The Visual Studio 2008 DVD has an auto-run feature, but if the Setup screen does not appear after inserting the DVD, you need to run Setup.
exe from the root directory of the DVD.
To do this, click the Windows Start menu at the bottom left of your screen and then select the Run start menu item or browse to the Setup program on the DVD.
In the Run dialog box, you can click the Browse button to locate the setup.
exe program on your DVD.
Then click the OK button in the Run dialog box to start the setup program.
The dialog box shown shows the order in which the installation will occur.
To function properly, Visual Studio 2008 requires various updates to be installed depending on the operating system that you have (for example, Service Pack 2 on Windows XP).
The setup program will automatically inform you of these updates if they are not installed.
You should install those updates first and then return to the Visual Studio 2008 setup program.
The next step in the installation process asks you if you want to send the setup information from the installation of Visual Studio 2008 to Microsoft.
This is a good idea to help streamline the installation process of future editions of Visual Studio, and no personal information will be sent.
You can click the Next button at this screen after you have selected or cleared the check box indicating whether or not you want this information sent.
The third step in the installation process is the license agreement.
Read the license agreement and then select the option button indicating your acceptance of the licensing terms.
Then click the Next button to continue.
As with most setup programs, you are presented with a choice of options to be installed.
The default installation installs the recommended product features as determined by Microsoft.
You have the option to choose the default installation, a full installation, or to customize the installation.
When choosing the custom installation feature, you will be presented with a dialog box allowing you to choose the languages and features of each language to be installed.
If disk space allows, it is recommended that you choose a full installation.
However, if you choose to customize the installation and omit some features from being installed, you can always install those features later by rerunning the setup program.
After choosing your installation option, click the Install button to have those features installed.
The first component that is installed is the Microsoft .
NET Framework version 3.
5.
During the installation of this component you will be required to restart your computer.
After your computer has restarted and you log back in, the setup program will continue.
Note to Windows Vista users: you will be prompted that the setup program needs to run and will need to grant permission to let the setup program continue.
After the setup program continues, you can sit back and relax while all of the features are being installed.
The setup program can take anywhere from 20 minutes on up depending on the installation features chosen and the speed of your computer.
Once the installation has been completed, you will be presented with a dialog box informing you of the status of the installation.
Here you can see any problems that the setup program encountered.
At this point you are encouraged to update your computer with the latest security patches and a link is provided in the notes to Windows Update.
When you have finished reviewing the setup status, click the Finish button.