Installation and Setup Essentials

Installation and Setup Essentials 

This topic has been updated for Visual Studio 2005 SP1.

Before you install a Visual Studio edition, consider taking steps to reduce the chances of encountering problems during installation. For example, you can determine the hardware configuration of the target computer and uninstall any pre-release versions of Visual Studio 2005. After you have installed, you can take additional steps, such as registering the product and installing optional components.

This topic lists the typical items that you should learn about before you install Visual Studio and then suggests steps that you can take after you have installed.

Before you Start

After you have decided which edition of Visual Studio to install, consider doing the following research before you start Setup:

Task For more information, see

Compare the differences in the features available in each edition of Visual Studio so that you understand the capabilities of the edition you intend to install.

Visual Studio 2005 Product Line Overview

Review the hardware and software requirements for the product to learn about the minimum and recommended configurations.

Visual Studio Hardware Requirements

If an earlier version of Visual Studio is installed on your computer, read about how to run more than one version on the same computer.

Installing Visual Studio Versions Side-by-Side and Installing Multiple Versions of the .NET Framework

If you still have questions, you can post them on the MSDN Forums.

If a pre-release version of Visual Studio 2005 is installed on your computer, you must uninstall it correctly before you install a release version.

Readme.htm on the installation media, or Readme online. The online version may contain more current information.

Information on additional readme files can be found in Locating Readme Files

Learn about administrative setup options and the user permissions that are required for installing.

User Permissions and Advanced Setup Options

Learn how to install Visual Studio on a 64-bit computer and how to develop applications for a 64-bit operating system.

Installing Visual Studio 64-bit Components

Learn how Visual Studio works on a computer that has MUI.

Microsoft Multilingual User Interface (MUI) and Visual Studio

Learn about how to run Visual Studio on Windows Vista.

Windows Vista and Visual Studio

After You Have Installed

After you have installed a Visual Studio edition, we recommend that you register your copy of the product and check for updates. In addition, you can install optional components such as the Visual Studio 2005 Image Library. Later, you might want to upgrade, repair your installation, or uninstall.

Task For more information, see

Discover the various ways you can register purchased editions of Visual Studio so that you can access special offers and resources.

How to: Register Visual Studio

Learn how to repair your current installation of Visual Studio.

How to: Repair Visual Studio

Discover how to locate software updates for Visual Studio.

How to: Find Product Updates

Learn how to receive a registration key to unlock Express editions for long-term use.

How to: Register Express Editions

Learn how to purchase a product key so that you can continue to use Visual Studio after the trial period has expired.

How to: Upgrade from Visual Studio Trial Edition

Learn how to install more than 1,000 images that you can use to create applications that look visually consistent with Microsoft software.

How to: Install the Visual Studio 2005 Image Library

Read about the best way to uninstall Visual Studio.

How to: Uninstall Visual Studio

See Also

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