Sort of news flash. Hey, Vista users, it’s good for one year. And it’s all good. Unless Microsoft does something about it, legally.

Brian Livingston, publisher of a great site called Windows Secrets, revealed sometime last month how to tweak a registry key called SkipRearm in order to extend the activation period. For the exact details on how the procedure’s performed.

Caveats:

• Be careful when editing the registry. A bungled up registry may mean a wrecked OS for you.
• Experts have been saying that it’s perfectly legal but read the End User License, anyway.

But hey, Microsoft calls it a “hack” which is almost always connotes something illegal. What’s up with Microsoft? They’re the ones who put it there in the first place. And what’s regedit for if not for editing your registry, right? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.