How to extend Windows XP grace period

When you install a fresh Windows XP, you are given 30 days grace period to activate the OS. You can use the following method to extend the grace period by another 30 days.

You have to do this before your grace period is over.
eg, 1-2 days before it activation is required.

Steps:
1. Open a command prompt.
2. Copy and Paste the following into the command prompt.

rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk

3. Launch Event Viewer (from Administrative Tools in Control Panel). Click on "Application". You will see 1 entry called "Windows Product Activation".
4. Double click on that entry and you will see this "Your Windows product has not been activated with Microsoft yet. Please use the Product Activation Wizard within 30 days. ".
5. Now you have another 30 days of grace period again.

You can repeat this process when the 30 days is ending again. However, you can only do this for 3 times. After that, this method will not work.

Failed to install Visual Studio 2008 SP1

If your system has Microsoft Office installed, you may encounter problem when installing Visual Studio 2008 SP1.

The log shows the "Visual Web Developer" is causing the error.

Here is a solution that works for me. You can give it a try.

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Rename (or Delete) these two registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\00002109120000000000000000F01FEC

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\00002109120000000000000000F01FEC

Renaming the directory

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Web Designer Tools\VWD

To

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Web Designer Tools\Junk



(source : http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vssetup/thread/315c7885-e680-4a83-b6a5-8a2795f596ea )