Installing 32 bit .net frameworks on x64 Vista

[msant7]

Hi,
I have a clean Vista x64 with SP2 directly from MSDN, no updates installed. I'm installing .net 3.5 sp1 32 bit, which inturn selects (2.0 sp2, 3.0 sp2, and 3.0). When trying to install .net 2.0 sp2, I get "could not be installed, please use windows update to manually install this update on your system' Strange thing is, it's already on my system. Looking at the .net2 sp2 check script, it looks at the version of mscorwks.dll, on my system it's 2.0.50727.312. The script checks if it’s lrdd than 2.0.50727.3052 then it needs installed. So it runs “NetFX2.0-KB948609-v6001-x86” and IA fails. When I run “NetFX2.0-KB948609-v6001-x86” by hand, I get the following: “The update does not apply to your system”.

So... I install 2.0 sp2 by hand and IA moves on to .net 3, and I get the same failed results.

What can be done to get IA9 to work?

Thanks,
Mike

[neillans]

Hi Mike,

First things first ... you can not (and should not!) try to install x86 builds of .NET Framework on a x64 Windows.

[msant7]

Hi Andy,
Thanks for the quick reply! I don't think that's correct. I can run a 32bit .net app on a 64 bit machine using the 32 bit .net framework. On my vista x64 dev box, I have 32 bit and 64 bit .net framework installed and working. dotnetfx35.exe from Microsoft installs both 32 and 64 bit runtimes on my x64 vista test box.
Thanks,
Mike

[neillans]

Hi Mike,

Crikey, I was always told it wasnt possible. I'll throw this into the investigation queue and see what happens

[DevilSun]

Just because you can run a 32-bit .NET application on a 64-bit OS has nothing to do with installing the native 32-bit only .NET Framework. It has to do with the fact that the 64-bit install of the .NET Framework puts both on for you, correctly, using SxS (side-by-side) and correct registry entries and sections for 32 vs 64 bit.

If you try downloading and installing the .NET Framework (32-bit only version) onto a 64-bit machine it will say negative as far as I know. I've never heard of or needed to install 32-bit .NET Framework onto any of my 64-bit systems...as I've always installed the correct version built for 64-bit which installs both. This is why on a 64-bit development system you can switch from x86/x64 or AnyCpu in the Visual Studio environment and target one or the other, or both natively.

[neillans]

Hi DevilSun,

That's what I always was told (and believed too). I'm actually planning on test it in a little while just to be sure Will post back the results

[msant7]

Will the InstallAware 64bit .net installs install the 32bit versions also? We have to compile many of our applications x86, thus we require the 32bit framework. I'm anxiously awaiting your results Andy.
Thanks,
Mike

[neillans]

Our 64-bit runtime is simply the Microsoft runtime wrapped and compressed further. It contains no additional logic, or installers. As such, the standard 64-bit framework will install 32-bit application support as has already been said using SxS.

[msant7]

Thanks everyone for your help. I tested the 64bit InstallAware installers and they do in fact install the 32bit version also.
Thanks,
Mike