I recently purchased the Microsoft Press self-paced training kit for MCTS Exam 70-680 "Configuring Windows 7". On page xxiv the text indicates "The exercises in this training kit require a minimum of two client computers or virtual machines running Windows 7 Enterprise or Ultimate editions." The text subsequently indicates "You can obtain an evaluation version of Windows 7 Enterprise from the Microsoft Download Center at the following address: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/default.aspx. " This apparently is in error. When I attempt to download an evaluation version of Windows 7 Enterprise from the Microsoft Download Center I receive the following response, "Thank you for your interest in Windows 7! The evaluation version you are attempting to download is for IT Professionals only. Click here to learn more about the Windows 7 consumer experience." It appears that only Technet subscribers are permitted to download an evaluation version of Windows 7 Enterprise edition from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/default.aspx. My financial circumstances (unemployed and out of benefits) make it extremely difficult to justify the additional expense of a relatively expensive Technet subscription in order to download an evaluation version of Windows 7 Enterprise edition required by the course. The website also indicates that Windows 7 Enterprise edition is not available commercially, which really puts the student between a rock and a hard place. It seems totally inappropriate (not to mention unfair) to publish a self-study course that requires a particular version of a product, promise free access to the subject product in the course text, give directions on how to obtain the required product and then deny access to the product. Could I please get some assistance obtaining an evaluation version of Windows 7 Enterprise, without having to lay out funds for a Technet subscription, so that I may complete the 70-680 course? ...and then perhaps get a job and eventually be able to afford a Technet subscription... Thanks in advance for any help.

I was able to download the Enterprise 90 day trial back in 2009 using only the same Technet ID (free, no subscription) that I use to log in to this forum. I may have had to misrepresent myself as an IT professional. (I'm an engineer, but not in IT.) I doubt that I'm alone in that. All that I can suggest is that you try again, and inform the robot that you're an IT pro, intending to use the demo version for software testing or some such. There will be no verification of that, and Microsoft probably won't sic their attorneys on you. (There must be a million downloaders who aren't IT professionals.) Or do you have too many scruples? Your other alternative: find install media for Ultimate. You may run that for 30 days without activation. You can reset that as many as 3 times (slmgr -rearm), for a total of up to 120 days of use without activation.

See: Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day Trial Carey Frisch

I have already "seen" Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day Trial, thank you. That is where http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/default.aspx from my initial post leads. Arriving there, I am presented with the link you sited and am subsequently denied access to the resource. Your answer appears too terse to be helpful and does not address the inconsistency between the Microsoft "official" course's advice on how to obtain an eval copy of the required training resource and the referenced Technet website's refusal to permit a legitimate "professional", in as much as a student of the profession may be considered in training to be a "professional", access to the resource. Or was that your point...only for "professionals"? Nor is your answer verbose enough to provide the assistance requested. However, Bobkn's solution appears to be working, although very slow despite a high speed internet connection, as noted by numerous posters on this and other forums. Bottom line: Don't pick "Student" as your occupation in the drop-down list on the download verification page. "IT Manager" appears to be working.

Thanks Bobkn. Right on the money! Bottom line: Don't pick "Student" as your occupation in the drop-down list on the download verification page. "IT Manager" appears to be working.