I installed Windows 8 a couple of days ago, and now it has started asking me to activate and is redirecting me straight to the Activation tab in Settings.
How long does the activation period last and what will happen after it runs out?
I installed Windows 8 a couple of days ago, and now it has started asking me to activate and is redirecting me straight to the Activation tab in Settings.
How long does the activation period last and what will happen after it runs out?
Actually there is no activation period, microsoft nuked it.
Microsoft has ditched the 30-day grace period, a trademark of Windows 7, in the retail copies of Windows 8, mandating that users provide a product key during setup.
After installing, you must go online and activate your PC, you had 30 days before, not now.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9230399/Microsoft_ends_activation_grace_period_with_Windows_8
Windows 8 Core/Pro won't install without a key (I believe only Enterprise and Pro VL will), since with the retail version/MSDN ISOs at least there will be a single disc and the key will determine whether Core or Pro is to be installed. It will also attempt to activate immediately upon completion of setup. I am not sure what exactly will happen on disconnected PCs though at this point.
In the Enterprise/Pro VL versions at least an activation reminder message will be displayed at rapidly decreasing intervals (after 24 hours, then 8, 4, 2 etc.) Again unknown at this point what exactly happens when the countdown timer runs out. (This info. is courtesy testing detailed here).
You can use the command line interface by typing:
slmgr /rearm
This will reset the activation timer. You may do this a few times, depending on the OS version.