Demo software offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the full functionality of a program before committing to a purchase. These trial versions, often providing access to all features for a limited time, are invaluable for evaluating new software tools or utilizing specific features for short-term projects without the hefty price tag of professional software. This also applies to beta versions, which manufacturers release free of charge online to gather user feedback and identify potential bugs. While these trial periods are typically sufficient for a thorough evaluation, there are ways to potentially extend your access.
Extending the Trial Period: Exploring Your Options
Most demo software offers a trial period of around 30 days. While this is usually enough time for a comprehensive test, there are situations where you might need longer access. One older method involved resetting the system clock, but modern software often utilizes more sophisticated mechanisms tied to user accounts and online verification, rendering this trick largely ineffective.
Many software programs require you to create a free account to initiate the demo. Upon logging in, the software verifies the trial period. Once expired, the program prompts you to purchase the full version. While creating a new account with a different email address might restart the trial, this practice is often discouraged by developers and may violate the software’s terms of use.
Extending Microsoft Office Trials: The Rearm Method
Information on the version of Microsoft Office is accessed with a special command. The tool also displays the remaining extension options.
For Microsoft Office, a method known as “Rearm” can extend the trial period. This involves running the “OsppRearm.exe” file, located in various folders depending on your Office version. To determine your Office version and the number of Rearm attempts remaining, open the command prompt (search for “cmd” in the Windows search bar), and if necessary, navigate to the system directory using:
cd c:WindowsSystem32 Then, execute the following command:
cscript slmgr.vbs /dlv allThis command displays detailed information about your installed Office package. Numerous online resources provide specific instructions for applying the Rearm command based on your Office version (32-bit or 64-bit). This method can potentially extend your trial for up to 180 days, though the number of allowed Rearm attempts is usually limited.
Similar strategies exist for Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). However, the free trial requires registration with a Microsoft account and credit card information. The first payment is automatically processed after the 30-day trial expires, so you must extend the trial period before this occurs. A free alternative is to access the online Office suite through your Microsoft account at www.office.com directly within your browser.
Leveraging Software Subscriptions and Deals
Finding affordable software subscription deals online, like this one for Adobe Creative Cloud, is possible with some research.
Many software companies offer subscription models alongside traditional purchases. Subscriptions are ideal for short-term use, providing flexible access without violating licensing agreements. Annual subscriptions often offer significant cost savings compared to monthly payments. Look for deals during promotional periods like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday season, where software is often heavily discounted. Some developers even allow stacking multiple years of discounted subscriptions. Keep an eye out for bundled software offers, frequently included with hardware purchases. For example, new computers sometimes come with free one-year licenses for Microsoft 365 or antivirus software. Install the demo version and extend the trial as described earlier, then activate the full version using the provided code.
