1.

I want to register, but I don’t have a Windows Live account.

A Windows Live ID is required for registration and activation. Creating a Windows Live ID account is easy and free. Please visit Windows Live for additional information.

2.

When I try to register the product, I don’t get the e-mail verification mail.

This could be occurring for several reasons:

• You are not logged in with the same e-mail address you typed into the request form, so you don’t receive the e-mail in your inbox.
• You may have typed the e-mail address incorrectly in the form.
• Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) has a spam filter set up to block e-mails from Microsoft e-mail addresses.
  The e-mail address from which this is sent is [email protected]. Check to see if your ISP has filters set up to block this particular e-mail address. Additionally, check your inbox for any junk filter folders. Some mail applications have junk filter settings in place and direct suspect mail into a "junk mail" subfolder. For example, Microsoft Outlook has a folder called "Junk E-mail" and a Rule setting might be in place to send mail with addresses of "confirm@..." to your "Junk E-mail" folder.

3.

When I try to register the product, I get the error "Pending Limit Exceeded"

The Passport-based registration system only allows an e-mail address to have 3 outstanding e-mail verifications sent to a particular e-mail address. If you previously received 3 Passport verification e-mails without completing the e-mail verification process, this error message will occur.

To correct this problem, you will need to follow up with Contact Us to have them clear your pending limit. After that, you must verify your e-mail address so you are not blocked by the same error message at a later time.

4.

I registered, but I want to change the information in my profile.

Please visit the Microsoft Profile Center.

Registration Process

5.

I tried to use my registration key on multiple computers, but it didn’t work.

Registration keys are only valid on the machine from which registration was completed. You must click the product registration link and obtain a unique registration key for each computer running an Express Edition. Each Express Edition requires a unique registration key. For example, if you want to register both Visual C# Express and Visual Web Developer Express, you will need two registration keys.

6.

The same registration key does not work for a different user account. Why?

Registration keys are specific to the user who registered the software, and are only valid for that user account. Each user who will work with an Express Edition installed on a computer must click the product registration link and obtain a unique registration key.

7.

I want to download and install an Express Edition on a computer that does not have Internet access. What can I do?

If you need to install and use an Express Edition on a computer that is not connected to the Internet, you will need to create an installation DVD using the DVD ISO file that is available on the Express site. The installation DVD you create will then allow you to install an Express Edition on a computer that is not connected to the Internet, and that Express Edition will not require registration key for continued usage.

To create an installation DVD for Visual Studio Express Edition, please see the Offline Installation Instructions on the Express site.

8.

What if the Web browser does not launch when I click on "Register Product…" from the Help menu or the registration link in the Product Registration dialog box?

The Product Registration process is initiated from the Help menu by selecting "Register Product...." The registration process will be interrupted, however, if the default Web browser for your system is not set.

To resolve this issue:

1. Close all Express Editions.
2. Start Internet Explorer.
3. Go to Tools > Options. Select Programs tab.
4. Enable the checkbox for "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser"
5. Click OK.
6. Close all instances of Internet Explorer.
7. Start Internet Explorer again. If asked whether you want to set IE to the default browser, choose Yes.
8. Restart your Express Edition
9. Go to Help > Register Product... and click on the link again

9.

I registered my Express Edition and received my registration key, but I misplaced it before copying it into the Product Registration dialog. What should I do?

You can obtain a new valid registration key by revisiting online registration. Just click the registration link in the “Register Product…” dialog and follow the instructions. You will be provided a new registration key.

10.

I entered my registration key, but I received an error.

Ensure that you obtained the registration key on the same machine and user account where the Edition you are attempting to activate resides. Ensure that you have copied the registration key correctly and that you have not included surrounding characters such as whitespace characters.

Benefits E-mail

11.

I successfully completed registration but have not received a benefit e-mail.

An e-mail with details for accessing your free registration benefits is sent immediately after completing registration. If you did not receive this e-mail, please be sure that it did not land in a "junk mail" folder you have specified. Additionally, please check that your e-mail service provider (such as AOL) has not automatically screened out this mail from delivery to you.

12.

I received my registration benefits e-mail, but I deleted it by mistake. Can I get another copy of this e-mail?

If your copy of Express does not require a registration key, you may simply repeat the registration process; a new benefit mail will be sent to you. If you have a downloaded copy of Express and lost your registration benefit e-mail, you cannot repeat the registration process a second time.

NOTE: You can directly access the Registration Benefit Portal without need of a first or second benefit e-mail—as long as you have completed the registration process and use the same e-mail to login in to Passport at the benefit portal.

13.

I received the registration benefits e-mail but it is hard to read or completely unreadable. The text is small and some characters are wrong.

Some e-mail clients, especially Web-based clients, do not render HTML e-mails properly. If you are having trouble reading the text of the e-mail, try copying and pasting the text into a word processor to obtain a more readable view. You may also want to try viewing the e-mail in an alternate e-mail client.

Registration Benefits

14.

What are my registration benefits?

Registration benefits vary for each Visual Studio 2008 and Express Edition that is registered. A general description of the registration benefit offerings is provided at Registration Benefits.

Additionally, registration benefits for a particular product will vary over time. We plan to add new registration benefits and offers after launch and will announce these via e-mail to registrants who "opt in" in for contact by Microsoft in their Windows Live profile.

15.

I want to return to the Benefit Portal after my initial visit. Can I do this?

Yes, you may return to the Registration Benefits Portal as often as you like. After you login to the Portal via your Windows Live ID, you will see a list of all current offers and benefits for the Visual Studio 2008 and Express Editions you have registered.

16.

Will I be able to get new registration benefits that Microsoft adds over time?

Yes, simply return to the Registration Benefits Portal. After you login to the Portal via your Windows Live ID, you will see all current registration benefits for all the products you have registered—including those that may not have been present when you first visited the Benefit Portal.

Miscellaneous

17.

Why should I register?

Registration is required in order to receive a registration key for Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions that are downloaded directly from Microsoft. Without a registration key, downloaded Editions will no longer work after 30 days. By registering (and signing in), you will also receive a more personalized experience when you visit MSDN. Additionally, we offer special benefits to registrants, as described in Registration Benefits.

I registered Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition. Do I need to register Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition as well?

Yes, you must also register the Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions you download in order to receive a registration key.

19.

I registered Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition Beta 2. Do I need to register the final release of this software as well?

Yes, you must also register the final release of each Express Edition you download in order to receive a registration key for it.

20.

You haven’t answered my question. Who should I contact?

Please visit the Express Edition Forums for further assistance. Many of the most common problems are addressed in this FAQ, so please read the FAQ thoroughly first.