install Visual studio 2008 express on windows 7 64bit ultimate

install Visual studio 2008 express on windows 7 64 bit ultimate ... the first attempt is a disaster. installation threw up heaps errors.

luckily this link helped

http://devlicio.us/blogs/casey/archive/2009/01/28/install-visual-studio-2008-on-windows-7-crashes-out-loading-installation-components.aspx

visual studio 2008 express and visual studio 2005 express

there is no download for VS 2005 express any more. no download link on MS website, only 2010. but VS2008 express is on some third party site.
VS 2008 is for .net 3 and 2
VS 2005 for .net 2

so VS 2008 is just fine