Windows Features: disable .NET Framework 3.5

[Torah Lishmah]

Howdy Folks!

I have just recently installed the "stand alone" version of Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 and I have a simple question regarding that. Can I safely turn off the .NET Framework 3.5 in "Turn on/off Windows features?" To navigate to the Windows Features" service simply go here: Start > Control Panel > Turn Windows features on or off [link at far left of page]. Thank you for any input you may have.

 

[marsmimar]

Welcome to Seven Forums Torah.

According to Microsoft's "Additional Information" contained in the below link, .NET Framework 4.5 runs side-by-side with the .NET Framework 3.5 and earlier versions, but performs an in-place update for the .NET Framework 4. So from this I would say do not turn off 3.5 or things may not run correctly. The current .NET Framework version (from what I understand) builds upon each previous version. מזל טוב

Download Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 from Official Microsoft Download Center

 

[Alejandro85]

No, generally speaking.

.NET framework 3.5 provides a different runtime that the one that comes with 4.5 (or 4), and programs will use one version or the other, but they're not interchangeable.
Programs compiled against .NET 2, 3 or 3.5 will run with framework 3.5, and programs compiled with 4 or 4.5 will run with framework 4.5, so you need both to ensure that every program work correctly.

You may safely remove one of them if you know that no program you have requires it, but otherwise the safe move is to leave both installed.

 

[Torah Lishmah]

Thank you, gentlemen. You have confirmed what I had already figured. Sometimes we need a second opinion though. Thank you very much!

 

[marsmimar]

Happy to help. Thanks for posting back.