your computer and the date when your evaluation copy of Windows Server 2003 expires. To
do so:
- Click Start, and then click
Run.
- In the Open box, type
winver.exe, and then press ENTER.
For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
812545Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=812545/
)
Evaluation version of Windows Server 2003 may expire before the date that the Winver.exe file reports
Upgrade an evaluation version of Windows Server 2003 to a retail version
To remove the 180-day expiration period for an evaluation version
of Windows Server 2003, upgrade your computer to the full retail, released
version of Windows Server 2003. For more information about Windows Server 2003,
visit the following Microsoft Web site: