Questions re: Susan Bradley's OK to install .NET updates for Windows 7

[PamKoryn]

I've just read Ms. Bradley's latest Patch Watch column where she is indicating to go ahead and patch .NET versions 3 & 4 on Windows 7. I checked all my hidden updates for these 2 .NET versions and I have 4 updates for .NET 3.5.1(KB2478662, 2539635, 2633873, 2656356) and 7 for .NET 4 (KB 2478663, 2539636, 2633870, 2656351, 2468871, 2533523, 2600217). Should they all be installed and if so, does the order of installation matter? I'm confused about how to go about this since it would seem that older updates should probably be installed first. Or is it a case of the latest updates encompass information in the earlier updates? I really have no idea about this and appreciate Ms. Bradley's guidance! Just need some further clarification on the best way to proceed!

[JoeP517]

I'd install them all and just let Windows Update determine the order. The detection mechanism in each patch should determine if it is really needed.

Joe

[Medico]

I have always installed all the updates MS states I needed and had no problems. Although I do believe Susan is very knowledgeable I believe her advice is more geared toward business use.

[handcuff36]

Joe, good morning. In spite of whatever Susan has said, I have refused all .Net downloads. I am passed the programming years and it seems to me that all these .Net apps are for programmers to use. As it is, all my machines are .Net free and they run well, thank you. I have never, so far, gotten a warning that any .Net was missing ! YMMV.

[JoeP517]

Joe, good morning. In spite of whatever Susan has said, I have refused all .Net downloads. I am passed the programming years and it seems to me that all these .Net apps are for programmers to use. As it is, all my machines are .Net free and they run well, thank you. I have never, so far, gotten a warning that any .Net was missing ! YMMV.

The .NET patches are for the .NET runtime used by programs not for .NET developers. If you have Windows & you have .NET 3.5.1 installed as part of the operating system unless you specifically disabled it. If you do not need .NET that is fine but there are many who do need it as it is required by a program they need.

Joe

[Medico]

As a matter of fact, I use FileHippo.com Update Checker to check on updates to installed apps, and it does use one of the various versions of .NET that was not installed on my Win 8 CP installation. In order to use this app I had to allow the installation of this .NET runtime. No problems at all.