Installing C# Express Edition After VS2003/VS2005

I waited till the last minute to install C# Express, but I wanted to point out that the download page is potentially confusing. Yes, it says beta versions must be uninstalled, but immediately following it says that any previous versions of SQL Server 2005, VS2005 need to be uninstalled. The good news is that it will install without issue, but I wanted to post this as a recommendation to change the text.

Uninstall beta versions

Before installing, you must uninstall any previous versions of SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005, and the .NET Framework 2.0 (this includes Tech Preview, Beta, or CTP versions).

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Installing C# Express Edition After VS2003/VS2005

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It doesn't matter. They both run side-by-side. I've been running both Express and Pro since Express came out.
lex23456
Correct, any retail installations are fine to keep on your system.
tyaramis
Hmm yeah, I have the full version of VS2005, can I use that instead of C# Express
ShawnWilsnach
I have both the full VS and both express versions (web and windows) of 2005 on my machine because some of the people I work with aren't fortunate enough to have the full studio yet, and there is no problem running them side-by-side. The only thing you have to uninstall is old betas (framework, vs, etc) not the retail versions.
Rodrigo B. de Oliveira
Thanks for making this topic - that needed to be cleared up for a lot of people inculding myself.
Svitlana
If you have the distributed version of .net 2.0 you do not need to uninstall it to install C# express.
mkb2006
I was wondering about that myself. I currently have a complete install of VS2005, since I have been using C++ for development.

Will I need to totally get rid of VS in order to use C# Express, or will my current install of C# be just as good, or what I guess I'm a little fuzzy about the differences between the "free" version (C# Express) and the one that comes with VS. Shouldn't the one you pay for have all the same features
Philippe Cand
JR Nip wrote:
And game Studio Express will only run with C# express. It cannot integrate with vs 2005 pro. The professional version that will come out next year will use the full version of VS.

Game Studio Express will only work as an extension to C# Express, however, you can reference the XNA Framework assemblies in VS2005 Pro for Windows development. You will have to use C# Express/GSE for 360 development. Please see Mitch Walker's post in:

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx PostID=674288&SiteID=1
GethWho
Not just the versions labelled "beta", anything that's not the full retail package should be uninstalled, as was said above.
nglow
It's pretty much automatic for me to uninstall any previous beta versions of anything. I guess once you're been doing it long enough you get used to it.
Ix-Xerri
Okay, so what should come first, Express or Pro
If it destroys my pro setup I will stay away from it...
Tammt
Just wanted to confirm that I'm running 05 Express and 05 Pro side by side without problems. I'm fairly certain that the uninstallation only refers to beta versions, not RTM.
Annihil8
Ah ok. Thanks for clearing that up. So as far as XNA is concerned, will the retail version work just as well as the Express version All the documentation on this site seems to recommend Express.
Freedon Nadd
And game Studio Express will only run with C# express. It cannot integrate with vs 2005 pro. The professional version that will come out next year will use the full version of VS.
Installing C# Express Edition After VS2003/VS2005