Possible Duplicate:
Windows 7 activation period
Does Windows 7 impose a performance penalty for not activating Windows with a Product Key?
Let's say you have a very old installation of Windows 7 that has not been activated. The number of days they give you to activate is long expired. You've already used up your free slmgr rearms. Basically, you're to the point where the software can conclude that you're just not going to buy a legitimate Windows license, yet you continue to boot the operating system.
Now, the operating system's boot and operation slows down to about 5% of the performance you experienced when you first installed. Is this a documented (or discovered) anti-feature of Windows that intentionally slows down an unactivated product? Or, is this likely some kind of hardware or driver issue?