This step-by-step article discusses how to determine whether a client system meets the hardware and software requirements to install the .NET Framework. This information becomes more important when you install the .NET Framework or Microsoft Visual Studio .NET in silent mode.

Verify the operating system and hardware requirements

You can install the .NET Framework on almost any computer that runs one of the following Microsoft operating systems:

• Windows 2000 Professional
• Windows 2000 Server
• Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Windows XP Home Edition
• Windows XP Professional
• Windows NT 4.0
• Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
• Windows 98

The following are the minimum system requirements for the .NET Framework:

• Processor: Intel Pentium class, 90 megahertz (MHz) or greater
• RAM: 32 megabytes (MB) (96 MB or greater recommended)
• Hard disk space required for installation: 160 MB
• Hard disk space required: 70 MB
• Video: 800x600, 256 colors

To verify whether your computer meet these requirements, use one of the following methods:

• Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
  
  - or -
• Use the Winmsd.exe tool: click Start, click Run, type winmsd.exe in the Open box, and then press ENTER. The System Information window opens.

Verify that Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later is installed

You must have Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later installed on a client for the .NET Framework to operate. To verify that Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later is installed, follow these steps:

1. On the Internet Explorer Help menu, click About.
2. In the About Internet Explorer dialog box, verify that the version number is later than 5.01, and then click OK.

To download the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Verify that Microsoft Windows Installer 2.0 is installed

You must have Microsoft Windows Installer 2.0 or later installed on a client for the .NET Framework to operate. This component is installed as part of the core operating system on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 systems. To verify that Microsoft Windows Installer 2.0 or later is installed on earlier operating systems, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type msiexec /? in the Open box, and then press ENTER (or click OK).
2. In the Windows Installer dialog box, verify that the version number is later than 2.0, and then click OK.

To download the latest version of Microsoft Windows Installer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Verify that Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.6 is installed

When you plan to install .NET Framework applications that access databases, you must have MDAC 2.6 or later installed on the system. To verify that MDAC 2.6 or later is installed, follow these steps:

1. Locate the Msdadc.dll file on the client computer. By default, this file is stored in the \Program Files\Common Files\System\Ole DB\ folder.
2. Right-click Msdadc.dll, and then click Properties.
3. On the Version tab, verify that the file version is later than 2.6, and then click OK.

To download the latest version of MDAC, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Verify that Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is installed

When you plan to install .NET Framework applications that access system management information, you must install Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). This component is installed as part of the core operating system on Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Millennium Edition. To verify that WMI is installed, confirm that you have the %SystemRoot%\System32\WBEM\ folder.
To download the latest version of the WMI, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Verify that Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 is installed

Before you install the .NET Framework on a Windows 2000-based computer, make sure that you have installed Windows 2000 Service Pack 2. To determine whether Service Pack 2 is installed, follow these steps:

1. Right-click Start, and then click Explore.
2. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
3. The System Properties dialog box displays the service pack level of the system on the General tab.

To download service packs for Windows 2000, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

For additional information about this topic for the server, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web sites: