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I've finished my C# application, but I have a little problem:

When I try to run my application in another PC, I need always to Install .NET Framework 4.0.

Is there something to do to make it work without installing the framework from internet?

I tried before InnoSetup for a VB6 application, but I'm not sure if it's going to work for .NET 4.0!

Any ideas?

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    You cannot get rid of .net Framework. If you want you can create a setup for your application and include .net framework setup inside your setup. In this way you can avoid downloading it from internet. But it will increase your setup size. Commented May 22, 2011 at 21:34
  • It's not a problem. You know how ? Commented May 22, 2011 at 21:35
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    Just as a Note.. make sure you don't go to File-New. Right click on your solution and click Add->New Project. This way you are ADDING a setup project to your files and not just creating a new project by itself. Commented Jun 25, 2012 at 15:37

3 Answers 3

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Use Visual Studio Setup project. Setup project can automatically include .NET framework setup in your installation package:

Here is my step-by-step for windows forms application:

  1. Create setup project. You can use Setup Wizard.

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  2. Select project type.

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  3. Select output.

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  4. Hit Finish.

  5. Open setup project properties.

    enter image description here

  6. Chose to include .NET framework.

    enter image description here

  7. Build setup project

  8. Check output

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Note: The Visual Studio Installer projects are no longer pre-packed with Visual Studio. However, in Visual Studio 2013 you can download them by using:

Tools > Extensions and Updates > Online (search) > Visual Studio Installer Projects
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12 Comments

Is it possible to set it up such that when you click Setup.exe that it will automatically detect if the .net 4 framework is installed and install it. Or does it have to be manually done?
Visual Studio 2012 no longer supports these Setup projects. You'll be directed to download InstallShield LE (Limited Edition) instead. It is free, but be aware that you'll need to rebuild your installer if your migrate from VS 2010 to VS 2012.
There is an official microsoft extension which adds this feature to vs 2015 visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/…
Followed everything but got this error: ERROR: To enable 'Download prerequisites from the same location as my application' in the Prerequisites dialog box, you must download file 'DotNetFX461\NDP461-KB3102436-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe' for item 'Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.1 (x86 and x64)' to your local machine. For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=616018.
@nurettin I have found the folder for VS2017 to be C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\ClickOnce Bootstrapper\Packages\DotNetFX471 for .NET 4.7.1 installer
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You need to create installer, which will check if user has required .NET Framework 4.0. You can use WiX to create installer. It's very powerfull and customizable. Also you can use ClickOnce to create installer - it's very simple to use. It will allow you with one click add requirement to install .NET Framework 4.0.

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Include an Setup Project (New Project > Other Project Types > Setup and Deployment > Visual Studio Installer) in your solution. It has options to include the framework installer. Check out this Deployment Guide MSDN post.

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