MS .NET 3.5 vs 4 (Win7/64 - MWP2010)

[Daledoc1]

Hello:

I don't wish to hijack the OP's thread: http://forum.firetrust.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=7453.

So, kindly indulge my starting a new one that picks up on the MS .NET topic.
I know nothing about programming & software development, so please be gentle.

I am running MWP2010 1.0.19 on both computers (OEM Win7/64 DT and OEM Win7/32 LT, both fully patched) even though, as best as I can tell I *ONLY* have the MS .NET Framework 4 Client installed.
Since these are both Win7 systems, it was my understanding that the older versions of .NET are not needed.

As best I can tell, I have no performance issues with MWP on either platform (except the odd issue trying to use sounds other than pre-installed Windows default wav files - http://forum.firetrust.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=7314). So, I don't understand why I need to separately install 3.5 SP1, when it is not "needed" per se for Win7.

I recently needed to restore the OS on the otherwise totally stable DT to the factory image from the recovery partition b/c of an unrelated problem that cost me > a month of lost time and effort.
And I believe in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Hence, I am VERY reluctant to install software that is not needed or not compatible with my OS.
And the KB articles and blogposts about this on the net are over my head.

So,

1) Can someone please explain how/why I see so many posts relating to the "need" to have BOTH 3.5 SP1 *and* 4 installed, in order for MWP2010 to work properly?
2) What is involved with installing (and, if need be, uninstalling) other versions of .NET on top of the existing .NET 4 Client?
3) Could it create a risk for corruption, performance or other stability issues?

Thanks very much, as always,

daledoc1

[anniebrion]

ATM MWP does not use anything from .net v4.

Unlike XP, windows 7 does not seem to show all the older versions of .net that are installed in programs & features

• The .NET Framework versions 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0 were designed to be installed on Windows XP and earlier versions of Windows, but they were not integrated into the operating system.
• Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 install .NET Framework version 3.0 (and version 2.0 SP2, which provides support for versions 3.0 and 3.5).
• The .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is installed as part of the Windows 7 operating system.
• The .NET Framework 4 is not installed as part of the Windows operating system, but it can be installed separately on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and later versions of Windows.

[Daledoc1]

Hi, Anniebrion:

Thanks for replying so quickly.

OK, so, I don't really understand what it means -- technically speaking -- when you say that MWP2010 doesn't use 4.

That said, if I understand you correctly, .NET 3.5 is already "installed" on both my computers, since it is integrated into the Win7 OS.
And, .NET 4 CLIENT is also installed, but it is "separate" from the OS, which is why I see it listed under CP > Programs.

All those posts advising other users (running XP and Vista) about installing 3.5 SP1 only apply to them, b/c they may not already have it.

So, if understand you correctly, all of this means I don't need to do or install anything, when it comes to .NET Framework and MWP, right?

Thank you very much!

daledoc1

[anniebrion]

I did not do anything with .net on my W7x86-64 system prior to installing MWP 2010

MWP 2010 is compiled with .net 3.5 libraries and not the v4 ones.