1) "Create a free account" for Microsoft outlook / hotmail
if you don't already have one.  You will need this to register
your copy of Visual Studio.
https://outlook.live.com/owa/

2) Download Visual Studio Community from
https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/

3) How to customize Visual Studio settings:

Reset settings:
Tools -> Import and Export Settings -> Reset All Settings

Change fonts:
Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Fonts and Colors
-> adust C++ syntax colours such as Number, keywords, etc.

Disable autocompletion:
Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> C/C++ -> uncheck Auto list members

Remove line numbers on side:
Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> C/C++ -> uncheck Line numbers

Remove side brackets:
Edit -> Outlining -> Stop Outlining

Misc settings

Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> C/C++ 
	-> uncheck Automatic brace completion

View -> Toolbars -> uncheck Text Editor

View -> Toolbars -> uncheck Standard

Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> uncheck Show structure guide lines

Tools -> Options -> Text Editor -> C/C++ -> uncheck Navigation bar

right click solution explorer top bar -> auto hide

right click right bars -> close

how to save settings:

Tools->Import and Export Settings -> Export selected environment settings
-> double click box beside Options to a change it to a checkmark