windows - OS Compatibility for various .NET Framework versions

Question

What are the minimum OS requirements for each of the .Net frameworks? E.g. for which version is it impossible to run each OS on:

• Windows 95
• Windows 98
• Windows 98SE
• Windows ME
• Windows NT 3.x
• Windows NT 4
• Windows 2000

I believe all .Net frameworks are compatible w/ XP, Vista, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008 (please correct me on that if wrong).

Answer 1

1.x and 2.0 work all the way back to Win98 but stop before Windows 8 (not verified).

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.NET Framework 2.0 Supported Operating Systems according to Microsoft:

• Windows 98
• Windows ME
• Windows 2000
• Windows XP
• Windows Vista (included with OS)
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2008 (included with OS)

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.NET Framework 3.0 Supported OSs:

• Windows XP SP2
• Windows Vista (included with OS)
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 2003 Server Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Note: Windows Vista comes with .NET Framework 3.0. Standalone .NET Framework 3.0 packages are not required and not supported on Vista.

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.NET Framework 3.5 Supported OSs according to Microsoft:

• Windows XP
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7 (included with OS)
• Windows 8 & 8.1 see
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 see

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.NET Framework 4.0 Supported OSs according to Microsoft:

• Windows XP (but not Starter, Media Center or Tablet editions)
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 10
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2008

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.NET Framework 4.5 Supported OSs according to Microsoft:

• Windows Vista SP2
• Windows 7
• Windows 8 (included with OS)
• Windows 10
• Windows Server 2008 SP2/R2
• Windows Server 2012 (included with OS)

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.NET Framework 4.5.1/4.5.2/4.6 Supported OSs according to Microsoft:

• Windows Vista SP2
• Windows 7 SP1
• Windows 8
• Windows 8.1 (included with OS)
• Windows 10 (4.6 included with OS)
• Windows Server 2008 SP2/R2
• Windows Server 2012 (included with OS)