Evaluation Period Expires on Non-Evaluation Copy of Windows NT

 Last reviewed: December 31, 1997
Article ID: Q173507
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

Although you did not use an evaluation copy of the Windows NT 4.0 CD-ROM to install Windows NT, you may receive the following message: 

   The evaluation period for this installation of Windows NT has expired.
   This system will shutdown in one hour. To restore access to this
   installation of Windows NT, please upgrade this installation using a
   licensed distribution of this product.
One hour after you receive this message, your computer stops responding (hangs) while displaying an error message similar to the following message on a blue screen: 

   *** STOP 0x00000098 (0x647CDCB0,0x01BC9900,0x0002A300,0x00000000)
   END_OF_NT_EVALUATION_PERIOD

CAUSE

The boot floppy disks used for your installation of Windows NT were created from a Windows NT 4.0 evaluation CD-ROM. Using boot floppy disks from an evaluation copy of Windows NT invokes a trial period for that installation of Windows NT. When the trial period has expired, Windows NT stops every hour.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, upgrade the evaluation copy of Windows NT Server or Workstation with the full retail version using either of the following methods:

  • Start Windows NT Setup using the boot floppy disks supplied with the full retail version of Windows NT 4.0. If the boot floppy disks supplied with the full retail version are no longer available, you can create a new set from the full retail CD-ROM. For more information, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

          ARTICLE-ID: Q131735

          TITLE     : How to Create Windows NT Boot Floppy Disks


  • Start Windows NT Setup directly from the full retail CD-ROM by using
   the Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe command.

    

NOTE: Upgrading your installation using the upgrade retail version of
Windows NT 4.0 is not possible. The full retail version of Windows NT 4.0
must be used. For more information, see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:



   ARTICLE-ID: Q154538
   TITLE     : WinNT 4.0 Upgrade CD Will Not Upgrade WinNT 4.0
               Installation


NOTE: Upgrading Windows NT 4.0 over an installation of Windows NT 4.0
with Service Pack 2 or later applied may prevent the computer from
starting. You must uninstall the Service Pack prior to starting the
upgrade. To remove Service Pack 2 or later, start the Service Pack
installation program and choose the Uninstall The Service Pack option when
you are prompted.


In addition, if you have uninstalled Service Pack 3, you must make sure
that the Windows NT security files are not replaced during the upgrade. To
do so, follow these steps to perform the upgrade:


  1. Copy the I386 folder from the Windows NT 4.0 full retail CD-ROM to the
   hard disk. In this folder, rename the following files as shown below:

    

          Original name   New name
      ----------------------------
      Samsrv.dl_      Samsrv.org
      Samlib.dl_      Samlib.org
      Winlogon.ex_    Winlogon.org


  2. Expand the Windows NT Service Pack 3 files in a separate folder with
   the following command:

    

          nt4sp3_i.exe /x

    

  3. Copy the following files from the Service Pack 3 folder to the I386
   folder you created:

    

          Samsrv.dll
      Samlib.dll
      Winlogon.exe

    

  4. Click Start, click Run, type the following command to begin
   the full retail installation, and then click OK.

    

          <Path>\winnt32.exe /b

    
   where <Path> is the path to the I386 folder you created.


  5. When you are prompted during the Windows NT Setup program, choose the
   upgrade option.

    

For more information, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:



   ARTICLE-ID: Q146887
   TITLE     : Repairing Windows NT After the Application of Service
               Pack 3


MORE INFORMATION

 


When the error message listed in the "Symptoms" section of this article is
displayed, the following information is recorded in the system event log:



   Event ID: 26
   Source: Application Popup
   Type: Information
   Category: None



	
			
	















	






Additional query words: 4.00 corporate desktop eval timebomb time bomb

0x98 test beta process notification

Keywords          : ntsetup NTSrvWkst ntstop kberrmsg

Version           : WINNT:4.0

Platform          : winnt








THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS
PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.  MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  IN NO
EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF
MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION
OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES
SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.






	
	Last reviewed:  December 31, 1997
	

	© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.