Member Avatar for tayspen

how would i do this i need to do it other wise u have to havesomthing (i forget what is on your comp in order for them to worK)

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by DARREN HANSON

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Quick answer: yes — you can ship a C# app with an installer that makes the runtime available on the target machine, or you can avoid the requirement by publishing a self‑contained build. As originally noted the target needs the .NET runtime; pointed toward Visual Studio publishing (ClickOnce), which works for some scenarios but has limitations for machine‑wide installs and advanced setup needs.

Two practical paths to consider. For classic .NET Framework apps, build a real installer that checks for and installs the framework first (a bootstrapper/bundle). For production-grade, WiX Burn creates an MSI/EXE bundle that chains the framework installer and your MSI/EXE; scriptable builders like Inno Setup or NSIS are easier for small projects and can run the framework installer when needed. For modern .NET (Core / .NET 5+), publish a self‑contained single‑file app so no framework install is required on the client (smaller ops and fewer support headaches). See Microsoft guidance on single‑file publishing and deployment best practices and WiX/installer docs for bundling. (Single-file publish, WiX Burn bundles, deployment guide for .NET Framework).

Concrete checklist and commands to get started:

  • Pick the runtime target (.NET Framework vs modern .NET).

  • Test on a clean VM (catch missing prereqs).

  • If self‑contained: publish for the runtime ID you need. Example:

    dotnet publish -c Release -r win-x64 -p:PublishSingleFile=true --self-contained true

    (see single‑file publish docs).

  • If bundling .NET Framework, include the offline redistributable and invoke it silently from your bootstrapper:

    ndp48-x86-x64-allos-enu.exe /q /norestart /ChainingPackage MyAppInstaller

    (Microsoft documents silent /ChainingPackage options). Also detect installed framework via the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full (check the Release value). (How to determine installed .NET versions, deploy guide examples, Inno Setup scripting reference).

Final tips: sign your installer, handle x86/x64/ARM targets, use a bootstrapper for silent installs in enterprise rollouts, and always validate behavior on clean images before distribution.

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Member Avatar for Cain

Please be more specific. how do would I do "X"? or Which is better "Y" or "Z"

Do you want to use the Vise installer? and do a windows based install? are you "installing"
on Unix based clients? is a batch or shell script okay? how new are you to programming?
is this a project for school? etc.. etc..

Tell folks what you would like to achieve as an end result and the answer is more likely
to be tailored to your needs.

Member Avatar for tayspen

I am fairly new this is what I want to be able to do...ok so inorder for C# apps to run on another comp it says that you have to have the .net framework installed. i want to make an installer that will install my app and the .net framework. is this possible if so how?

Member Avatar for Cain

I personally dont have the foggiest on this one. But now that the problem
is better defined I would say that your odds of a soloution are much higher.

I would say that the .net framework should have been installed on an initial
baseline workstation and then deployed when the rest on the network were ghosted.

Aside from using a batch script to redeploy preconfigured files or using
winzip to quickly unpack what you need or some combination thereof, I
am out of suggestions.

happy hunting
and good luck.

Member Avatar for DARREN HANSON

Go to solution properties select the publish tab then prerequisites and check the box for .net...
Hope this helps......

Member Avatar for jbennet

Go to solution properties select the publish tab then prerequisites and check the box for .net...
Hope this helps......

Thread is 4+ years old!

Member Avatar for DARREN HANSON

Thread is 4+ years old![/QUOTE

oh well i didnt notice
i have only been on MSDN before and the Modarators there always answer questions if no one else has so they dont get that old lol

hopefully my answer will be usefull to someone!!

thanks anyway....:)

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