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RSS Aggregator > Download > .NET framework

About the .NET framework

This RSS Aggregator is developed using the Microsoft .NET tools. These tools generate programs that require the Microsoft .NET framework to run. There are many benefits to this approach, not least:

• You need to install the framework just once in order to run all .NET-developed programs. In the past you had to load the same components over and over again.
• In the past, it was easily possible for the installation of a new program to interfere with other programs in your system. The .NET framework eliminates the chief cause of this problem
• Previously, it was very difficult to install programs on PCs that had been 'locked down' by the IT department. Programs that use the .NET framework - including the RSS Aggregator - can easily be installed even if your PC is locked down (provided you already have the .NET framework installed).

Finding out if you need to install or update the .NET framework

Microsoft has been packaging the .NET framework with its operating systems for quite a while now. It is also kept up to date by the automated update routines built into the operating system. So the chances are you already have the .NET framework installed and up-to-date. Use this procedure to see if you have the framework installed and, if you do, which version:

• Click 'Start' on your Windows desktop, select 'Control Panel', and then double-click the 'Add or Remove Programs' icon.
• Scroll through the list of applications to see 'Microsoft .NET Framework' listed. If it is installed the application title will also include the version number.

The Aggregator needs version 1.1 of the .NET framework. Even if you have version 2.0, you will still need to install version 1.1 to run the Aggregator.

Installing the .NET framework via Windows Update

If you need to install or update the .NET framework, Microsoft recommends you install it via Windows Update at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. That method works OK, but it's not straightforward and you will probably be prompted to download other updates at the same time (this caused .NET framework installation to fail for one of our beta testers). If you choose this route we suggest you install the .NET framework on its own without any other updates.

Installing the .NET framework manually

You can download an installation routine from the Microsoft web site. This seems a simpler method to us. Microsoft is notorious for regularly re-arranging its sites, so we cannot reliably link directly to the download page. Instead, we suggest you follow this procedure to download the .NET framework to your PC:

1. Go to the Microsoft site at www.microsoft.com
2. Click the 'Downloads' link (currently under the "Product Resources" heading at the left hand side of the page)
3. Enter ".NET framework redistributable" in the 'search' box and click 'Go' to start your search
4. You should see the .NET framework version 1.1 redistributable package towards the top of the list. Click the link to start the download process.
5. Once you have downloaded the install program, run it to install the .NET framework on your PC. Note that you will need to have Administrator access to your PC if you are running Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT.