amuck-landowner

Free Windows Server license with .edu address

D. Strout

Resident IPv6 Proponent
I don't really know many of the members here well enough to know if this is worth anything, but if any of you have a .edu e-mail address from your school (even if you haven't attended for a while and still have access to the address), you can use Microsoft's Dreamspark program to get free (and legal!) license keys for Windows Server 2008/2012(R2) 64-bit. Hope this helps some.
 

TruvisT

Server Management Specialist
Verified Provider
Another nice thing about having contracts with the school systems. Signed up using my district e-mail and got access. Hello free stuff!

EDIT: Mine was not an .edu so as long as it is from an official education system, it seems to work.
 
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DomainBop

Dormant VPSB Pathogen
even if you haven't attended for a while
I definitely fall into the "a while" category :p but one of my alumni benefits is a free lifetime google apps for education account with a .edu email address.
 

Magiobiwan

Insert Witty Statement Here
Verified Provider
Technically the DreamSpark licenses are only supposed to be used for educational/learning purposes only and not for a production environment. I doubt they check though.
 

D. Strout

Resident IPv6 Proponent
I definitely fall into the "a while" category :p but one of my alumni benefits is a free lifetime google apps for education account with a .edu email address.
Yeah, a lot of people hold on to their .edu addresses for a while. I even just attended several online colleges, taking only one or two classes, and still got a .edu address from each. I have about 5 or 6 at this point. I never have trouble getting free(ish) stuff from "my" school. Dropbox, Amazon Prime, Dreamspark, even the Microsoft Home Use Program, which nets me $10 Office Pro 2013. A lot of value there.
 

DomainBop

Dormant VPSB Pathogen
Technically the DreamSpark licenses are only supposed to be used for educational/learning purposes only and not for a production environment. I doubt they check though.
I don't think they check eligibility (other than a .edu email) for DreamSpark Standard but DreamSpark Premium is administered by the individual colleges who enroll in it and most of them do check to make sure the person is a current student/faculty/staff member. Alumni aren't eligible for Premium. The premium version includes almost all Microsoft products.
 

D. Strout

Resident IPv6 Proponent
I don't think they check eligibility (other than a .edu email) for DreamSpark Standard but DreamSpark Premium is administered by the individual colleges who enroll in it and most of them do check to make sure the person is a current student/faculty/staff member. Alumni aren't eligible for Premium. The premium version includes almost all Microsoft products.
The really good stuff is restricted, yes, but here at VPSB all we care about is servers, which is why I mention the free Windows Server license. That said, I can't wait to get in to Liberty University later this year, where I'll get free Windows licenses.
 

notFound

Don't take me seriously!
Verified Provider
Yep, this is old news. I got Dreamspark a long time ago and you have to reactivate each year or two or so which is quite annoying. You don't particularly need an .edu, I actually just contacted them and they let me on. Although now I can use my brother's uni one and my mum's work (one of her jobs is in a college).
 

TruvisT

Server Management Specialist
Verified Provider
The really good stuff is restricted, yes, but here at VPSB all we care about is servers, which is why I mention the free Windows Server license. That said, I can't wait to get in to Liberty University later this year, where I'll get free Windows licenses.
Several of my friends go there. Planning to go there myself as well soon.
 

rds100

New Member
Verified Provider
Yes, what for? The only reason i see for running windows is for opening some documents which don't work properly in OpenOffice or LibreOffice. Unfortunately office doesn't work on windows server, or so i've heard.
 

D. Strout

Resident IPv6 Proponent
If you don't have a .edu address, go here, select the middle option and click next (don't fill anything in - you don't need to). On the next page, under the "email address" boxes, click the checkbox that says "Check here if you do not have your own e-mail and would like to use this site's account as your primary e-mail". Make up all the other info on the page (address stuff is optional!) and click create account. Voila! To access your inbox, click "Your Portfolio" -> "All messages" (on the right). Enjoy your .edu benefits!
 

fixidixi

Active Member
actually as i remember the dremspark academy license you are to remove any installed products if you are no longer at the university.. even the os you might have used. thats just the legal stuff.
 

sv01

Slow but sure
If you don't have a .edu address, go here, select the middle option and click next (don't fill anything in - you don't need to). On the next page, under the "email address" boxes, click the checkbox that says "Check here if you do not have your own e-mail and would like to use this site's account as your primary e-mail". Make up all the other info on the page (address stuff is optional!) and click create account. Voila! To access your inbox, click "Your Portfolio" -> "All messages" (on the right). Enjoy your .edu benefits!
then what to do next ? Can't get dreamspark with these email :(
 
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