What do I need for distributing VB5.0 applications?

I own a (legal) copy of Visual Studio 98 Enterprise Edition. I sell a few apps written in VB6.0.

But I also want to sell some apps written in VB 5.0 for various reasons (it all has to do with my clients). I've searched the net for companies still selling VS 97, and only found a few. Now what these companies offer is a "Retail CD" with CD code. I guess this should be thought of as a replacement CD for people already owning VS 97.

The same companies also sell a single user license for VS 97 Enterprise Edition.

Am I correct to understand that all I need is:

- One Microsoft Visual Studio 97 Enterprise Retail CD with Key Code
- One User License for Visual Studio 97 Enterprise

Will that allow me to legally distribute applications written in VB 5.0?

TIA

Microsoft allow you to "downgrade" licences for Visual Studio in order to use VB6 (this may be under specific conditions), and I presume that the same is true for VB5.

This does mean however that you need to have a separate licence for the VB5 in addition to the one you have for VB6.

As implied above, this is just my assumption based on what I know for VB6, it would be best to check with Microsoft themselves in order to prevent any legal issues. Here is a good place to start: www.microsoft.com/licensing

Both the Retail CD and the single user license are under $100 and I don't mind at all just buying those if I can be sure that's all I need to legally distribute VB 5 apps.

So if I bought those, am I all set then?

Possibly! Unfortunately the only way to be sure is to check with Microsoft.

If you provide the links to the retailers, I can look at their wording at perhaps give a clearer view, however it is Microsoft's view that matters.

User Licence for VS 97
VS 97 Retail CD

Oh and another thing. I was reading Miscrosoft's website about the licensing (confused the heck out of me to be honest). The thing that confused me a bit (right before my machine crashed so I can't find the link anymore) was that I think I read that even though I bought an official VS 98 Enterprise Edition (for almost $1000), I still need an extra license for distributing my VB6 apps?

Did I read that correctly, or is that license included in the package?

Ah, they dont say enough at that retailer!! That didn't help I'm afraid :(

I'm pretty sure all you need is the license and CD, but as you have found already that part of the MS site is very confusing, and I couldn't find anything which obviously states the situation. I have found however that "downgrading" to VB6 is no longer possible, but that existing licenses are allowed: http://www.msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic...downgrade.aspx

Ideally you should contact them if you can to verify that the license/CD you have found for sale are valid, they may also be able to provide the CD at a lower cost.


You do not need an extra license to distibute VB6 apps, this is included in the original license.

Ok, thank you very much for your help so far. :thumb: