Microsoft, at the proverbial eleventh hour, hasreleased a workaroundthat allows users of the ‘Vail’ Home Server beta to continue using the product. Vail is the next version of Windows Home Server and is expected to go on sale in the first half of 2011.

The latest edition of the beta had been scheduled to expire for several weeks in between versions starting on January 10th, but can now be extended until the middle of March. Unfortunately, as“the eval expiry is hard-coded during beta development,”it“cannot be easily changed,”according the Redmond giant. The fleet of Microsoft engineers did however come up with a solution.

Why would Microsoft backtrack on its promise and let users keep using the beta? The company is still dealing with headaches from its decision to end ‘Drive Extender,’ a former component of Windows Home Server that some called its “killer feature.” Perhaps to avoid any more negative press and user outrage, the company is looking to assauge users by catering to their desire for the beta to stay functional.

Whatever the case, this is how you can keep your Vail beta up and running:

“To extend the expiry, please follow the directions below:

  1. Install WS08 R2 SP1 RC on the server from [here.]2. Logon on https://connect.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer with your connect credentials3. Click on Product keys (in the left hand side column)4. Click on Request a new product key5. Click on Get Key6. In Windows Home Server, open a command prompt7. Type “slmgr.vbs -ipk ABCDE-FGHIJ-KLMNO-PQRST-UVWXY” (where ABCDE.. is your new key as requested above)8. Type “slmgr.vbs –ato”9. Reboot the server, and your beta timeframe has been extended. You can check this by opening up a command prompt and typing winver”

Story byAlex Wilhelm

Alex Wilhelm is a San Francisco-based writer. You can find Alex on Twitter, and on Facebook. You can reach Alex via email at alex@thenextweb(show all)Alex Wilhelm is a San Francisco-based writer. You can find Alex onTwitter,and onFacebook.You can reach Alex via email atalex@thenextweb.com

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