14 DAY TRIAL // After launching the first upgrade for Windows 7 on February 22nd, 2011, Microsoft also made available for download the free trial releases of Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 RTM earlier this week. Customers can now head to the Microsoft Download Center and grab either of the two downloads provided by the software giant: Windows Server 2008 R2 Evaluation (180 days) or Windows Server 2008 R2 Evaluation (180 days).
Both offer Build 7601.17514.101119-1850, namely the Gold Build of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.
But of course, the difference is made in the architectures that the releases support. In this regard, Windows Server 2008 R2 Evaluation (180 days) is the 64-bit (x64) version of the server platform together with Service Pack 1.
As the label implies, Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 for Itanium-Based Systems Evaluation (180 days) is designed to be run on Itanium-Based Systems page.
Both downloads offer the full featured Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RTM release which customers will be able to run free of charge in a test environment for as much as 180 days.
As all trial releases from the software giant, the free copies of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RTM are time-bombed and set to expire roughly half a year after they are installed.
“This software is for evaluation and testing purposes. The evaluation is available in ISO format. Evaluating any version of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 software does not require entering a product key, however will require activation within 10 days,” Microsoft explained.
“Failing to activate the evaluation will cause the licensing service to shut the machine down every hour (The 10 day activation period can be reset five (5) times by using the rearm command.
“Once activated, the evaluation will run for 180 days. After this time, you will need to uninstall the evaluation software and reinstall a fully-licensed version of Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.”
Trial copies of Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM are available for download here.
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM Build 7601.17514.101119-1850 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM are available for download here.