MIT

Applications

The creators of a software package called D5 Render expressed interest in having their program evaluated by the MIT Architecture group.  Their official website is http://www.d5render.com, where you can find download links and features.  The authors report that it is fully compatible with Rhino and Revit, as well as other design applications.

Please let STOA know if you would like more information.

Operating Systems

Mac OS X

MIT does not distribute macOS licenses to students. Apple distributes its operating system completely FREE of charge through the ‘AppStore’ (found on your Macintosh in the Applications folder). 

Windows

MIT provides licenses to students for Microsoft Windows 11 Enterprise. We ask that you use Windows 10 64-bit if possible.

To register for a license and download the installer:

  1. Make sure your computer is ready for installation immediately (all necessary backups have been made and you have enough spare time). The installer will work for only a few days after downloading.  If it expires or you delete it, you will have only one chance to download it again.
  2. Make sure you have all the drivers or additional software that the computer requires.  Windows has become better at identifying what it requires, but in some cases you will still need to provide third-party drivers.  This is especially important for network drivers since there will be no way to download new drivers without network access.
  3. Visit https://msca.mit.edu/cgi-bin/windows for download (web certificates required).  Get the ISO file unless you know for sure that you need something else.
  4. Transfer the downloaded image to the USB, and boot from the USB to install Windows.

If you are connected to the MIT network either on campus or on the MIT VPN, Windows will connect to Microsoft to activate itself automatically, when first installed and every 6 months thereafter.  This activation is necessary for Windows to continue functioning.  Upon graduation, you’ll receive an email about how to convert your Windows license to a permanent license.

If you have trouble with Windows activation, please follow IS&T’s guidelines here.