How To Reinstall Trial Software After Trial Period Has Expired

By Nakodari | Published: February 25, 2009

One of our reader asked a simple question, “Do you have any idea how to reinstall trial software?
(after trial period)?” A simple Google search shows that most people are looking for it’s solution. I have two methods which you can try, one of them should definitely work.

Method 1: Backing Up Registry

Most trial software add a key in your system registry by tweaking it. When you uninstall a software after it’s trial period has expired, all files are deleted except the keys in the registry. Therefore when you try installing it again, it detects the key and gives you a message like for e.g, “Your trial period has expired”.

So the best way is to make a backup of the registry before installing any trial software. And when finally your trial has expired, you can uninstall the software, restore backup and try installing the software again. I have written a post explaining the steps of making a backup of your registry.

Method 2: Using Process Monitor

Process Monitor is a free tool for Windows that shows real-time file system, Registry and process/thread activity. With this you can see which applications are accessing your Registry, which keys they are accessing, and the Registry data that they are reading and writing – all in real-time.

Note: By default it will show Registry activity, File System activity, Network activity, and Process and Thread activity. You can filter out all activities except Registry activity so that it becomes easy to track changes in registry. To red circle in the screenshot below shows where you can filter out other activities.

process monitor

Run process monitor and install the trial software. Now find which key the software has added or modified, and note down the name and path of the key. Once your software trial period has expired, you can revert back the changes and uninstall the software.

Now when you will reinstall the software, it won’t find any key in the registry which means it will install normally like if it is installing for the first time.

Update: You can also try using Little Registry Cleaner for cleaning up invalid/broken registry items, in this way it can clean up all traces of a program.

Enjoy!