DreamSpark
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DreamSpark is designed to allow students to download fully-functional versions of Microsoft software development tools at no charge.
Bill Gates, co-founder and chairman of Microsoft Corp., gave a special presentation at Stanford University on Tuesday, Feb. 19. During his talk, "On Software, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Giving Back, " he announced the DreamSpark program <https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/>, which is designed to allow students to download fully-functional versions of Microsoft software development tools at no charge. Products included are:
• Visual Studio 2008
• Windows Server 2003
• SQL server 2005
• Expression Studio
• XNA
Penn State is positioned to support the Dreamspark program for our students because of our leadership with federating technology, Shibboleth, and membership in the InCommon Federation. This technology facilitates a trust environment that enables the Penn State community to access resources outside of our domain while preserving individual privacy. InCommon and Shibboleth eliminate the need for researchers, students, and educators to maintain multiple passwords and usernames.
Students can take advantage of the DreamSpark program by following the instructions outlined below.
Step 1: Access the DreamSpark program and select the title to be downloaded.
• Browse to https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/
• Select the "Sign In" button.
• Enter your LiveID e-mail address and password. NOTE: If you do not have a Windows LiveID, continue with Step 2 to create an account, otherwise skip to Step 4.
Step 2: Create a Windows LiveID, If needed. (Note: This is only necessary if you do not already have a Windows LiveID. If you already have a LiveID, skip to Step 5)
• Select the "Sign Up" to create a new Windows LiveID.
• Enter the details for your new LiveID: your email address, a password, and a challenge question and answer to use if you forget your LiveID password.
• Use a unique password. Do not use any password associated with any of the systems at Penn State.
• Pick a challenge question and answer that is easy for you to remember.
• Enter the scrambled characters you see in the image, which is the final security check required to process your LiveID request.
• Select the "Continue" button.
Step 3: Create an MSN account.
• Supply the following information: birth date, gender, industry, occupation, home location, country/region, state and ZIP code.
• Supply any additional optional information: job title, marital status and children in household.
• Select the "Continue" button.
• Review and sign the Microsoft service agreement and online privacy statement.
• Enter the email address you provided in Step 3. Select the "I Accept" button.
• Review the screen confirming the creation of your LiveID account. Select the "Continue" button to return to the Microsoft Dreamspark site. NOTE: You will receive a confirmation email containing instructions on signing in, signing out and resetting your password.
Step 4: Login to the DreamSpark program.
• Enter your LiveID username and password (not your campus username and password) As an added security measure, do not check the "Save my e-mail address and password" radio button.
Step 5: Identify your location.
• Click on the United States on the world map image, which will identify you as a student from a U.S. campus
• Select The Pennsylvania State University from the list of participating campuses.
• Select the "Select and Continue" button below the list of campuses.
Step 6: Login to the Penn State’s sign-on system to verify your student status.
• Enter your Penn State username and password (the one you use for email at the University).
• Review the DreamSpark page that says "Congratulations! You have successfully verified your Student status with us! You may now begin downloading software products from this site." Now, click the button that says "View all products to download"
Step 7: Agree to the license terms.
• Visual Studio 2008
• Windows Server 2003
• SQL server 2005
• Expression Studio
• XNA
Penn State is positioned to support the Dreamspark program for our students because of our leadership with federating technology, Shibboleth, and membership in the InCommon Federation. This technology facilitates a trust environment that enables the Penn State community to access resources outside of our domain while preserving individual privacy. InCommon and Shibboleth eliminate the need for researchers, students, and educators to maintain multiple passwords and usernames.
Students can take advantage of the DreamSpark program by following the instructions outlined below.
Step 1: Access the DreamSpark program and select the title to be downloaded.
• Browse to https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/
• Select the "Sign In" button.
• Enter your LiveID e-mail address and password. NOTE: If you do not have a Windows LiveID, continue with Step 2 to create an account, otherwise skip to Step 4.
Step 2: Create a Windows LiveID, If needed. (Note: This is only necessary if you do not already have a Windows LiveID. If you already have a LiveID, skip to Step 5)
• Select the "Sign Up" to create a new Windows LiveID.
• Enter the details for your new LiveID: your email address, a password, and a challenge question and answer to use if you forget your LiveID password.
• Use a unique password. Do not use any password associated with any of the systems at Penn State.
• Pick a challenge question and answer that is easy for you to remember.
• Enter the scrambled characters you see in the image, which is the final security check required to process your LiveID request.
• Select the "Continue" button.
Step 3: Create an MSN account.
• Supply the following information: birth date, gender, industry, occupation, home location, country/region, state and ZIP code.
• Supply any additional optional information: job title, marital status and children in household.
• Select the "Continue" button.
• Review and sign the Microsoft service agreement and online privacy statement.
• Enter the email address you provided in Step 3. Select the "I Accept" button.
• Review the screen confirming the creation of your LiveID account. Select the "Continue" button to return to the Microsoft Dreamspark site. NOTE: You will receive a confirmation email containing instructions on signing in, signing out and resetting your password.
Step 4: Login to the DreamSpark program.
• Enter your LiveID username and password (not your campus username and password) As an added security measure, do not check the "Save my e-mail address and password" radio button.
Step 5: Identify your location.
• Click on the United States on the world map image, which will identify you as a student from a U.S. campus
• Select The Pennsylvania State University from the list of participating campuses.
• Select the "Select and Continue" button below the list of campuses.
Step 6: Login to the Penn State’s sign-on system to verify your student status.
• Enter your Penn State username and password (the one you use for email at the University).
• Review the DreamSpark page that says "Congratulations! You have successfully verified your Student status with us! You may now begin downloading software products from this site." Now, click the button that says "View all products to download"
Step 7: Agree to the license terms.