Hi Kristen:
Thank you for your detailed reply.
And now, I have a related question.

Several years ago, I purchased Visual C++ 5.0 and Viusal Basic 5.0.
IThey wer running under Windows 95 at the time.
Do you know if there is a current "full-blown" edition of VC++ or VBasic that
runs under WIndopws Vista Home Premium Edition or if these older versions
will. I do not know hopw complete the "express" version are relative to the
version you buy (or bought at that time). Any ideas ?

"Kristan M. Kenney [MVP]" wrote:

> Hello DaleB,
>
> It sounds like the development environments mentioned in the book may be
> Microsoft's Visual Studio Express Editions, which are free of charge.
>
> To download the Visual Studio Express Editions, visit the MSDN Visual Studio
> Express Download Center at
> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/express/aa975050.aspx.
>
> You will see several Visual Studio Express editions listed on the page:
>
> - Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition
> - Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition
> - Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition
> - Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
> - Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
> - Microsoft Visual J# 2005 Express Edition
>
> Click on the drop-down below "Visual Basic" and select the language you wish
> to use and then click on Download. Save the installation program to your hard
> drive, and do the same for Visual C++.
>
> To run the installation programs, click on Start, then click on your user
> name in the Start menu, and then double click on the "Downloads" folder.
> Double click on the first installation program, and if user account control
> prompts you for consent, provide the appropriate credentials or provide
> consent to run the installation. Repeat this for each edition of Visual
> Studio Express that you have chosen to download.
>
> Once you have installed the Express Editions, download and install Service
> Pack 1 for the Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions that you have installed.
> For quick reference, here are the links for Visual Basic and Visual C++ SP1
> Updates:
>
> Visual Basic 2005 Express SP1:
> http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...7-x86-intl.exe
>
> Visual C++ Express SP1:
> http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...8-x86-intl.exe
>
> You will also want to install the SP1 Update for Windows Vista to ensure
> maximum compatibility and a seamless development experience. I have included
> the link for that update here as well (please note that these links are all
> available on the Visual Studio Express download center on the MSDN web site):
>
> Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Update for Windows Vista:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...e-4acc0aace5b6
>
> In regards to your question about the Java Runtime Environment, I have not
> encountered any issues with Java 6.0 on Windows Vista 32-bit or 64-bit. You
> can download the Java Runtime Environment from
> http://java.com/java/download/index.jsp.
>
> I hope that this helps, have a great day
>
> --
> Regards,
> Kristan M. Kenney
> Microsoft MVP [Windows - Shell/User]
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
>
> "DaleB" wrote:
>
> > Hi:
> > I have a new HP laptop running Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit OS.
> > Microsoft has programming languages / compilers / IDEs for Visual C++ 5 and
> > 6, and Visual Basic 5 and 6. These IDE's (Integrated Development
> > Environments) are usually included on a CDs in the back of most popular books
> > on the topic.
> > Deitel's latest VB book does not contain any disk, but they say that the
> > software
> > can be downloaded from Microsoft's web site.
> >
> > 1) Can you direct me to links for these IDE's ?
> > 2) Will the IDE's / languages work under Vista Home Premium Edition ?
> > 3) Are there any problems running Java under Vista Home Premium Edition ?
> >
> > Thank you
> > DaleB