--- Windows Server 2008 FREE for Students!!!!! ---

gurusan · 10 Oct 2008 at 10:41

For those that don't know about Server 2008, it's basically a stripped down, modular version of vista and many people prefer it (including myself). I find it
faster and just better overall.

https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/Products.aspx

Here's the deal, if you're a student, you can receive a free copy of Windows Server 2008. Just go to this site, and register. If your school is not on the list, follow the instructions at the bottom. You do need to send proof that you're a college student(a screenshot of your schedule or school ID works). Mine has been approved and I am downloading it as I post this.

The download is 32-bit only, however the key they give you works for 64bit as well(at least that's what i hear), I will try it later this wknd.

You can download the 64bit version here:
Download details: Windows Server 2008 Standard

gurusan · 11 Oct 2008 at 11:30

stopsign104 said:
Do many people actually run server 2008 instead of say Home Premium or Ultimate, and use it for normal home use?

Yes...I do. When setting it up there are a few things you need to do to make it act a little more like Vista but overall I think it's much better.

Vista is bloated and sluggish, I have used it on all sorts of different setups and it never feels as responsive and snappy as server 08

gurusan · 11 Oct 2008 at 11:35

google "server 2008 workstation" and you will get pretty much everything you need

gurusan · 15 Oct 2008 at 08:56

I use sophos for antivirus. Symantec Corporate works as well.

And there's nothing wrong with using a server os for a workstation. Vista eats about 300-400 cpu points in 3dmark06 and all games take a minor hit. If that doesn't bother you then by all means go and pay for Vista

I will not dispute the fact that it's a great OS, I just don't see the point in turning down free performance

gurusan · 16 Oct 2008 at 09:49

fonzee said:
Vista was optimized for my desktop in about 10minutes, customised in no time!

you just need to know what your doing

no point what so ever as having Server '08 as your main workstation OS. you'll run into problems down the line, just wait

ok, been waiting ever since it was available...as well as owning many benches done on vista solely because of my use of the Server OS

gurusan · 19 Oct 2008 at 21:52

Yes. Using combined community codec pack here, and winamp + asio for music

gurusan · 20 Oct 2008 at 16:28

Don't know what VMC is.....but it supports prefetching. You have to enable it manually though. Not entirely sure on readyboost but who uses that POS feature anyway?

gurusan · 22 Oct 2008 at 08:41

you should be able to just re-login and generate a key. I mailed it to myself to keep a copy of.

And yes, dual booting is supported by Microsoft!

gurusan · 22 Oct 2008 at 23:05

BoomAM said:
For those of you who do know about Server 2K8, you'll be laughing at this analysis.

oooOOOoohh. Well all you in the know can go ahead and laugh. So I don't know about the other things it does...but for the normal enthusiast/gamer who cares really. It's better than Vista for gaming, benching, and snappier for general use overall.

If you want it for other actual server use then good on you.

gurusan · 23 Oct 2008 at 00:02

not encountered any games that dont work.

I play all the top games without a hitch. CoD4, Grid, Crysis...etc.

gurusan · 23 Oct 2008 at 19:10

willhub said:
Its just confusing coz other people say it loads fast onto the desktop

my loading time booting into windows is much faster than vista ever was. Could just be the way your particular setup responds to server 08

gurusan · 27 Oct 2008 at 17:37

Senture said:
One problem I ran into with Server 08 is the lack of bluetooth support. There are a few bits of information on the internet on how to get it working but none of them worked unfortunately.

Just bumped the RAM up to 8gb and it is much much faster than with 4gb.

SP2 now includes bluetooth support

gurusan · 24 Nov 2008 at 20:24

64 bit for suer