If you have installed Microsoft Office 2010 and haven’t activated it, you will find that Microsoft allows you to use the full functionality of Office 2010 for 30 days. After this 30 days of free usage, you have to register Microsoft Office 2010 to continue using it. But most of you will be happy to know that much like Microsoft Windows 7 (you can extend the trial up to 120 days), you can rearm and use Microsoft Office 2010 and extend the trial up to 6 months or 180 days. After this grace period, Office 2010 will automatically start functioning in reduced functionality mode to remind the user that the software needs to be activated.

Microsoft now requires all installed copy of Office 2010 to be activated, including licenses sold through volume licensing. So, the rearm function in Office 2010 is actually provided for the convenience of corporate customers. Microsoft allows in total 5 rearm of Office 2010, where after reset, added 30 days of free usage is allowed without activation. If the rearm is timed correctly at the last day of current 30 day cycle’s end, theoretically, the 5 rearm can extend the free usage of Office 2010 up to 6 months or 180 days. [Read more...]