>I'm reposting this as I can't see that it made it into the forum. If it's a double-post, sorry, maybe a UT person can delete one of them...
>
>What do I really need to download from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/download/ to be able to use with VB, or others from here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/downloads/default.aspx and here: http://www.asp.net/webmatrix/download.aspx?tabindex=4 to get the best environment that would most close match what I would find at a company using VB.NET and ASP.NET? I don't really want to install more than I need, but I do want to get a typical setup. I also found samples here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vb/starterkit/default.aspx but not sure if they will help much. Would like to get a development environment setup with a fairly robust application that I can play with. My thought is that I would likely be coming into a position with the requirement to work on problems or add functionality to an existing application, not creating new little sample apps that track the books I own or something else like that. If that didn't make sense, then just ask
>and I'll try to clarify.
>
>Thanks!

Jay,
I would get all but you say something like minimum.
From first you would get 2 downloads in left top window ("Install Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition","SQL Server Management Studio Express") and probably the sample databases "SQL Server 2005 Samples". W/o Management studio it's hard IMHO so get it, as well as samples.

Web matrix is outdated I think. Instead get Visual Web developer and VB express from second.

These are the basic sets I think. As you move on you could decide what to get next (for ASP MS Expression web would be good but I don't know if it has a free version).
Cetin