Here are answers to the common questions and problems of MSDNAA users.  Keep in mind that the College of Computing and TSO only manages the MSDNAA license and authorization into the ELMS system.  TSO is unable to support your specific installation of the software available in this program, and download, installation, and usage issues may ultimately be the responsibility of E-Academy or Microsoft.  See Microsoft's MSDNAA FAQ for additional information and Microsoft's statement regarding acceptable usage under this program.

If you have a question not found here please submit it (and by all means, if you have an answer please submit that as well so that we can share the information).  You can contact us at helpdesk@cc.gatech.edu.


Q: Who is eligible for this program?
A: To be eligible for this program you must be currently enrolled in a College of Computing class for credit or a College of Computing faculty member.

Q: Its the beginning of the semester and I am eligible but I am unable to login?
A: At the end of each semester MSDNAA access is wiped and then reloaded with the new class rolls. There is a lag between the time of the wipe and the reload while we wait for class rolls to be finalized (approximately 2-3 weeks into the semester). As long as you're enrolled in a CS or CSE class this semester, access will be regranted to you.

Q: How will I know that I have been granted access?
A: An email will be sent to your gatech email address when your account is activated for the semester.

Q: I can't get in or the download does not start, What's wrong?
A: Probably nothing. If you can't get in or the download does not start, please be patient and try again later. They are experiencing very high usage levels.

Q: I can't find the Windows Component update disk required to install Visual Studio .net?
A: On the E-Academy site the windows component update disk is the Visual Studio .net disk 5

Q: Where is the cd-key / product serial number?
A: The cd-key / product serial number is included in the Purchase Confirmation email you receive and the packing slip webpage that displays after you begin the download.

Q: I have more than one computer; can I install the same software on both/all of them?
A: You may install the software on any of the computers you own, as long as they also conform to the MSDNAA usage guidelines. In order to install more than once you must request a re-install through the Support section of the ELMS website. This system was designed this way to guard against abuse of the license.

Q: I am having trouble burning my CD?
A: Due to the countless hardware and software variables involved, we can only provide general guidance about burning CD's. Some helpful information and tips on CD burning are:

• Try burning at a slower speed.
• When burning a CD, try changing to mode 2.
• When burning a CD, It may be necessary to try changing the block size. A program such as CDmage (for information see http://cdmage.cjb.net/) may help. NOTE: TSO does not support or warrant this product in any way - use at your own risk.
• Images from the MSDNAA CD'd may contain folder trees nested greater than eight levels or filenames greater than 100 characters (not ISO 9660 compatible).
• An .img file can be safely renamed to a .iso file.
• You may extract files from an ISO image using a program called WinImage (for information see http://www.winimage.com/winimage.htm). NOTE: TSO does not support or warrant this product in any way - use at your own risk.

• One good site on CD's and CD-ROM's is at http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq.html

Q: What is my ELMS login id/username?
A: For students, your ELMS userid is your prism email address (gtxxxx@mail.gatech.edu). For faculty, it is your CoC email address. However, since ELMS is independent of Georgia Tech and the College of Computing, the password they provide will be different.
Please Note: Students must have a valid prism account in order to access software available through the MSDNAA.

Q: What is my password? I forgot my password, how do I get a new one?
A: TSO has no way of knowing your password since this is a completely independent system (your ELMS password is not associated with any other account passwords, including your CoC password). For students, your initial password will be emailed to your prism email address when your account is created; for faculty, it will be sent to your CoC account. If you have forgotten your password you can have it emailed to you through the ELMS system using the link on the Login page.

Q: I'm having trouble logging in. What should I do?
A: First, be certain you are using the correct login id (being your prism email address for students, and CoC account for faculty). If you are still having problems, go to the ELMS site and on the Support page, please click on "Request Customer Support" to the left and supply more information about the types of login problems you are encountering. Someone will contact you for more information if necessary.

Q: How long will my ELMS account be active?
A: Your ELMS account will be active as long as you are an eligible participant of the MSDNAA license... meaning as long as you are a current student enrolled in a College of Computing class, or a Faculty member of the College of Computing.

Q: Upon graduation, are your rights to any downloaded programs from this MSDN website revoked? Or are they yours to keep?
A: Yes, access to the site is revoked during any semester in which the student is not enrolled in a CS or CSE class. Any software downloaded is yours to keep, but only as long as your usage conforms to the academic usage agreement (http://www.msdnaa.net/programusage.aspx).

Q: What happens if the College of Computing decides to cancel their MSDNAA membership?
A: MSDN subscription licenses are perpetual. As such, if a department decides not to renew, the user can continue to utilize the software that was received as a benefit of their earlier membership, but only as long as your usage conforms to the academic usage agreement (http://www.msdnaa.net/programusage.aspx).

Q: If my download times out or I get disconnected, how do I continue my software download and installation?
A: If you were in the middle of downloading the software itself, there will be a shortcut icon saved on your desktop that will allow you to resume your download. Double-click on the icon to begin again. If you don't see the shortcut icon on your computer desktop, you can use the "Request Re-Install" function in the Support section.

Q: What software is available under this program?
A: Not all of the material in the MSDNAA program is available from this site. Microsoft's official list of all software in the program is at http://www.msdnaa.net/products/descriptions.aspx. If you need something from the list that is not on our ELMS site, please send email to help@cc.gatech.edu.

Q: Is the software permanently unlocked by the license (or "key")?
A: No - the key allows you to install the software once. After that, if you need to re-install the software, you will need to use the "Request Re-Install" option from the Support section of the site. This is how their system helps to reduce software piracy.

only manages the MSDNAA license and authorization into the ELMS system. TSO

We've tried to provide answers and information to the common questions and problems that users are experiencing. Keep in mind that the College of Computing and TSO only manages the MSDNAA license and authorization into the ELMS system. CNS is unable to support your installation of the software available in this program, and download, installation, and usage issues may ultimately be the responsibility of E-Academy or Microsoft. See Microsoft's FAQ http://www.msdnaa.com/faqpfv.aspx for additional information and http://www.msdnaa.net/programusage.aspx for Microsoft's statement regarding acceptable usage under this program.

If you have a question not found here please submit it, and by all means, if you have an answer please submit that as well so that we can share the information. You can contact us at helpdesk@cc.gatech.edu.