I'm confused about .NET updates

[grits]

There were 2 issued in Feb. updates for .NET 4 but there had been a .NET 4.5.1 a few months ago. Why was there a higher number issued before the more current ones or isn't 4.5.1 an upgrade to 4?
I don't even know what they mean or if I really need them but did check my list of installed updates before I came here to post & see I have 21 of the .NET4 all installed on 11/14/13.

Thanks.

 

[UsernameIssues]

There were 2 issued in Feb. updates for .NET 4 but there had been a .NET 4.5.1 a few months ago. Why was there a higher number issued before the more current ones or isn't 4.5.1 an upgrade to 4?
I don't even know what they mean or if I really need them but did check my list of installed updates before I came here to post & see I have 21 of the .NET4 all installed on 11/14/13.

Thanks.

Were these updates offered to you?
Or did you just read about them?
If they were offered to you, then one of those "updates" was probably the installer for .NET 4.5.1 and the other was a patch for .NET 4.5.1. The first one would be "updating" your system from .NET 4 to .NET 4.5.1. If you opted not to install either of those 4.5.1 updates, then you still have .NET 4 - thus, you were offered two updates to .NET 4 in Feb.

The installation .NET 4.5.1 (or .NET 4.5) should remove each of the past updates for .NET 4 and remove*/replace* .NET 4 as well.

*"remove/replace" in the sense that you should no longer see .NET 4 listed in various places. As mentioned in the quote below, installing .NET 4.5.1 (or .NET 4.5) will actually update the existing install. It is note really uninstalling the old version and installing a new version like happens with other programs.

You can get .NET 4.5.1 from here:
Download Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1 (Web Installer) for Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 SP2 Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows Server 2012 from Official Microsoft Download Center

This version of the .NET Framework runs side-by-side with the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 and earlier versions, but performs an in-place update for the .NET Framework 4 and the .NET Framework 4.5.

If you will be installing .NET 4.5.1 on more than one computer, then you might want the stand alone installer from here (32bit & 64bit in one file): Download Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1 (Offline Installer) for Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 SP2 Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows Server 2012 from Official Microsoft Download Center


> I don't even know what they mean or if I really need them...
I don't know if you need them either. I installed .NET 4.5 and later .NET 4.5.1 - but I don't think that I have any apps that require the changes between .NET 4 and the newer versions.

 

[NoelDP]

.NET 4.5 is indeed an upgrade to 4 - and normally, I would expect (assuming that you did indeed install 4.5) there to be no v4 updates shown.
However, the 4.5 upgrade is an optional one at present - and is not installed automatically. It may simply be that it's not yet been installed.

Install all available updates - does 4.5 suddenly reappear in the listing?

 

[grits]

I'll try to keep this short.
Yes they were offered.
Never did see anything for .NET4.5, just the 4.5.1 which was offered in Nov.,2013 but I hid due to (I guess) my misunderstanding of it. (@Noel, you & I posted about it back then.)
I just checked (again) my .NET4 updates & now all 23 of them are dated 3/9/14 after I did the two .NET4 that were offered on Feb.11.2014. Weird how they don't keep the original date like other updates do?

Now my question is: should I do the 4.5.1 without ever having/doing 4.5?
Hope this makes sense without going into too much detail, otherwise just ask.

 

[NoN]

What i did back with .NET Framework 4.5 version, i uninstalled the version .Net 4.0 from the "Programs & Features".

Did the same with .Net 4.5 when decided to update to .Net Framework 4.5.1.

This manner have permit to uninstall all outdated updates for a fresh install of each .Net Framework version.

In service.msc will still remain the .Net 4.0 branch even if its .NET 4.5.1.

If you feel troubleshooting your install, you can check with this tool:
Microsoft .NET Framework repair tool
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2698555/en-us

 

[UsernameIssues]

~~~
Now my question is: should I do the 4.5.1 without ever having/doing 4.5?
~~~

Yes. Install .NET 4.5.1. You do not need .NET 4.5 installed as a prerequisite.

Installing .NET 4.5.1 will automatically uninstall .NET 4 and all of the updates for .NET 4.