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Instructions for Downloading and Installing Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition

By David Bolton, About.com

4 of 10

Preparing to Download

Before download check list
You're almost ready to download and install. This is one of the slower bits particularly if you have selected MSDN and/or the SDK. You'll probably have time to prepare a meal never mind a coffee break!

Check you have enough disk space free. As a general rule, Windows works best with at least 10-20% of the disk free and the occasional defragment. If you don't defrag now and then and if you delete and copy or create new files fairly frequently (such as this download) then files will be spread far and wide across your hard disk making it longer (and slower) to retrieve them. It's also reckoned to wear out disks quicker but that's difficult to quantify. Think of it as like a service for your car to keep it running well.

Now click the Install button.

On the next page : Watching the Download

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