I’ve not tried this, but this just flashed in mind when a friend asked this question while chatting. Basically, he wanted to learn MicroStrategy and I give away my v9 download and trial key. I do not know if I’m doing a license violation by that. I do not have MicroStrategy installed on my local machine and last attempt was a let down.

This is something that I suggest if you want to cheat (you can’t bypass) the 30 day trail. 30 days are not really sufficient to even understand MicroStrategy. MicroStrategy, Inc should think of getting a 3 or 6 month Learning License Serial Key for this mass of MicroStrategy learners and should give next versions Learner License Key to current client under this license.

Coming back to the issue: Use VMWare Server/Microsoft Virtual PC to safely cheat. VMWare is a Virtual OS product (it is much more then that too). You need to have a machine with better hardware configuration. Both are free downloads. MS stuff is free where as VMWare needs site registration.

1. Create the basic Microsoft 2000 OS image of 25 GB.
2. Install all latest SP/Patch to it. MS ODBC patches are very essentials for 2000 OS.
3. Install latest version of Acrobat reader, Flash player, Java Runtimes, IIS and Tomcat Server
4. Install Eclipse if you do MicroStrategy Java SDK or .net or MicroStrategy ASP.net SDK.
5. Install Adobe Flex 3 Builder if you do Visualization SDK (Flash dashboard)
6. Move MicroStrategy installation files into the OS image.
7. Now make two more copies of this image (for safe backup if you mess with any of backup in future).
8. Using 30 days Trail Serial Key, install MicroStrategy.
9. Activate your installation.
10. Use it for 30 days.
11. Move back the metadata to host OS. You may not require this step if you already have it in host OS or any machine over LAN. VMWare/Virtual OS image can also access machine over LAN.
12. Make another copy of image created in step 7
13. Repeat after step 8.

Disclaimer: This steps are for demonstration purpose only and you hold all legal responsibilities of using this method to cheat License agreement. It may be outright illegal if you do so and may land you in legal trouble. Kindly check your license agreement before proceeding.

Update 2009-08-22 15:38:53: The Trial serial key(s) can not be used indefinately for installations, so one need to turn back time of the VMWare image too 😉