Cleanup Tool for
.NET Framework from Aaron Stebner
Despite being an aficionado of PowerShell, I have never developed a 'feel' for .Net Framework. I simply accept that these building blocks
are always there waiting to respond to my scripts. All I have to do is
install the latest version of .Net Framework. However, the normally
trivial task of installing can be a nightmare if you need to uninstall a
previous version of .Net.
The problem gets really tricky if you have applied an operating service pack
or two in the meantime.
Uninstalling .Net Framework is one of those problems that you never really
believe exists until it happens to you. Fortunately, Paul DeBrino who is a regular contributor to this ezine,
has researched the definitive tool to remove any version of .Net Framework - Aaron Stebner's .NET Framework Cleanup Tool.
I love the whole philosophy behind this tool, which is to get your machine
in state where you can install a new version of .Net Framework.
Understanding this means you are prepared to take the risk that it will
remove shared registry settings, or even files that are used by other
programs. For this reason, you should try a plain normal installation
of the current version of .Net Framework first. Furthermore, given
this warning, even gung-ho Guy would backup the machine before proceeding
with Stebner's cleanup tool. That said, once you install the latest version
those updated files and registry settings should enable programs relying on
.Net Framework to function correctly.
Another mystery - at least to me - is that certain combinations of programs
require you to install multiple versions of .Net Framework. Moreover
this state of affairs is supported by Microsoft. As I hinted earlier,
I regard .Net as a wonderful servant, but it does seem strange that the design
team were allowed to get away with this multiple install ability, given the
problem that uninstalling causes.
Get your copy of
Aaron Stebner's .NET Framework Cleanup Tool
Reader's Comment
I just wanted to let you know of possible problems with the dot net
cleanup tool.
I ran into a problem on one of my customers' laptop. They had gotten a
couple of viruses on their system and asked me to remove them. I cleaned
them all up and had a problem that the dot net 3.1 patch kept on asking
to be installed and would fail. I tried to uninstall the dot net and
couldn't, so I tried the cleanup tool that you talked about. To my delight
it worked! Thanks again for the info...
Well, at least until I tried to run windows update on the system again to
see if any thing else needed to be updated. No luck there! Now the system
was giving a denied access error during the update check. I finally had to
go through and do a update of ACL lists to fix the problem. At least before
the cleanup the windows update would run and tell me that the patches were
there. Go figure! Maybe the cleanup tool is doing something to the ACL's and
maybe there is a fix to stop it.
All's well that ends well.
Thanks
Craig H.
Footnote:
Guy wonders if re-installing the latest .NET Framework would
have cured this problem.
Craig's Reply
Yes, I did, but I still had to fix the ACL's. My email was just a
little warning that problems could happen.
Recommended: Solarwinds' Permissions Analyzer - Free Active Directory Tool
I like the
Permissions Monitor because it enables me to see WHO has permissions
to do WHAT at a glance. When you launch this tool it analyzes a users effective NTFS
permissions for a specific file or folder, and takes into account network share
access, then displays the results in a nifty desktop dashboard!
Think of all the frustration that this free SolarWinds utility saves when you are
troubleshooting authorization problems for user's access to a resource.
Download
SolarWinds' Free Permissions Analyser - Active Directory Tool
Guy Recommends: Tools4ever's UMRA
Tired of writing scripts? The User Management Resource Administrator solution
by Tools4ever offers an alternative to time-consuming manual processes.
It
features 100% auto provisioning, Helpdesk Delegation, Connectors to more than
130 systems/applications, Workflow Management, Self Service and many other
benefits. Click on the link for more information on
UMRA.
WSUS EasyReporter 3.0
I say again, Paul DeBrino is a stalwart at researching nifty
utilities, here is a recent letter that he wrote to me.
Dear Guy,
Whilst working on an interesting WSUS project, it was
discovered that the WSUS 3.0 built-in reports do not disclose
when a specific patch was installed. Instead, they focus more on
what is needed / outstanding.
This provoked me to research an alternative reporting system
for WSUS. I am in the process of installing and testing,
according to the demands of a current project. Therefore, my
feedback is somewhat limited at this time, despite the promising
screenshots offered on the product's site.
Paul De Brino
Features
- WSUS EasyReporter is a tool to view information on the
status of Microsoft Server Update Services
- RSS Feed support
- Easy to view list of computers alphabetically or by WSUS
groups
- Each user can set the groups they want to view
- Easily find out when a patch was installed
- Runs as a web
site on the WSUS server
- Includes access to premium support
forum
- Free product upgrades
Requirements
- Windows 2000/2003
- IIS 5.0/6.0
- .Net Framework 3.5
- Windows Server Update Services 3.0
- Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions 1.0
Download WSUS EasyReporter 3.0 here
http://www.swarmsoft.net/products/WSUS3/default.aspx
See also
Solarwinds Patch Manager WSUS extension.
Will and Guy's Humour
If you have trouble in understanding some of my ramblings, you may find
it illuminating to view some of these
English eccentricities that Will and I have collected.
See more interesting Windows Active Directory articles
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