How-To Geek
How to Easily Install Previous Versions of the .Net Framework in Windows 8
Programs written for previous versions of Windows will not function in Windows 8 unless you have an older version of the .Net Framework installed. You can easily run both the new and older versions of the framework at the same time.
Installing the .Net Framework
Older versions of the .Net Framework have become optional extras in Windows 8, this means that if you want to run older programs you will need to enable them, to get started press the Windows + R keyboard combination then type appwiz.cpl in the run box before hitting enter.
When the Programs and Features section of Control Panel opens, click on the Turn Windows features on or off hyperlink in the left hand side pane.
Now you will need to check the box to install the .Net Framework 3.5.
The files will be downloaded from Windows Update and you will be prompted to reboot upon completion.
That’s all there is to it.
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Comments (3)
Taylor Gibb is a Microsoft MVP and all round geek, he loves everything from Windows 8 to Windows Server 2012 and even C# and PowerShell. You can also follow him on Google+
- Published 07/31/12
If you still use the rare program that still requires .Net 1.1 (I’m looking at you Lord of the Rings Online.), you’ll still have to hunt that down on Microsoft’s site and install it yourself, as it does not come with that package.
Why force users to go to the Programs and Features control panel to begin with? Instead of telling them to type in appwiz.cpl in the Run command prompt, tell them to go directly to optionalfeatures.exe. This reduces the steps by 2 (one is opening the Programs and Features control panel and the other is clicking on the “Turn Windows features on or off” command link in the left sidebar).
This has been a very useful tip. I installed Win 8 RTM a couple of days back and one of the programs refused to install because of no .NET 3.5. I now have .net installed and now for the application (PrimoPDF).