Installed the trial/demo VHD from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=67f93dcb-ada8-4db5-a47b-df17e14b2c74. Though the web page says this is good for 30 days from installation, we got it running and the VM itself is telling us that it's good until 2/2011. Well and fine. However, the installation of SPS itself apparently expired at the end of April of this year and seems pretty much non-functional. Any suggestions as to what's needed to get this thing up and running, or should I just bite the bullet and grab the regular trial downloads and build a server myself? Thanks. ddk"They call me the man in a fog."

That article is about 2008! <g>. Actually, the VHD that's up there now was supposedly put there on 5/3/10, but the SPS installation says it expired on 04/30/10, so it was already (apparently) toasted before it was put up there! I think you're right about the advantage of building one. We were hoping to save time, but the time required to download, copy, install this thing, and then to determine that it doesn't even work is probably already more than it would have taken to just build one from the keel up. ddk"They call me the man in a fog."

Ooops! Sorry, this is actually a MOSS 2007 forum so I glossed over the fact you were building SPS. Yep, when you build your own you can have it just the way you want it. Here's a great step by step blog on build your own SPS 2010: http://blogs.architectingconnectedsystems.com/blogs/cjg/archive/2009/11/28/SharePoint-2010-_2D00_-Step-by-Step-Install.aspx LMK if you get stuck along the way!Tom Molskow SharePoint Architect - If I solved the issue please propose my reply as the answer - Thanks!

Tom; Thanks for the input. Fact is that we already have a SP2010 setup, the new client is still on 2k7, so that's what we need to get familiar with."They call me the man in a fog."

OK, I guess I need more Mountain Dew, here is a link to a free trial MOSS VHD: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=67f93dcb-ada8-4db5-a47b-df17e14b2c74&displaylang=en And here is a link to my blog that will step you through making your own MOSS VHD: http://sharepointgypsy.blogspot.com/2010/08/checklist-for-virtual-sharepoint-2007.html I hope that helps!Tom Molskow SharePoint Architect - If I solved the issue please propose my reply as the answer - Thanks!