Net Framework...which version should i install?

[ricardouk]

Hi everyone

Im doing a fresh Windows XP SP3 instalation on my pc and i was wondering if theres a way of installing net framework without having to install 1.0, 1.1, 2.2, 3, 3.5 etc etc... will the latest version cover all the older ones?

while googling i came across this forum topic:
http://www.msfn.org/board/silent-net-maker-synthesized-20100118-w2k-xp-2k3-x86-t127790.html

where they have links to net framework offline installers, if all i need is the latest version can anyone tell me the link to the latest one?

Thanks

[Ai Haibara]

Each .NET version is basically independent of the others, so you'll generally need to install whatever version your program(s) requires. Unless you're using a variety of programs that require all the versions of .NET, however, you shouldn't have to install all of them. Just install the version(s) your programs need - or alternatively, you can also try programs that don't require .NET.

I can't remember whether or not Vista and Win7 include versions of .NET already installed, though, and whether the most recent development versions are backward-compatible with any of the previous versions (I think I heard that one of them currently requires you to uninstall all previous versions of .NET... it might simply not play well with the other versions, however.)

[ricardouk]

yes, i try to avoid those programs and i dont mind installing net framework, i read once once that 3.5 SP1 covers all previous version except for version 1, but will version 1.1 cover version 1 or will i need to install version 1 and 1.1? Installing1.1 , 2.0 and 3.5 has worked so far but if all i need is the latest version that would be nice has i only have a half meg net connection and it takes a afternoon just to download those 3 files

[cd090580]

Install the last one 3.5 SP1, it will automatically install version 2, 3 and 3.5
Most software use one of these versions.

Use the online setup, it will only download the needed files. About 75 MB on a fresh install of windows.

[Lawbringer]

Unless you're setting up a Web Server machine that will be running web applications written in ASP.NET, you don't have to install 1.1

3.5 is not really a separate framework (like 2.0 was), it's more like a giant service pack (or DLC, if you will) for 2.0