I have a question about

[ohheckyeah]

Microsoft .NET Framework. I have version 1.1, 1.1 Hotfix, 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 on my computer. Do I need to keep all of those? They take up a lot of space on the hard drive.

I don't even know what it's for or what it does. :-)

[EvolveOrConvolve]

1. Yes, absolutely keep them

They're harmless, and shouldn't take up that much hard-drive space (unless you're running a dinosaur - even then, hard drive space is really cheap).

More and more programs rely on the .NET Framework API's to operate. If you run Vista, then uninstalling the .NET Framework could cause serious problems with your OS and installed applications.

[ohheckyeah]

2. Thanks for the reply.

I need to find someone who can put a new hard drive in my computer. I upgraded my RAM and the processor is pretty good but I need more hard drive space. I wish I knew how to do it myself but I don't. I also want everything on the existing hard drive put on the new hard drive and that's beyond my skills. I can put in RAM but that's about it.

[Duer 157099]

4. If you can put in RAM, you can put in a new hard drive

This forum will help you and talk you through it. You can do it! You really can!

[ohheckyeah]

8. You really think so?

is there a program that will clone the old drive to transfer to the new drive? If you really think I can do this, I will go ahead and order a new hard drive. I assume bigger IS better???

This is what I have:

I have 2 GB of RAM which is the maximum for the standard configuration.

Dell Dimension DIM3000
Intel(R)
Celeron(R) CPU 2.40GHZ
34.4 GB disc space

This site says the are the available upgrades: http://www.4allmemory.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.memorySearch3&model_id=48832

Recommendations?

[EvolveOrConvolve]

12. Instead of transferring the OS to the new drive

Just install a second drive. Keep your OS and any system utilities or installs (like .NET) on your original drive and install new programs on the second drive. You an also use the second drive for storage of pictures, audio, video, etc.

[ohheckyeah]

14. I already have an external hard drive for storage. n/t

[Duer 157099]

13. Yes, I really think so

If you are comfortable opening up the case and getting your hands inside (as you had to do to install the RAM), then adding a hard drive should not be a problem for you. Well, that's not to say that it *can't* or *won't* be a problem, just that there's a nearly 100% certainty that folks here can talk you though whatever you encounter--as long as you're up for it. If you don't mind learning something new and maybe spending a little bit of time, then by all means, go for it.

Now, as far as the size of a new hard drive goes: the only limit I can think of is that depending on your motherboard and whichever type of controllers you have (ATA vs SATA mostly) you *might* have limitations on the size of drive that you can use.

Just make sure, before you order anything, that you've asked and we've answered enough questions so that you end up with a compatible drive for your system.

First step: verify that the link below is describing your computer, because if so, that provides us here with almost any info we'd need to advise.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3000/en/SM/specs.htm#wp1075776

a couple more useful links; you can look these over to see how simple (or not) it seems to you

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3000/en/SM/parts.htm#wp1043338

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3000/en/SM/index.htm

edit to add more info:

read this thread for some other info

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19251204/19406067.aspx

And notice the part about the cable; most of the IDE cables have 2 connectors (for 2 hard drives) but check the cable that came with your system to see if it has the cable you need (if you only have 1 hard drive currently installed, then you'll notice an unused connector on the cable, which you could use for a 2nd (slave) hard drive (as suggested by the poster above) so you can keep your current drive and just add one for extra storage space (avoids having to clone/copy the current drive).

It seems that there might be a bracket you'd need to buy to properly secure a 2nd drive (although if you're like me, I just let them sit wherever they can fit, lol--as long as they're not touching something they shouldn't and as long as the computer doesn't get jostled--of course it's best if the hard drive is nicely secured, so get the bracket if you can)

[ohheckyeah]

15. Thanks very much.

My main concern is not in physically replacing the drive so much (although that's definitely a concern) as getting the new hard drive formatted, getting the OS system in place and the programs transferred. I have one program that I no longer have the software for it and I really need that program.


I'll do some homework and come back for more questions. Thanks again.

[Why Syzygy]

3. I removed all the .NET stuff

and have had no issues. All my applications work fine. If you install Revo Uninstaller, there is a tool which actually ERASES all the files/folders that have been deleted (otherwise they are just hidden on the HD). I regularly delete a large game back-up file, and Opera seems to store an awful lot of files, which I also delete at least daily. After I ran the Revo tool last night, it had freed up an additional 5% of HD space.

[Duer 157099]

5. Me too; I only found one program that needed it

and after I used the program once, removed the .NET stuff.

As to whether someone needs all the various versions: developers have used different version of .NET to write various programs, so it's possible that earlier versions are needed, *if* someone is using one of those programs. No way to really know until you remove them all and then see which programs complain.

I try to avoid programs that need .NET just so I have one less Microsoft headache to worry about (security updates etc)

[Statistical]

6. .NET is backwards compatible*

(* mostly)

3.5 is latest version. Actually there is a service pack so .Net 3.5 SP 1 is the latest.

You can get it here.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AB99342F-5D1A-413D-8319-81DA479AB0D7&displaylang=en

I would uninstall everything and install .NET 3.5 SP1

.Net 1.0 & 1.1 are not compatible with 2.0/3.0/3.5/3.5 SP1. However most developers stopped developing for .net 1.1 in 2003 so likely any 1.1 app was recompiled for 2.0+ a long time ago.

So what is .Net?
.Net is a managed programing environment similar to Java. It consists of an "engine (technically a JIT), a common language runtime, and libraries software developers use to write code.

Why should I care?
Since it is "managed code" the application can't bring down the OS (blue screen), also the application is much more secure from malware and security flaws. The framework manages resources so programmer errors which result in memory leaks are much less likely. The framework prevents other apps from "crashing" the managed app. All in all managed code is a good thing because it protects apps & the OS from exploits and other badly behaving apps.

[ohheckyeah]

9. I have .NET 3.5 SP1

and the computer won't allow me to remove 2 and 3....do I need to remove .NET 3.5 SP1 and THEN remove 2 and 3 and reinstall 3.5 SP1?

[Statistical]

10. I am not sure....

I would try that though, it certainly can't hurt. :)

[ohheckyeah]

11. Well, I deleted them all.

Reinstalled the latest version but when I updated it, all of the old ones were re-installed. Oh, well. It was worth a try.

[ohheckyeah]

7. Thanks to everyone for the replies. n/t