VS2005 Express for VS2008 Upgrade

Visual Studio (VS) have upgrade packages, which are more reasonable than regular package although the upgrade packages are special for old version or lower edition of VS series users only.

The old version of VS series contains VC++2005 Express edition (Ex), which Ex can use free. So, if you register the VC++2005 Ex, you can buy reasonable upgrade package of VS2008 Std; Otherwise, you must buy more expensive regular package.

See here

• VC++2005 Ex -> VS2008 Std: OK
• VC++2005 Ex -> VS2008 Pro: OK
• VC++2008 Ex -> VS2008 Std: NG (not allowed)
• VC++2008 Ex -> VS2008 Pro: OK

All edition of VS2005 can upgrade to any edition of VS2008. So, VS2008 Std can be upgraded from VS2005 Ex. But, VS9 Std cannot be upgraded from VC++2005 Ex, although VS2008 Pro or upper edition can be upgraded from any edition of VS2005 including the VC++2005 Ex.

Thus, if you want to buy VS2008, you'd better register VC++2005 before that. But, VC++2005 Ex has already not provided via main page of Visual Studio because current major version is not VC++2005 but VC++2008.

VS2005 Ex can be gain here today, 17 Oct 2009. This link would break someday. Maybe it would be when VS2010 or later version will be released.

Quotation Scrap

Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition Upgrade package is for only the users licensed any edition of the following:

• MSDN® Subscription(excluding MSDN Library Subscription)
• Visual Studio® .NET Version 2002, 2003/Visual Studio 2005
• Visual Basic® .NET Version 2002, 2003/Visual Basic 2005(including Express Edition)
• Visual C++® .NET Version 2002, 2003/Visual C++ 2005(including Express Edition)
• Visual C#® .NET Version 2002, 2003/Visual C# 2005(including Express Edition)
• Visual J#® .NET Version 2003/Visual J# 2005(including Express Edition)
• Visual Web Developer™ 2005 Express Edition
• Visual SourceSafe® 6.0/2005
• Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft® Office System Version 2003/2005

Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition Upgrade package is for only the users licensed any edition of the following:

• MSDN® Subscription (excluding MSDN Library Subscription)
• Visual Studio® .NET Version 2002, 2003/Visual Studio 2005, 2008
• Visual Basic® .NET Version 2002, 2003/Visual Basic 2005, 2008 (including 2005, 2008 Express Edition)
• Visual C++® .NET Version 2002, 2003/Visual C++ 2005, 2008 (including 2005, 2008 Express Edition)
• Visual C#® .NET Version 2002, 2003/Visual C# 2005, 2008 (including 2005, 2008 Express Edition)
• Visual J#® .NET Version 2003/Visual J# 2005 (including 2005 Express Edition)
• Visual Web Developer™ 2005, 2008 Express Edition
• Visual SourceSafe® 6.0/2005
• Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft® Office System Version 2003/2005