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Mailbag: Should I re-install the versions of the .NET Framework in a specific order?

MSDN Blogs > Aaron Stebner's WebLog > Mailbag: Should I re-install the versions of the .NET Framework in a specific order?

Mailbag: Should I re-install the versions of the .NET Framework in a specific order?

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22 Dec 2010 5:01 PM
  • Comments 18

Question:

I used the instructions and the cleanup tool in this blog post to remove all versions of the .NET Framework from my computer, and now I want to re-install them.  Do I need to re-install them in any specific order?

Answer:

In general, the versions of the .NET Framework allow you to install in any order you choose.  However, I recommend installing in reverse order from newest to oldest, like this:

  1. .NET Framework 4
  2. .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (this will install the .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 and 3.0 SP2 behind the scenes so you do not have to install them separately)
  3. .NET Framework 1.1 (if you have any programs installed that need it, this blog post can help you decide whether or not you need it)

Most programs do not specifically require the .NET Framework 1.0 so I didn't list it above.  If you do need the .NET Framework 1.0, you will have to install it before installing the .NET Framework 4 because .NET Framework 4 setup blocks future installation attempts for the .NET Framework 1.0.  If you need the .NET Framework 1.0, I recommend installing in this order:

  1. .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (this will install the .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 and 3.0 SP2 behind the scenes so you do not have to install them separately)
  2. .NET Framework 1.1 (if you have any programs installed that need it, this blog post can help you decide whether or not you need it)
  3. .NET Framework 1.0 (if you have any programs installed that need it, this blog post can help you decide whether or not you need it)
  4. .NET Framework 4

Even though it is a little counter-intuitive, there are a couple of reasons that I recommend installing in reverse order:

  • To help avoid some possible setup bugs in older versions of the .NET Framework – there are a couple of setup bugs (like this and this) in older versions of the .NET Framework that are fixed in service packs and later versions.  Installing a later version of the .NET Framework first will update some files that are shared by all versions of the .NET Framework, and that will allow you to avoid these bugs when installing older versions of the .NET Framework.
  • To minimize the number of separate downloads and installs – if you install the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 first, it will automatically install the .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 and 3.0 SP2 for you, so you don’t need to install them separately.  Also, if you install older versions of the .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0 before installing the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, the 3.5 SP1 installer will automatically uninstall them as a part of its install process.  That means you will just end up wasting time if you install the .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0 before installing the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1.

<update date="1/31/2011"> Added a separate set of installation instructions for cases where the .NET Framework 1.0 is required because .NET Framework 4 setup prevents the .NET Framework 1.0 from being installed after it. </update>

 

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Comments
  • 30 Jan 2011 10:34 AM

    .NET 1.0 doesnt intall if you have 4.0 installed. You must first install 1.0 then 4.0

  • 31 Jan 2011 1:33 PM

    Hi Kinokijuf - I'm sorry about that.  I originally thought that this order of install was blocked during the .NET Framework 4 beta but would be unblocked in the final release of the .NET Framework 4, but it looks like that isn't the case.  I'll update this blog post with this information.

  • mazal
    13 Aug 2011 6:00 PM

    mistake code  643 .cannot solve it.

  • 15 Aug 2011 4:51 PM

    Hi Mazal - Error code 643 is a generic error that means that setup failed, but it doesn't give any useful ideas about the cuase of the error.  Usually, I have to look at verbose setup log files to figure out the root cause for this type of error.  What exact product are you trying to install when you see this error?

  • Lucy Prentice
    28 Dec 2011 6:01 PM

    I've tryd this and many other things to get .NET framework 4 to work but it dont i want to play the sims medieval but it wont untill i install this help!!!!!!!!!!1

  • 29 Dec 2011 8:36 AM

    Hi Lucy Prentice - Are you seeing errors when trying to install the .NET Framework 4, or when trying to use a program that requires it?  If it is an install problem, can you please use the tool described at blogs.msdn.com/.../6458047.aspx to collect all of your .NET Framework setup log files, upload the file named %temp%\vslogs.cab to a file server (such as http://skydrive.live.com) and then reply back here and post a link that I can use to download your log files and take a closer look?

  • candee
    7 Sep 2012 10:41 AM

    I keep receiving "required system software not installed.  Microsoft.NET framework version 2.0 is required to continue" help!

  • 8 Sep 2012 3:23 PM

    Hi Candee - What version of Windows do you have on your computer, and what program are you trying to run when you see this error message?

    If you see this error message when you boot your computer, then the information in the blog post at blogs.msdn.com/.../10288684.aspx might help you resolve it.

  • Derek Smith
    16 Jan 2013 6:43 AM

    Hi Aaron, can I just say a huge thank you for your blog. I have been trying to install Visual Studio .NET 2002 with SP1 (to support a very old application) without success, and received very little help from the installation log files as to what the problem was.  Following your blog notes, I temporarily removed .NET 4, which then allowed me to install the above product which requires .NET Framework 1.0.

  • Shoryuken
    1 Apr 2013 11:55 PM

    When I run dotnetfx35setup (online .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 setup) I get setup menu and it gives me "Setup error" during installation.

    When I run dotnetfx35 (offline.NET Framework 3.5 SP1 setup) it extracts files somewhere and then nothing happens.

  • 2 Apr 2013 6:43 AM

    Hi Shoryuken - Can you please use the tool described at blogs.msdn.com/.../6458047.aspx to collect all of your setup log files, upload the file named %temp%\vslogs.cab that this tool will create to a file server (such as http://skydrive.live.com), and then reply back here and provide a link that I can use to download your log files and take a closer look?

  • Shoryuken
    2 Apr 2013 10:18 AM

    Here - depositfiles.com/.../z0634c2lu

  • 5 Apr 2013 7:03 AM

    Hi Shoryuken - I don't see any errors in your .NET Framework log files.  I don't recognize the Windows version number listed in your log files though, so that might have something to do with this issue.  What exact version of Windows do you have on your computer?

    It might help to try to use the tools and steps listed at blogs.msdn.com/.../8108332.aspx to fully remove all versions of the .NET Framework, then try again to install the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1.

  • Shoryuken
    5 Apr 2013 4:07 PM

    Nah, I tried everything. Nothing works. I guess I'll just have to re-install windows which was last resort for me.

  • Tudor
    10 May 2013 11:11 AM

    I installed 4.0 and it worked but when i tryed to install .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 it says that i dont have NF 3.1 installed.... What should i do???

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