Developing For .NET

FINALLY! After 5 hours and 45 minutes of downloading, the ISO file is here! I also downloaded Microsoft’s VirtualCD software, mounted the ISO file, and began the Install process at 3:01pm EST.

First, after mindlessly bypassing the EULA, I saved 1.6 GB of install space on my machine by not installing C++ or Crystal Reports. I’ve had C++ since I first installed VS2003 Pro and have never once used it, same for Crystal Reports, so why bother? I could have saved more but not installing SQL Server, but I figured better safe than sorry.

A few things about this machine while the installer runs:

• IBM ThinkPad G41, about two years old, with some kind of Pentium IV Mobile processor.
• Running Windows XP Pro SP2.
• It had a little over 8 GB free when I started.
• 1 GB RAM.
• Already installed are VS2005, Mobile 5.0 SDK, .NET 3.0 (and 2.0 and 1.1)

4:18pm –

The install is finished. I had to reboot, which meant remounting the Virtual CD image. Also, I cannot install the MSDN Documentation: the installer will not recognize the ISO image as the correct disc. Perhaps there is a separate download from MSDN for the docs.

At any rate, it seems I am up and running. I opened the IDE for the first time and selected C# as my primary environment. The software configured and opened a few minutes later.

So all in all, the installation was a breeze (except for the waiting for the download part). Now on to Blend!