The various time frames and deadlines that are involved with Vista activation can be confusing. This page tries to summarize the time frames and the different activation states that Vista can be in.
Dates & Times to Remember
| 30 days following installation | "Initial Grace" state - time you have between installing Vista and entering Reduced Functionality Mode if Vista is not activated |
| 2 hours | While in the "Initial Grace" state, Vista will attempt to connect to a KMS host for activation every 2 hours |
| 180 days following KMS activation | Once Vista is activated via KMS, it will be in the "Licensed" state for 180 days |
| 7 days | After activating via KMS, Vista will attempt to reactivate every 7 days |
| 30 days following 180 days of not reactivating | "Out of Tolerance Grace" state - if Vista was activated via KMS but has not been reactivated within 180 days, you have 30 more days to reactivate before entering Reduced Functionality Mode |
| 210 days following last KMS activation | "Unlicensed" state - if Vista was activated via KMS but has not been reactivated within 210 days, it will enter Reduced Functionality Mode (210 = 180 days after activation + 30 days grace) |
Sequences Vista Activation Can Follow
Normal KMS Activation Sequence
Windows Vista is installed
Client enters 30-day "Initial Grace" state (Fully Functional)
Client attempts to connect to a KMS host every 2 hours
Client is activated via KMS
Client will spend at least 180 days in "Licensed" state (Fully Functional)
Client attempts to renew its activation via KMS every 7 days
Client successfully renews its activation within 180 days
Client remains in "Licensed" state, 180 day timer is reset (Fully Functional)
Normal MAK Activation Sequence
Windows Vista is installed
Client enters 30-day "Initial Grace" state (Fully Functional)
Client attempts to connect to a KMS host every 2 hours
Client is manually activated via MAK
Client enters "Licensed" state and no longer tries to connect to KMS (Fully Functional)
Note: Client does not need to be reactivated unless there are "significant hardware changes"
Sequence if Vista is Never Activated
Windows Vista is installed
Client enters 30-day "Initial Grace" state (Fully Functional)
Client attempts to connect to a KMS host every 2 hours
Client fails to activate via KMS or MAK for 30 days
Client enters "Unlicensed" state (Reduced Functionality Mode)
Client still attempts to connect to a KMS host every 2 hours
Client can still be activated via KMS or MAK, but will remain in Reduced Functionality Mode until activated
Activated Via KMS, But Failed To Renew Activation Within 180 Days
Windows Vista is installed
Client enters 30-day "Initial Grace" state (Fully Functional)
Client attempts to connect to a KMS host every 2 hours
Client is activated via KMS
Client will spend at least 180 days in "Licensed" state (Fully Functional)
Client attempts to renew its activation via KMS every 7 days
Client fails to renew its activation for 180 days
Client enters 30-day "Out of Tolerance Grace" state (Fully Functional)
Client attempts to connect to KMS host every 2 hours
At this point, 3 things can happen...
...After 180 Days, Client Is Reactivated Via KMS Within 30 Days
...After 180 Days, Client Is Reactivated Via MAK Within 30 Days
...After 180 Days, Client Is NOT Reactivated Within 30 Days (210 Days Total)
Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM)
This is what you can expect if a machine enters Reduced Functionality Mode:
- Very limited access to the system in one-hour increments
- No start menu, no desktop icons, and the desktop background is changed to black
- The games that are included with Windows Vista are unavailable
- Windows Vista premium features such as Aero Glass, ReadyBoost, and BitLocker are unavailable
- If the computer is not reactivated within one hour of logging on, the user is forcibly logged off without any warning. The system will not be shut down. The user can log back in.
- A window containing links to properly license and activate the computer will be displayed
- KMS client computers will continue to search for a KMS host while in RFM
See the following page for more information:
Sysnews
Unity Forums
Microsys Blog
Documentation