MSDNAA FAQ for UCLA - Mathematics Department

Q: How do I start and what do I need?

A: In order for you to be eligable for the MSDNAA softwares (Visual Studio . NET, Visio, Windows XP Professional, and Windows 2000 professional), you will need to be enrolled in a current PIC class or have an active PIC account. Your username and password for the E-Academy/MSDNAA web site and instruction on downloading your software will be sent to your PIC e-mail account after the 1st week of school. Below is a QUICK START to help you get going once you received your MSDNAA e-mail.

Q: What is MSDNAA?

A: MSDNAA stands for Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance. This program is designed specifically for academic labs, faculty, and students in the curriculum areas of computer science, engineering, and information systems. You can obtain more info about this program at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/academic/program/

Q: What is ELMS?

A: ELMS is a web-based software distribution and management system. Microsoft products under MSDNAA are being distributed under the ELMS program, namely e-academy. More info can be found at: ELMS for MSDNAA

Q: How do I obtain access to the ELMS system for MSDNAA software?

A: You have access to ELMS system for MSDNAA software if you are currently enrolled in a PIC class, or in a Math class where the instructor has requested that students use the PIC lab.

Q: I forgot my password, or you said my account was created, but I never received notification. What should I do?

A: You can go to the ELMS Remind me of my Password form at the ELMS web site..

Your username is of the form Username@pic.ucla.edu which is the same as your PIC email address..

Where: username is your PIC login username (i.e.: joe_bruin@pic.ucla.edu)

NOTE: If you are math faculty, please use your MATH mail address. (i.e.: joe_bruin@math.ucla.edu)

Q: What software packages are available from MSDNAA for downloading?

A: We currently have 3 product lines available.

• Windows OS (Windows 2000 Professional <1 CD> and Windows XP Professional <1 CD>)
• Development Applications (Visual Studio Pro 2003 <3 CD>, MSDN Library <3 CD>, and Academic Student Tools <1 CD>)
• General Applications (Visio Pro 2003 <1 CD>)

Q: Where's Microsoft Office, Word, etc?

A: Those products are NOT included in the MSDNAA program since they are not considered to be development-oriented packages.  You can check the Student Bookstore for student versions of those applications. Alternately, get yourself a copy of OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org) or StarOffice ( http://wwws.sun.com/software/star/staroffice/get/index.html).

Q: That download was FAST! Is that it?

A: When you choose a download delivery, what you receive from the ELMS site is not actually the chosen product but a special Download Handler application which knows how to decrypt the encrypted image. The encrypted image is known as a Secure Digital Container (SDC) and is hosted on our PIC server. The downloader knows where this file is located, downloads it, decrypts it, and then leaves it on your hard drive.

The downloader is smart and will resume a download in progress that was interrupted, if you run it again (from the disk).

Q: I am having trouble with the download.  May I download again?

A: Yes, you can download many times, but you can only Purchase One time (without special permission).

To download again, you should remove not only the downloaded IMG or ISO files, but also the Downloader program as well. You can use the Windows Explorer to search for the proper *.img or *.iso file, and for the downloader file. After that, request the downloader again from the web site and restart your download.

Re-execute the downloader (Again, make sure that you have deleted the previously downloaded "downloader" and IMG or ISO images)

Q: I'm on a [Macintosh/UNIX/Linux] platform and the downloaded file is not runnable

A: Yep, that's an unfortunate mis-feature of the ELMS digital delivery system. If your ISO burning station isn't on your Windows system, you can't get the image file. You will need to be on a Windows machine in order to get the downloaded ISO images

Q: I'm left with a .IMG file, what do I do with that?

A: Some Products that are pre-wrapped into SDCs by the ELMS site decrypt into .IMG files, not .ISO. All you need to do is simply rename the file as .ISO. If Windows gives you some grief about "changing a file's extension, the file may become unusable" Say "YES". That's just Windows being fascist.

Q: I downloaded the kit, and I have ISO (or IMG) files, but no CD Burner, what now?

A: You will have to find an environment in which you can temporarily use a system that meets the requirements, or if you want to be adventurous, you can try out one of the ISO handler applications for Windows.
Here's a list:

Q: I upgraded my computer, and now I can't reactivate my MSDN software, since the activation key no longer works. Help?

A: You have to contact Microsoft here. The FAQ on Microsoft Product Activation is at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;302878

Other links to Microsoft's Piracy and Activation web pages are:

• http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/mpafaq.asp
• http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Q: Can I have 2 or more copies of software?

A: Nope. You are allowed a SINGLE copy of software. Please see the MSDNAA Usage Agreement

And from the ELMS site FAQ:

Q: How does ELMS handle MSDNAA Licensing Policies?

A: ELMS was designed with MSDNAA-specific licensing policies in mind. Every time a student or faculty member orders software through ELMS, they must agree to the standard EULA provided by Microsoft. Agreement to the EULA is recorded in one of the transaction reports (see below) available in ELMS. ELMS also restricts the number of times a student can order each MSDNAA software product. Each student/faculty is restricted to one order per MSDNAA product. Students can always request additional installs from their Program Administrator if required. ELMS includes a module which enables Program Administrators to issue additional installs to individuals as well as additional installation codes (PIDs-for example for Windows XP, or Visio where each install requires a new code).

Note that we will not grant additional installs, even though a procedure exists for it. You will need to contact Microsoft if you need to have your activation key changed.

The ELMS Program FAQ may also prove useful to answering your questions as well.

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This page last updated: October 12, 2004