New .NET Framework Repair Tool Released -- Visual Studio Magazine

New .NET Framework Repair Tool Released

At present, the tool only repairs issues with .NET Framework 4.0.

By Kurt Mackie
06/21/2012

Repairing a .NET Framework installation can be tricky. That's why Microsoft recently offered an automated tool to make it easier.

Version 1.0 of its .NET Framework Repair Tool came out late last week.

This version of the tool only addresses .NET Framework 4.0, but Microsoft plans to extend it to cover other framework releases in the future. It checks for common setup or update problems with .NET Framework 4.0 and attempts to repair them, according to a Microsoft support article. The wizard-based tool, currently only available in English, can be obtained from Microsoft's download center; it's also available via Windows Update or Windows Server Update Services.

The repair tool works on the client side of Windows all of the way back to Windows XP Service Pack 3. On the server side, it works with installations of Windows Server all of the way back to Windows Server 2003 SP2.

Microsoft's newer Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 solutions, still at the test stage, are designed to work with .NET Framework 4.5. Microsoft released a "consumer preview"-stage beta of .NET Framework 4.5 in late February.

Microsoft recommends not removing older versions of the .NET Framework since they ensure that older applications will stay compatible. Updating the .NET Framework ensures that newer software development tools will work well and that applications will install properly on systems. In general, the .NET Framework consists of a common language runtime enabling code execution, as well as class libraries that support managed and unmanaged code, according to Microsoft's .NET Framework overview.

Applications created on an earlier .NET version will still work if a system is upgraded to .NET Framework 4.0, according to an MSDN migration guide. However, Microsoft also provides a list of potential .NET Framework 4.0 migration issues.

Reasons to move to the .NET 4.0 Framework include better support for Office development, as well as the ability to tap into a bundle of new improvements.

Earlier this month, Microsoft released reliability update 1 for .NET Framework 4.0. This patch contains eight hotfixes that address known issues, and requires a system restart to take effect.

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.

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