.Net Framework 4.0 on Windows XP

Question

I would like to confirm whether .Net Framework 4.0 (v4.0.30319) is supported on Windows XP Professional SP2? On many Microsoft download links, I found that .Net Framework 4.0 is only supported on Windows XP SP3 and above. But while I gave it a try on a fresh Windows XP SP2 VM it only asked for 2 things.

1. Windows Installer 3.1
2. Windows Imaging Components.

And the installation went smooth and completed. Now how can I be sure whether .Net Framework 4.0 is actually going to work on any Windows XP versions?

Answer 1

Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft. The current .NET versions are also not supported on Windows XP, though as you mention .NET 4 on SP3 is. There are reasons that Microsoft did not extend support to pre-SP3, so assume that some things just do not work.

I hate to quote marketing material, but in this case it is dead on. From the first link:

There will be no more security updates or technical support for the Windows XP operating system. It is very important that customers and partners migrate to a modern operating system such as Windows 8.1.

I would not expect anything more than significant security issues to be fixed in .NET 4. Most bug fixes and of course all enhancements will happen in the latest version.

It may well work, but continuing to run XP

• You may encounter .NET framework errors that will never be addressed
• You leave yourself open to security vulnerabilities, both in .NET running on XP and in XP itself.