jjacksn
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Distributing .NET Framework with Install (All in one .exe file)
Is there a way to distribute the .NET framework (or at least a an .exe that will download it) and the installer created by Visual Studio all in one program?
Zipping the setup.exe bootstrapper, .ini and msi files is too confusing for some people. If there isn't an easy way to do this, what is a good solution for those so that people can download one .exe and everything installs?
I'm thinking I could just write a C++ app to check if .NET 1.1 is installed, go get it and install it if not, supressing the restart, go get my program and then install my program, and then restart.
Are there any good websites that talk about this?
Zipping the setup.exe bootstrapper, .ini and msi files is too confusing for some people. If there isn't an easy way to do this, what is a good solution for those so that people can download one .exe and everything installs?
I'm thinking I could just write a C++ app to check if .NET 1.1 is installed, go get it and install it if not, supressing the restart, go get my program and then install my program, and then restart.
Are there any good websites that talk about this?
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Sorry, can you confirm what you downloaded, the .Net Framework, of the Installshield?
ASKER
I found the solution to both of those questions. However, I am having the following problem
In the installShield program, I select to download the framework from a website. (our company website). During the install, when the dotnetfx.exe file is downloaded, the windows installer starts, and asks if you want to install .NET 1.1. Upon clicking yes, the installer almost immediatley returns to the installer for my .NET application, which then installs. However, the .NET framework never gets installed. Have you ever had this problem? I am not specifying any command line arguemnts for the dotnetfx.exe file.
In the installShield program, I select to download the framework from a website. (our company website). During the install, when the dotnetfx.exe file is downloaded, the windows installer starts, and asks if you want to install .NET 1.1. Upon clicking yes, the installer almost immediatley returns to the installer for my .NET application, which then installs. However, the .NET framework never gets installed. Have you ever had this problem? I am not specifying any command line arguemnts for the dotnetfx.exe file.
Sorry, haven't had this problem. I always include the framework in my build, and this has always installed ok.
ASKER
townsma, no problem.
Do you deploy over the web? that is our big problem, we don't want to have to force our users to download the extra 24 megs if they already have 1.1 installed.
Do you deploy over the web? that is our big problem, we don't want to have to force our users to download the extra 24 megs if they already have 1.1 installed.
Deploying over the web is something we will be moving into early next year. When we get to this stage I will certainly pass on any tips we learn.
If the users are on a local network and If you use active directory, then you can create a group policy and add .Net framework (got to extract the exe to create an MSI file) and the application to the policy to be installed on the machines that you want to. Thats the way I distribute my windows apps.
ASKER
1. Exclude files that it is automatically includeing when I bulid the install.
2. Install the .NET Framework with the installer.
Could you assist me?