How to Reinstall Trial Software

Many companies offer trial versions of their software to give you a hands-on experience of what’s on offer before committing to a purchase. It’s a win-win for both the user and the company. However, a trial software stops working after a specified amount of time.

If you want to learn how to extend the time of your trial period, you’re in the right place. This article will explain how to reinstall your trial software and buy yourself the time you need without purchasing the product.

How to Ensure a Clean Reinstall of Trial Software

Not all trial versions are created equal. Some will track the remaining days on your device, while others will do so online. Some software may require you to create an account, while others offer an easy install.

Alternatively, you may be given full access to all features, and some will hold back until you’ve committed. There’s a lot of variety, so remember that not every reinstalling solution will work for you.

It’s also important to note that some companies may consider extending the free trial a breach of the User Agreement. Be aware of this before you proceed.

You’ll have to uninstall the trial app from your Windows PC first before you can reactivate the trial period. However, your system uninstaller may not catch every file, especially in places like the registry. These files often tell the reinstalled software that the trial period has expired. For that reason, you’ll need some specialized software to help.

Uninstaller Software

You’ve probably experienced it before – uninstalling your software sometimes leaves files behind. Your system uninstaller may miss things, and the software’s uninstaller may do so intentionally. Rather than manually hunting down and deleting every remaining file, dedicated uninstaller software can go a long way toward a more thorough clean.

• Wise Program Uninstaller: Wise offers you portability. It doesn’t have to be uninstalled and offers a pared-down but effective uninstaller. You’ll have to update your list of installed programs every time you start it up again, which may take a while.
• Geek Uninstaller: While Geek Uninstaller may not offer a scan of previously removed software, it does its removal job well, plus it’s portable and completely free.

Install Monitor

When you install a program, the software will place files all over your system. What better way to remove everything than to see where it’s all going in the first place? That’s the job of an install monitor.

It keeps tabs on every folder and directory your trial software has accessed so you can wipe every trace before a reinstall. Most install monitors will also come with an uninstaller.

• Advanced Uninstaller Pro is an install monitor and uninstaller that offers a few other utilities. It’ll quickly help you snapshot any installation process.
• Install Monitor: This program starts as a free trial and offers real-time installation monitoring, meaning no before or after snapshots. It also offers uninstallation into the bargain.
• Ashampoo Uninstaller: This is a free install monitor, provided you give it an email address. It offers snapshots before and after an installation and the chance to uninstall software.

Registry Backup

The Windows registry on your PC is a massive repository of data about hardware and software installed and removed. However, trial software sometimes leaves files in the registry, even after dedicated uninstallation, and may jeopardize your trial reactivation efforts.

You can backup your registry by taking a snapshot before installing the trial software. After it expires, you can return the registry to this previous point. It’ll be like the trial that never was.

Note: This method has a significant drawback. The registry is used for almost everything in Windows. Restoring the registry also means you will lose a lot of settings from other apps, software, and even Windows. It’s best to use if you have a spare PC to experiment with. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Registry Editor by typing it in the search bar. Alternately, press Win+R, type regedit in the Run window, and press Enter.

2. Select File in the Registry Editor window, then click Export.
   

3. Choose a place to save your registry backup and click the Save button.
   
4. Install your trial software and allow it to run its course. When it expires, uninstall it and reopen Registry Editor.
5. Click File, then Import and locate your backup file.
   
6. Press the OK button, and your registry should revert to the backup, eliminating any potential registry keys hidden by the trial software.
   
7. Reinstall your trial and repeat this process as many times as needed.

Remember not to unnecessarily make changes to the Windows Registry. If something goes wrong, you might have to factory reset your Windows 10 PC.

Reinstall Without Really Installing

One way to keep reinstalling trial software is to ensure it never fully installs on your device. To do so, you can use two types of software that form a buffer between the trial software and your real PC.

Sandbox

Like its real-world equivalent, a sandbox allows you to play with trial software in an isolated environment. You can easily install software in this program, which won’t be added to the registry or any directories. When you’re done, closing the sandbox and starting again is easy.

• Sandboxie: This is perhaps the best-known sandbox software out there. It’s free, open source, and easy to download and run. Sandboxie Plus is its paid counterpart and offers a few more features.
• Windows Sandbox: Microsoft also has its own offering for sandboxing. This is a straightforward program that you can download and use. It isn’t available on Windows Home Edition, but everything else is good to go.

Virtual Machine

A virtual machine is a great way to run a PC within a PC. It acts like a standard machine with its own operating system, allowing you to install trial software without leaving a trace on your main system.

• Virtual Box: This is the first hypervisor software that probably comes to mind with virtual machines. Virtual Box is an open-source, community-driven, and free-to-download program that can run various major operating systems and handle most software installations.
• VMware Workstation: This is another hypervisor that allows you to build virtual machines. VMware is for personal use, and many features will only become available with the premium version.

Other Ways to Extend the Trial Period of an App

While some trial software works on the honor system, allowing you to reinstall multiple times, you won’t be so lucky with most. Still, there are other ways to extend your trial.

Make Time Stand Still

Provided your trial software isn’t running its days down with an online counter, you can use NirSoft’s Run As Date app to ensure that time stands still for as long as you say. The program intercepts your trial software’s API, asks your system for the current date and time, and supplies it with the one you set.

Keep Creating New Accounts

You can retry any account-based trial software for a few reinstalls if you have a spare email account. Every time you reinstall the trial software, enter a different email to reap the benefits of another trial period.

Trial, Trial Again

All good things come to an end, but they don’t necessarily have to stay that way. If you want to extend your time with trial software, the first step before reinstalling is to ensure no trace is left on your system. You can also use virtual machines and sandboxes to work around the need to install trial software on your drives in the first place.

FAQ

Is it legal to reinstall trial software?

The legality depends on the terms and agreement, which will vary from software. You should read the terms and agreement carefully before proceeding.

Will reinstalling trial software work on different devices?

Depending on the license conditions, reinstalling trial software on separate devices might not work. While some software licenses can only be used on a single device, others could let you install it on several. For further information, always refer to the software’s terms of use.