Free software for students

I keep reading that I can get XP or Vista for free because I'm a student, but have yet to find it. I have a website affiliated with my school website that has Virtual PC and XP Pro 64 bit, but no Vista 64 bit. Then I downloaded/got approved for Dreamspark, which as some other limited software, but no XP or Vista, just more developer tools. Does anyone know of any legit links to where I might find Vista Ultimate x64 for students?

 

Unfortunatley i dont know of this word "legit"

 

I dont know if there are any downloads for copies of Vista/XP, but check with your school and see if they have copies there for you to use.

 

if you are in a CS related major or taking any CS classes (second condition may vary from school to school) then you may have access to what's called MSDNAA where you can download developer software and includes rights to get vista, xp and even the server versions of the os, as well as other software development goodies (again the software included depends on the school).

if you're curious if your school has a msdnaa, then just type msdnaa and the school name on google search, you should be able to find your school's msdnaa web portal from there.


alternatively, here is a link that will allow you to look for the school that you are in and see if they have msdnaa available to students. be wary however that some of the listing on that website is somehow inaccurate because i looked up my school, and it doent list the department that i got my software from so try the google thing as well.
http://www.msdnaa.net/search/schoolsearch.aspx

 

Already checked that. No 64 bit Vista on MSDNAA. Did get XP Pro 64 bit, however. I am a CS major.

 

Have you looked at your campus store? They usually have Microsoft products for less. Also keep an eye out for student discounts for TechNet subscriptions. Sometimes you can grab them for $99 and it gives you access to all the OSes and products Microsoft has. I paid the regular price for it, but I think it is well worth it.

 

is there option for vista 32? if there is then all you need to try to do is grab a hold of a install disk for vista 64. vista 32 key will work with vista 64.

its curious to see that your school's msdnaa does not have vista since vista is microsoft's current platform and i would suspect that cs students should have access to vista in order to learn to develop for it. however that's just my feeling on that.

if there is none, then i suggest doing the ultimate steal from microsoft where you can buy a vista ultimate upgrade for only $69.95

 

My school's MSDNAA has Vista 32, not 64. 32 and 64 bit of XP Pro, plus Visual Studio, Server 2003, and some other ones I'm not interested in and too lazy to list.

So I guess now I need to find an install of 64 bit Vista Ultimate. Will a 32 bit Vista Business key work on 64 bit Vista Ultimate? Because that's what the MSDNAA offers...

 

It will only work with either bit version of Vista Business.

 

Many schools have a partnership with Microsoft and other software companies to get tools and key software to students of the field for free or at a discounted price. For example, my Univeristy has a partnership through the MSDNAA where I can get nearly anything piece of MS software for free.

I can also buy a Vista Ultimate DVD for $12 USD.

 

yes you can use the vista ultimate 64 install disc using your vista 32 business key. note however that this will NOT install vista ultimate 64 but rather install vista 64 business. that is because vista install discs are the same no matter what version they are branded with. only the key that you input makes the difference. so if somehow you have access to a vista 64 install disc of any version, then so long as you can acquire that vista business key, you will be fine and be able to install vista 64 business using said disc.

also, just curious but if they offer vista 32, then i assume they also should offer vista 64. have you tried looking into the drop-down list for vista 64? i have a screenshot that shows you this drop-down list.

 

Every school offers different things. I have 3 msdnaa accounts and i am offered 3 different choices

...so yes, i have a LOT of msdnaa software

 

i was just showing that there are other software offered aside from the ones with the picture on the front screen. that list may have different contents from his list.

 

Here's my list. No Vista Ultimate x64

Anyone have an account with it? I'd be willing to buy it from you if it was like under $30 for the DVD, or it'd probably be free if it was just the over-the-net download + key...

 

Is there a particular reason you want Vista Ultimate? Vista Home Premium is just as good, minus a couple of things.

 

He wants Business or rather he can only get Business.

Anyway the 32bit key will work, however the MSDNAA disks are different than normal Vista disks. You can just torrent it. Now before anyone jumps on me for saying "torrent" it is absolutely legal to get the media when you have a license aka key.

 

No, I want Vista Ultimate. I like having the most possible options in an OS.

 

unfortunately, microsoft does not offer vista ultimate to msdnaa (this is what my thing says at least) so if you want vista ultimate, then you'd have to buy the software. fortunately, as i've said before, you can buy a vista ultimate with a huge discount (for about $60) through ultimatesteal.com.

 

As mentioned, you need to check with your school to see what their discounts/deals are. It varies from school to school.

Barring that, Microsoft offers huge discounts on Office 2007 Ultimate, Vista_Ultimate Upgrade, and a few other products: http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/default.aspx