DreamSpark is a Microsoft program that allows you to obtain at no charge many professional level Microsoft design and development tools.

How would you like to get development tools like Visual Studio 2008, XNA Game Studio 2.0, and SQL Server for free? Here's how...

You must be a currently enrolled student at Virginia Tech. You must have a Microsoft Windows Live ID. A Windows Live ID is absolutely free of charge and can be obtained from the DreamSpark site.

When setting up your Microsoft Live ID, we strongly recommend that you not use your PID or your Virginia Tech password. You should consider how much personally identifiable information you wish to share in obtaining a Live ID and using the DreamSpark site. It is NOT affiliated with Virginia Tech.

Please note: As part of the authorization process, Dreamspark will redirect you to Virginia Tech's Shibboleth site to authenticate with your Virginia Tech PID/password during the Verification step. Virginia Tech will only be verifying that you are an eligible student and will not supply DreamSpark with any personally identifiable information.

To get started, go to downloads.channel8.msdn.com. You can create your Windows LiveID by using the button on the top of the page.

Below is the complete list of software available through DreamSpark.

• Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
• Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
• XNA Game Studio 2.0
• 12-month free membership in the XNA Creators Club
• Expression Studio, which includes Expression Web, Expression Blend, Expression Design and Expression Media
• SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
• Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
• SQL Server Developer Edition
• Virtual PC 2007
• Visual Basic 2005
• Visual C++ 2005
• Visual C# 2005
• Visual J# 2005
• Visual Web Developer 200