Microsoft Dreamspark Premium Access for Engineering

Microsoft DreamSpark Premium subscription gives our students and faculty access to Microsoft professional developer tools and software.

Software available through DreamSpark Premium

• Visual Studio
• Windows Server
• Windows Operating Systems
• Exchange Server
• Expression Studio
• SQL Server
• Access
• OneNote
• Project
• Visio
• Hyper-V

Acceptable Uses of DreamSpark Premium

• The tools and technologies provided through the DreamSpark Premium subscription may only be used for academic instruction, academic projects, and non-commercial research.
• Department, Faculty or Staff members who are directly involved with teaching or system administration related to DreamSpark Premium may install the software on their personal computer.

Unacceptable Uses of DreamSpark Premium

• The software that is part of the membership may not be used for any IT infrastructure or administration purposes at the DreamSpark Premium member’s school, university, foundation, or organization.
• Department, Faculty, or Staff members who are not directly involved with teaching or system administration related to DreamSpark Premium may not install the software on their personal computers.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I get a DreamSpark account?
• How do I download the software?
• How do I change my password?
• How do I reset my password?
• Where do I go for help?

How do I get a DreamSpark Premium account?

Student accounts will be created after the first three weeks of the semester. You will receive an email from Virginia Tech University - Information Technology and Engineering - DreamSpark Premium <noreply@e-academy.com> with Subject: "An account has been created for you".  Follow the instructions in the email to register your account and create a password. You will be automatically signed in once registration is completed.

Faculty, staff or administrators who need access to the software for an acceptable use should request access from the Director of Information Technology.

How do I download the software?

1. Go to the DreamSpark Premium Login Page.
2. Login using yourpid@vt.edu email address as your username and the password you selected when your account was created.
3. Click "Home" at the top of the screen. Polular downloads will be shown on the screen, but you can also search for specific software using the "Product Search" at the top of the screen.
4. Once an item is selected for download you will be asked to download and install the Microsoft Secure Download Manager (SDM). You need to do this to access the software. SDM will only run on a Windows operating system or Windows virtual machine.
5. Once the SDM is installed, download and run the .sdx file. Running the .sdx will open the SDM and enable you to download the software.
6. Once the software is downloaded, "Launch" the software and follow the instructions. We recommend that you download .iso files and immediately burn the software onto CD as there is a limit to the number of times you can download each application.

How do I change my password?

1. Go to the DreamSpark Premium Login Page and click on "Sign In".
2. Click "Your Account" at the top of the page.
3. Click "Change Password" and follow the on-screen instructions.

How do I reset my password?

1. Go to the DreamSpark Premium Login Page and click on "Sign In".
2. Under "Registered User Sign-In", click "Forgot your password?"
3. Type in your username (yourpid@vt.edu) and click "Submit".

Where do I go for help?

Go to the DreamSpark Premium Login Page and click on "Help" or visit SWAT.