Including dotnetfx.exe in deployment project

[kyledunn]

Upon first pass it appears as thought the dotnet framework is no longer embedded and automatically deployed with VS.NET microsoft installer deployment projects as it was in Release Candidate 1. I was hoping not to have the user have to run the dotnetfx.exe redistributable separately before they could install the .NET application I have written.

When I compile a deployment project I get the warning: "This setup does not contain the .NET Framework which must be installed on the target machine by running dotnetfx.exe before this setup will install. You can find dotnetfx.exe on the Visual Studio .NET 'Windows Components Update' media. Dotnetfx can be redistributed with your setup."

Does any know a way to have the dotnetfx.exe automatically run when a new .NET application is being installed? Any ideas on other options?

Kyle

 

[chiph]

No ideas, sorry. The good news is that Microsoft intends to ship the .NET framework with every product and service pack they can, so in the future you will have some assurance (at least) that it'll already be on the user's machine. Until then, you'll have to instruct the users on how to install it.

If you're shipping on CDROM, you could create an AutoRun application (using VC++ 6) that would prompt them to run "MyApp Prerequisites". Sort of like the SQL2000 CD that prompts Windows 95 users to install some prerequisites.

Chip H.

 

[kyledunn]

Here are a couple of links that helped address the problem:

.NET Framework Deployment Guide:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnnetdep/html/dotnetframedepguid.asp

and in special for VS.NET and .msm:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnnetdep/html/vsredistdeploy.asp

the solution seems to be a 'Bootstrapper' hack.....

Kyle

 

[chiph]

It does sound like a little bit of a hack. But it'll work!

Chip H.