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For those programming students out there who have used Microsoft’s Visual Studio Express or any other of their free, second-rate software, there is a way to get their software free of charge. It doesn’t matter if you’re a high school or college student; you can get access to Microsoft’s best software free. I myself, being a student, have picked up Microsoft’s Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition, the XNA Game Creator 2.0 Professional, Expression Web 2, and even a free copy of Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008. In this article, I’ll detail how to do it.

Microsoft DreamSpark

In no way, shape, or form am I nor was I a huge Microsoft supporter. I just wanted to get their better stuff, because, after all, I am a programmer, and the Express Editions leave out a lot of helpful features. I did a search on the internet, and came up with Microsoft’s DreamSpark program, designed to give student developers the tools they need to program like professionals. And, better yet, there are no strings attached.

To start, go to the DreamSpark homepage (dreamspark.com) and then sign in with your Windows Live ID. If you don’t have one, you can sign up for one there. You can see all the amazing software at your fingertips right there…however, you have to verify that you’re a high school or college student first. The easiest way I’ve found is through JourneyEd (journeyed.com). Open that up in a browser tab, and then click on “Student Shop” near the top left corner.

In the search box at the top right corner, type in DreamSpark and click “Go.” Only five items should appear; the last of them just says “Microsoft DreamSpark” and costs $0.00. Add it to the cart, and then click “No thanks” on the next page and check out.

Click the second option, “I have never ordered a product from JourneyEd that required Academic Proof or the last time I ordered was 12 months or more.” On the next page, choose either of the top two options, depending on which you are, a college student or a high school student (both will work the same).

Enter your e-mail address, a new password, et cetera and go through the process until the order is confirmed. They won’t ask for a credit card, and you literally won’t pay a single cent. The license code will come through your inbox.

Verification

You will get a few e-mails in reply. The first is an order confirmation. Your license code for DreamSpark won’t be in there; actually, it will be a few e-mails until that comes along.

The second is a halt in the process, stating that you need “academic proof” in order for the process to continue. Scan one of the following items (you only need one): this year’s ID card, this year’s class schedule, this year’s tuition receipt, or this year’s report card (high school only). Then click the first link in that e-mail, the one that is “journeyed.com/upload” and enter in your order details. Attach the image of the academic proof you scanned and click “Send Verification.” You may need to wait a while.

The third e-mail should follow shortly. It will tell you that your academic proof has been received, and it will be looked into as soon as possible.

The fourth will arrive. It is another order confirmation of your order, and looks exactly like the first e-mail you received.

The fifth should come at the exact same time. This one has a title of “Download Instructions for Order ___________.” Yep, that’s right: it’s time to get your key!

(Time elapsed between first order confirmation e-mail and the download instructions e-mail, in my case, was about four hours.)

Download

Use the link in the e-mail to get back to DreamSpark. Sign back in and this time you’ll be given the green light to start downloading!

Just a quick note before you start your downloading: some of the files are monster-sized. Windows Server 2008 is nearly two gigabytes; Visual Studio Professional is more than three gigabytes. Downloads will take a little patience, but it’ll all be worth it when you can start using your professional developer’s tools!