Benefits of the Microsoft .NET Framework

The information that was previously contained in this article is now published in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

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.

For more information about the Microsoft Update Web site, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

There are currently five released versions of the .NET Framework:

• The .NET Framework 3.5
• The .NET Framework 3.0
  
  Service Pack 1 (SP1) is the latest service pack.
• The .NET Framework 2.0
  
  Service Pack 1 (SP1) is the latest service pack.
• The .NET Framework 1.1
  Service Pack 1 (SP1) is the latest service pack.
• The .NET Framework 1.0
  Service Pack 3 (SP3) is the latest service pack.

You may have several versions of the .NET Framework installed on your computer. Each version of the .NET Framework can co-exist with the other versions on the computer.

Note Most of the time, you can use the latest version of the .NET Framework to run applications that were created by using earlier versions of the .NET Framework.

Note Before you install a release version of the .NET Framework, you must remove any beta versions on which the release version is based. If you do not do this, the installation of the release version of the .NET Framework will fail. You can uninstall beta versions of the .NET Framework by using the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. This is a good first step to try if the installation of the .NET Framework fails from the Microsoft Update Web site and you need to troubleshoot the issue.

The following list includes some of the benefits of having the .NET Framework installed:

• Easier installation of commercial applications: Many commercial applications from Microsoft and from third parties rely on the .NET Framework to support their core functionality. If you have the .NET Framework installed, these applications are easier to install. Some applications that depend on the .NET Framework for support include the following:

  • Microsoft Encarta 2005
  • Microsoft Windows Live OneCare
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • HP Image Zone
  • Streamload
  • PayPal
  • Grouper
• Easier updates: After the .NET Framework is installed, it is updated automatically by the Microsoft Update service. If you receive Automatic Updates through Control Panel, any versions of the .NET Framework that are installed on the computer will always be up to date with the latest service packs.

The following benefits are available only in the .NET Framework 2.0:

• Easier application usage with No-Touch Deployment: With the .NET Framework 2.0, you can run an application from a URL. This feature provides the richness of a locally installed application and the convenience of starting your application from a URL. This feature is specifically useful in organizations to provide richer applications without the burden of deployment.
• Preparation of Windows XP users for Windows Vista: Microsoft WinFX is the programming infrastructure of Microsoft Windows Vista. WinFX is built on top of the .NET Framework 2.0 and enables new rich application experiences on Windows Vista. WinFX will also be available to Windows XP users. The .NET Framework 2.0 provides an easier update experience to WinFX for Windows XP users.

For more information about the Microsoft .NET Framework, visit the following MSDN Web site: To download redistributable packages of all versions of the .NET Framework and related service packs for distribution with your own applications, visit the following MSDN Web site: For more information about installed versions of the .NET Framework and related service packs on your computer, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.