question

Hi @CU-0071,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!
From here, you can know the relationship between Windows 10 IoT Enterprise and Windows 10.

So, in terms of Framework, you can think of them both as Win 10.

Windows 10 May 2019 Update (all editions) includes the .NET Framework 4.8 as an OS component, and it is installed by default. See here about Framework:

NET Framework 4.x versions are in-place updates to earlier versions. That means the following:
You can only have one version of the .NET Framework 4.x installed on your machine.
You cannot install an earlier version of the .NET Framework on your machine if a later version is already installed.
4.x versions of the .NET Framework can be used to run applications built for the .NET Framework 4.0 through that version. For example, .NET Framework 4.7 can be used to run applications built for the .NET Framework 4.0 through 4.7. The latest version (the .NET Framework 4.8) can be used to run applications built with all versions of the .NET Framework starting with 4.0.

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Hello Seeya

Thanks for your response. It seems that you are suggesting that we upgrade to the .NET 4.8 and install the associated updates however the following are our scenario:

a. We are working on a number of separate legacy applications that use .NET 4.5, 4.5.1 and 4.5.2. These for some reason do not have all the necessary updates.

b. Upgrading to .NET 4.8 might break the applications - this is a key consideration.

c. I went to the Update Catalogue and searched for "Windows 10 and .Net 4.5" and I can see Windows 10 updates for .NET 3.5, 4.7 and 4.8 but nothing for .NET 4.5. No .NET 4.5.x exist for Windows 10. Why is this the case? Is it because .NET 3.5 is still supported till 2029 and .NET 4.5.x are not?

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Kind regards
CU

Hi @CU-0071,

Here is a link for downloading the right .net framework: https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet-framework
From this, you can see which versions are supported and which ones are not.
You cannot install an earlier version of the .NET Framework on your machine if a later version is already installed.
In addition, if you have installed the version after 4.5.2 like 4.8, you should uninstall it and then install 4.5.2.

Best regards,
Seeya

If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it.

Hi Seeya

Thanks but the answers provided are not exactly what we need. In summary, imagine the following scenario:

1. We have Application 1 with .NET 4.5 installed (Note: We do not want any .NET upgrade as it might break our code).
   

2. We have Application 2 with .NET 4.5.1 installed (Note: We do not want any .NET upgrade as it might break our code).
   

3. We have Application 3 with .NET 4.5.2 installed (Note: We do not want any .NET upgrade as it might break our code).

   
   

We are now looking for security patches (e.g. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/cumulative-update-for-windows-10-version-1511-and-windows-server-2016-technical-preview-4-march-8-2016-218702d8-9e76-c0b3-bb2e-9dd5a541aa39) for Application 1, Application 2 and Application 3 - given that Microsoft do release monthly security patches.

Hope that the above will make things clearer. Any help in finding these security patches will be appreciated.

Best regards
CU

Hi CU,

From a long-term perspective, why do you want the system to accommodate your application? Isn't it the application that accommodates the system? The version of .NET will only get higher and higher. You should handle it from the term of application.
See: How to: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/migration-guide/

Best regards,
Seeya

Hi Seeya

The constraint is that one is dealing with legacy applications and updating the .NET framework will result in breaking changes, which is too costly hence a .NET framework update is not an option.

Do Microsoft have an archive location for the security updates (for Windows 10 and .NET 4.5.x)?

Kind regards
CU

You can find information about security and quality roll-up updates for the.net framework as well as security-only updates in the .net blog. For example net-framework-february-2022-security-and-quality-rollup

Hello @RLWA32-6355

Thanks but I already know that before contacting Microsoft. Yes, there are .NET 4.5.x updates but they only apply to Windows 7, Windows 8 etc but not Windows 10.

The following is a summary of the security updates that exist:

OS | .NET | Update Exists ?
Win 7 | 4.5.x | Yes
Win 8 | 4.5.x | Yes
Win 10 | 4.5.x | No

Win 10 | 3.5 | Yes

From the above, even .NET 3.5 has Win 10 updates but .NET 4.5.x has none (possibly because .NET 3.5 is supported till 2029). What we are after are .NET 4.5. security updates for Win 10.

Regards
CU

Hi @RLWA32-6355

Thanks for your response. As per your comment quote "An up-to-date Windows 10 system will have .net framework 4.8 installed. I'll guess that's the reason that updates for lower versions of the framework are not offered for Windows 10", if that is the case, why then do we have Win 10 update for .NET 3.5?

Many thanks
CU