Question

.NET 4.0 / Visual Studio 2010 is installed on my machine.
When I execute the current installer (GitExtensions224SetupComplete.msi) it tells me that I need to install .NET 3.5.
Can one use GitExtensions with .NET 4.0 or do you have to install .NET 3.5?
If yes, how do I force the installer to use .NET 4.0?
Is there a general approach to this, which also works with other programs and installers?

Thanks

Answer 1

As far as I can see from GitExtensions224SetupComplete.msi, it has an explicit launch condition Installed OR NETFRAMEWORK35. That’s why it doesn’t let you proceed without .NET 3.5 installed.

This can mean 3 things:

1. .NET 3.5 is required for the application and/or the installation to run. In this case you have no choice apart from installing .NET 3.5
2. .NET 3.5 prerequisite is a left over. In this case you can try to cheat 🙂

DON’T DO THIS ON CRITICAL ENV – IT’S JUST FOR FUN

The property NETFRAMEWORK35 is set in case the registry value Install equals 1 under registry key SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.5. Add this fake registry key with the only value Install and set it to 1. Then run the installer. In case it succeeds – then it’s a left over. Otherwise, there’s a real dependency to .NET 3.5 and you have to live with this.

Eventually, the easiest and safest way to go is to install .NET 3.5, that’s for sure.