.NET Framework Setup Forum FAQs

Question

This thread covers some of the most common FAQs in .NET Framework setup forum.

For Visual Studio setup issues, please visit Visual Studio Setup and Installation forum and refer to Visual Studio Setup Forum FAQs

1. .NET Framework:
   
   1.1 What are the benefits of .NET Framework?
   
   1.2 Where is .NET Framework support lifecycle information?
   
   1.3 Where to find .NET Framework Deployment Guide?
   
   1.4 How to remove .NET Framework?
   
   1.5 How to verify .NET Framework installation?
   
   1.6 What is .NET Framework 3.5?
   
   1.7 What are the problems fixed in .NET 2.0/3.0 sp1?
   
   1.8 Where to get .NET Framework Troubleshooting Guide?
   
   1.9 Where to get .NET Framework setup log files?
   
   1.10 What can I do if other .NET Framework setup troubleshooting steps do not help?
   
   
2. General setup troubleshooting:
   
   2.1 How to resolve Common "Windows Installer" Problems?
   
   2.2 What are other useful setup related and troubleshooting tools?

Answer 1

1.1 What are the benefits of .NET Framework?  [go to catalog]

The Microsoft .NET Framework is a Microsoft Windows component that is available to Windows users through various distribution channels.

These distribution channels include the Microsoft Update Web site and the Microsoft Download Center. This component is also installed on some new computers.

This article reviews the benefits of having the .NET Framework installed on the computer:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829019

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1.2 Where is .NET Framework support lifecycle information?  [go to catalog]

.NET Framework 1.0:
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=1248
.NET Framework 1.1:
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=1249
.NET Framework 2.0:
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=8291
.NET Framework 3.0:
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=12292

For more information, check: Support Lifecycle Index

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1.3 Where to find .NET Framework Deployment Guide?  [go to catalog]

The following thread includes .NET Framework 1.0/1.1/2.0/3.0/3.5 deployment guide:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/netfxsetup/thread/dbb5f8c4-919a-4587-a39c-16733311db38/

.NET Framework Version 3.5 Deployment Guide for Application Developers
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc160716.aspx
.NET Framework Version 3.5 Administrator Deployment Guide
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc160717.aspx
.NET Framework Version 3.0 Deployment Guide
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa480173.aspx
.NET Framework Version 2.0 Deployment Guide
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa480237.aspx
.NET Framework Version 1.1 Deployment Guide
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms994339.aspx
.NET Framework Version 1.0 Deployment Guide
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms994336.aspx

NOTE:
.NET Framework Version 1.0 is part of the Tablet/Media Center Windows OS.
.NET Framework version 1.1 is part of the Windows2003 Server OS.
.NET Frameworks Version 2.0 and Version 3.0 are part of Windows Vista OS.

For further reading and additional ideas for deploying the .NET Framework, see http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/articles/574618.aspx

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1.4 How to remove .NET Framework?  [go to catalog]

If you cannot remove .NET Framework in Add/Remove Program, it’s recommended to use .NET Framework cleanup tool.
Update July,2009: Updated versions of .NET Framework cleanup and verification tools with Windows 7 support: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2009/07/27/9850215.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2007/12/04/6659905.aspx(old)

 

Information Update (August 28, 2008): .NET Framework cleanup tool link: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=121918The .NET Framework cleanup tool now supports removing the following products:

.NET Framework - All Versions
.NET Framework - All Versions (Tablet PC and Media Center)
.NET Framework - All Versions (Windows Server 2003)
.NET Framework - All Versions (Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008)
.NET Framework 1.0
.NET Framework 1.1
.NET Framework 2.0
.NET Framework 3.0
.NET Framework 3.5

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1.5 How to verify .NET Framework installation? [go to catalog]

Update July,2009: Updated versions of .NET Framework cleanup and verification tools with Windows 7 support: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2009/07/27/9850215.aspx

.NET Framework Setup Verification Tool User's Guide
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/pages/8999004.aspx

Information Update (October 13, 2008): The .NET Framework setup verification tool is available for download at the following locations:

http://astebner.sts.winisp.net/Tools/netfx_setupverifier_new.zip
http://cid-27e6a35d1a492af7.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Blog|_Tools/netfx|_setupverifier|_new.zip

The .NET Framework setup verification tool supports removing the following products:

.NET Framework 1.0
.NET Framework 1.1
.NET Framework 2.0
.NET Framework 2.0 SP1
.NET Framework 2.0 SP2
.NET Framework 3.0
.NET Framework 3.0 SP1
.NET Framework 3.0 SP2
.NET Framework 3.5
.NET Framework 3.5 SP1

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1.6  What is .NET Framework 3.5?  [go to catalog]

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 contains many new features building incrementally upon .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0, and includes .NET Framework 2.0 service pack 1 and .NET Framework 3.0 service pack 1.

.NET Framework 3.5 builds incrementally on the new features added in .NET Framework 3.0. For example, feature sets in Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows CardSpace.

In addition, .NET Framework 3.5 contains a number of new features in several technology areas which have been added as new assemblies to avoid breaking changes. They include the following:

Deep integration of Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and data awareness. This new feature will let you write codes written in LINQ-enabled languages to filter, enumerate, and create projections of several types of SQL data, collections, XML, and DataSets by using the same syntax.
ASP.NET AJAX lets you create more efficient, more interactive and highly-personalized Web experiences that work across all the most popular browsers.
New Web protocol support for building WCF services including AJAX, JSON, REST, POX, RSS, ATOM, and several new WS-* standards.
Full tooling support in Visual Studio 2008 for WF, WCF, and WPF, including the new workflow-enabled services technology.
New classes in .NET Framework 3.5 base class library (BCL) that address many common customer requests.
More resources follow:

MSDN link:
.NET Framework 3.5 Architecture
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb822049.aspx

A good blog explanation:
.NET Framework 3.5
http://www.danielmoth.com/Blog/2007/06/net-framework-35.html

And a forum discussion:
http://forums.msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/netfxsetup/thread/8da540d4-4615-4842-9f1d-5827bef061ef/

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1.7 What are the problems fixed in .NET 2.0/3.0 sp1?  [go to catalog]

They are listed in the following document:

Problems that are fixed in the .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1
Problems that are fixed in the .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 1

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1.8  Where to get .NET Framework Troubleshooting Guide?  [go to catalog]

Aaron Stebner has a “Unified .NET Framework Troubleshooting Guide”:
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/articles/454956.aspx

And .NET Framework 3.5 specific:
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/tags/.NET+Framework+3.5+setup+and+deployment/default.aspx

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1.9 Where to get .NET Framework setup log files?  [go to catalog]

The following articles are talking about what and where the setup log files are:

.NET Framework 3.5 setup log files
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2007/07/31/4156781.aspx
Update (April 30, 2008): .NET Framework 2.0 SP1, .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 log files, see: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2008/04/30/8445569.aspx

.NET Framework 3.0 setup log files
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2006/10/30/net-framework-3-0-setup-log-files.aspx

.NET Framework v2.0 log files
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/articles/447012.aspx

.NET Framework v1.1 log files
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/articles/447004.aspx

.NET Framework v1.0 log files
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/articles/447001.aspx

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1.10 What can I do if other .NET Framework setup troubleshooting steps do not help? [go to catalog]

It is really helpful to get your system back into a known state and then re-installing the .NET Framework and any hotfixes or service packs that apply to it:

http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2008/03/07/8108332.aspx

Here is also a KB article: When you try to install an update for the .NET Framework 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, or 3.5, you may receive Windows Update error code "0x643" or Windows Installer error code
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=923100

Answer 2

2.1 How to resolve Common "Windows Installer" Problems?  [go to catalog]

The link below will help you to resolve common Windows Installer problems:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555175

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2.2 What are other useful setup related and troubleshooting tools?  [go to catalog]

They are listed below:

• msiinv.exe :
  http://www.huydao.net/setup/msiinv.zip
  
  This tool (which stands for MSI Inventory) wraps some of the publicly documented MSI APIs to provide information about the state of all Windows Installer products, features and components that Windows Installer thinks are installed on your computer.
  
  For more information, see: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/07/01/using-msiinv-to-gather-information-about-what-is-installed-on-a-computer.aspx
  
  
• Windows Installer Cleanup Utility:
  http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/9/d/e9d80355-7ab4-45b8-80e8-983a48d5e1bd/msicuu2.exe
  
  With the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, you can remove a program's Windows Installer configuration information. You may want to remove the Windows Installer configuration information for your program if you experience installation (Setup) problems.
  
  For more information, see:
  Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
  
  

• .NET Framework cleanup tool:
  http://astebner.sts.winisp.net/Tools/dotnetfx_cleanup_tool.zip
  
  It is used to clean up .NET Framework.
  
  For more information, see: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2007/12/04/6659905.aspx
  
  

• Collect.exe:
  http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/attachment/8483493.ashx (new version)
  http://astebner.sts.winisp.net/Tools/Collect.zip (old version)
  
  It’s used to collect the log information.
  
  It is a Win32 console application, so you can extract it from the zip file and double-click on it to run it.  It will create a file named %temp%\vslogs.cab on your system after it has gathered all of the log files.
  
  Note - after the tool finishes running, you can get to your %temp% folder to find the file vslogs.cab by clicking on the Start menu, choosing Run, typing %temp% and clicking OK.
  (While running the collect tool, it may take some time to collect log files on your machine, please be patient.)
  
  For more information, see:
  http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2008/05/09/visual-studio-and-net-log-collection-utility.aspx (new version)http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2007/08/01/4172276.aspx (old version)
  
  May 20, 2009, Update: A new collect tool is introduced at http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2008/05/09/visual-studio-and-net-log-collection-utility.aspx
  It can also deal with Visual Studio 2010 Beta 1 and .NET Framework 4.0 Beta 1 setup logs.

• As for other tools there are more on:
  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspx
  
  Such as Process Explorer, Process Monitor, Register Monitor, Autoruns are very useful.
  See:
  Sysinternals Process Utilities: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/cb56073f-62a3-4ed8-9dd6-40c84cb9e2f5.aspx
  Sysinternals File and Disk Utilities: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb545046.aspx