.NET Framework & Windows XP SP3

[Earth Bound Misfit]

For those of you who may have trouble with .Net--Here's what I've done recently and the information may be of some use to you---with one caveat--If you decide to try this, PLEASE MAKE A FULL BACKUP OF ALL YOUR NEEDED STUFF AND/OR FULL OS!!!!

I recently re-installed XP SP3 and then proceeded to be bombarded with Windoze updates for ver 1.1, 1.1 SP1, 2, 2 SP1, 3.5.1 etc, etc, etc, AND the Security patches for each, which I dutifully downloaded & installed thru WU...must've been at least 25 or more instances of .Net in my Windoze Update history and my HDD, most of it just laying there all warm n cozy, taking up space.

I have only come across 3 programs IIRC that require a particular ver of .Net and in each case, the particular MS.NET version required was specifically mentioned as a prerequisite for installing it. The two I have installed require .Net 2.0 and one that I don't recall required 3.5.1 Family BLAH BLAH SP BLAH BLAH etc. One program is
FileHippo's Update Checker and the other is nLite Windows Installation Customizer.

I stumbled across this post @ Bleepinputer' http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic371950.html/page__pid__2084099#entry2084099

It's safe to delete any version of MS.NET that is installed.
NET Framework is not required on every system. In fact, it is needed only on systems which run a program which calls for/utilizes some version of NET, based on the way that the program was developed.
-snip
If you want to remove all versions, then install only one or none...I suggest using the NET Framework Cleanup Tool. http://cid-27e6a35d1a492af7.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Blog_Tools/dotnetfx_cleanup_tool.zip

If NET is not installed on the system...there are no security updates to be installed for it. Just as there are security updates for the main body of XP, there are also critical security updates for key components (such as IE, WMP, NET Framework, etc.).

I decided to give it a shot. After backing everything up, I ran the tool which ran surprisingly quickly & flawlessly, rebooted and checked WU. It offered me two as "optional" ver 1.1 & 3.5.1 IIRC...which I said no thanks, and checked the little "hide this update" box. I had to repeat this process (check updates, NOT run the tool again) until it finally offered me 2.0 which I dl'd and installed. To make a long story short, I now have only 4 instances of .Net on my machine:

Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0: x86 (KB829019)
Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 2.0 (KB928365)
Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1 (KB110806) (x86)
Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1 Security Update for Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (KB953300)

Note: This won't work if you need to use Microsoft Updates for Office & such--It forces you to D/L 3.5.1 Family BLAH BLAH...
(You know, the one EVERYONE had problems with & the one that has like a BAZILLION patches for) Windows updates allows you to hide it, albeit not very easily.

Hope this helps someone.

[hobbit709]

1. Backup, backup, backup is what I live by.

I don't use MS Orifice. WordPerfect for me. I keep absolutely no data on C: drive. Every computer I have(4 and a laptop) is backed up with Acronis True Image so in case of crash or whatever I can be up and running in 10 minutes.