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Free Windows Server 2008 (and 2008 R2) for students

[Ion]

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Microsoft recently added Windows Server 2008 R2 to Dreamspark, so now Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2 are available for free to any student enrolled in a class at any of the universities on their list. Windows Server 2008 R2 can be converted so that it is like Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 can be converted so that it is like Vista. I'm still running XP Pro, but only until I find a free antivirus program for server operating systems :rolleyes:
 

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Sweet deal man! Thanks for the link and information.
 

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Doesn't the server OS run quicker than vista? I remember reading somewhere, I believe, but can't find the source :(
 
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Yea, it has hardly anything in it. Vista was packed with drivers, this is very basic.

Dreamspark gives you alot of things. Pity most of the stuff is 32bit :(
 
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Possible benefit for some...

Server 2003/2008/R2 will allow two remote users as well as the console user to be logged in. Very useful for me as I can log in remotely and not kick my wife or kids off the machine if they're using it.
 

[Ion]

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Doesn't the server OS run quicker than vista? I remember reading somewhere, I believe, but can't find the source :(
Yep: http://www.win2008workstation.com/
Yea, it has hardly anything in it. Vista was packed with drivers, this is very basic.

Dreamspark gives you alot of things. Pity most of the stuff is 32bit :(

I ran Win 2008 as a workstation (customized to be like Vista as per the guide above) for a while, I'm only running XP now because I couldn't find a good free antivirus program for server operating systems, as soon as I find a free server antivirus program I'm going to use Server 2008 R2 customized to look and act like Win7
 

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I am so happy that Microsoft has such a great relationship with students. I now have 5 licenses for 7...
 

[Ion]

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Yea, it has hardly anything in it. Vista was packed with drivers, this is very basic.

Dreamspark gives you alot of things. Pity most of the stuff is 32bit :(

Server 2008 and R2 are 64-bit only ;)
 

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Thanks guys... I got everything working perfectly now! Converted it to W7 and it works great!

 

[Ion]

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No, the copy of Server 2008 (not R2) that comes off of Dreamspark is 32-bit.


Excellent, glad you got it working. Must resist temptation to reformat and install Server 2008 R2 :banghead:

BLOWS XP out of the water. Now the customization was a bit tedious, but I got all my shit together just like I had it, all programs and stuff, in about 2 hours. Install was the fastest I have ever seen... 15 minutes or less... DO IT NOW.
 
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Dark, i downloaded the Server2008 Standard the other day and it's 32bit. So was the VirtualPC, and claims it can't work on my computer :(

Im tempted to get Server 2008 R2 and mod it to Win7 now... ... ... Do i do that or use Win7 Premium when it arrives from Pre-Order .... ?
 
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Dark, i downloaded the Server2008 Standard the other day and it's 32bit. So was the VirtualPC, and claims it can't work on my computer :(

Im tempted to get Server 2008 R2 and mod it to Win7 now... ... ... Do i do that or use Win7 Premium when it arrives from Pre-Order .... ?

Odd, get it from Microsoft and they say its 64-bit only. I can only get 64-bit versions, and so can my dad's company. Microsoft said they do not offer 32-bit versions of Server 2008 and R2. They must have changed their minds.

Idiots :(

Even so, I bet you can use the key on a 64-bit version. I know my Dreamspark 2008 key works on 64-bit. Well it would do, I downloaded the 64-bit version from Dreamspark...
 

[Ion]

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Odd, get it from Microsoft and they say its 64-bit only. I can only get 64-bit versions, and so can my dad's company. Microsoft said they do not offer 32-bit versions of Server 2008 and R2. They must have changed their minds.

Idiots :(

Even so, I bet you can use the key on a 64-bit version. I know my Dreamspark 2008 key works on 64-bit. Well it would do, I downloaded the 64-bit version from Dreamspark...

You can, I used Server 2008 x64 with the key from Dreamspark for a while, activated fine.
 
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so i registered and am now downloading Server 2008R2 (x64, which was the only option to download)
I'm also going to to get visual studio and virtual pc

Im tempted to get Server 2008 R2 and mod it to Win7 now... ... ... Do i do that or use Win7 Premium when it arrives from Pre-Order .... ?

and yea im facing that same problem now....
 
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Will this work exactly like Win7 once converted.... I did use S2008 and converted that to vista but still wasnt the same (was on old laptop though). If it is the same then I'll not bother pre-ordering, which i nearly did with my order for a 5850 :D
 

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How long do dreamspark keys last?
 
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Forever as far as I know! No trial its the full product.
 

YinYang.ERROR

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and Windows Server 2008 is faster than 7? :confused:

I just registered a DreamSpark account, downloading now.
 
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Just got my downloads. Thanks.
 

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Will this work exactly like Win7 once converted.... I did use S2008 and converted that to vista but still wasnt the same (was on old laptop though). If it is the same then I'll not bother pre-ordering, which i nearly did with my order for a 5850 :D

:laugh::laugh::laugh:Yea, that is my question as well. If it runs much the same as 7, then it would be worth the loading:rockout:

Hmmm, according to the link that Ion put up, that setting it up to run like Windows 7 will enable all of the same features as Windows 7 as well as being able to run games and such with video acceleration! Damn, going to have to install Virtual PC and give it a try :)
 
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[Ion]

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BLOWS XP out of the water. Now the customization was a bit tedious, but I got all my shit together just like I had it, all programs and stuff, in about 2 hours. Install was the fastest I have ever seen... 15 minutes or less... DO IT NOW.

Well, you've convinced me, installing now. I'll update with some screen shots later
 

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Hello
How you convert Windows Server 2008 to Windows 7 ??
 

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