Question

We have a desktop application run on a few thousand client computers. We want to move from framework 2.0 to 3.5, but are concerned with the impact on clients. I understand that 3.0 and 3.5 are additions to the framework, and that they install service packs to 2.0; what I want to know specifically:

1. When a client upgrades to the latest version (forced upgrade) and they only have framework 2.0 or 3.0, will Windows go and grab 3.5 invisibly in the background?
2. If not, can we make this part of the installer or is it only available via Windows Update? (Edit: We use MSI.)
3. If there is no way to make the process invisible to the user, is there a site that provides step-by-step instructions?
4. If a customer is on a box where they don’t have rights to update the framework, is there anything that can be done to make the app still work correctly?

Answer 1

If you are using MSI installer for your application, it will attempt to install 3.5 for them.

If you are not using MSI, tell them to go here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=333325FD-AE52-4E35-B531-508D977D32A6&displaylang=en

Then download and install.

If they don’t have administrator access, they will need one.