With previous versions of Windows I would a MSDN release with the appropriate MSDN key and not
activate the license. I could wipe the partition and reinstall at any time without losing the
future use of the key. The restriction was that after 30 days I would need to reinstall since the
activation clock would run out.
With Windows 8.1 the activation appears automatic. At least I have not found a way to delay
activation.
How are other driver developers handling windows 8.1 test systems? Am I missing a way to prevent
activation?
Ed
>How are other driver developers handling windows 8.1 test systems? Am I missing a way to prevent activation?
One option is to install with KMS client setup keys. See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx
These basically tell the OS to look for a KMS volume license server for activation, and there is a grace period.
There also in the past have been “trial” versions of the OS, usually with a 90-120 days period that works. It might be good to refresh your test systems before 90 days anyway.
I personally find it being REQUIRED to enter license keys before setup pretty annoying. I’d suggest with the current non-popularity of Windows 8.x, they might have tried to minimize the pain level for OS install. Offhand, it seems like it would be better to have 300M Windows 8.x installations with 10% bootleg, than to have 200M installations with 2% bootleg. Most copies will get preinstalled by hardware OEMs anyway, which often use activation keys in the BIOS. Major bootleggers I assume will change whatever is needed to bypass activation, and generate new ISO/WIM images, so it seems like the required activation key may be causing the most pain to the people Microsoft needs to be nice to, us developers, who tend to do a million clean installations.
Jan