Is possible to deploy a self contained .NET Framework application?

Question

I'm developing a C#.Net application that uses the .Net Framework but I'm having trouble when users are installing the application on their computers. Some of them just don't know how to install the .Net Framework.

I'm searching for a solution to this problem and I found the self contained deployment use in .Net Core applications.

The problem is that my application doesn't use .Net Core, it is a WPF application.

I already search the web and all solutions I find brings me to the .Net Core self contained deployment.

What can be done in order to deploy a "self contained" .Net Framework application?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

You can use WiX to create a "bootstrap" installer, which will install required frameworks before installing your application.

http://wixtoolset.org/documentation/manual/v3/howtos/redistributables_and_install_checks/install_dotnet.html

Answer 2

Find a version of the .NET Framework that all of your target computers already have, and set Visual Studio to target that version of the framework.

Then, just copy/paste all of the files out of the bin/release folder into a folder on the target computer and run your program's executable.

If all of your target computers have Windows 10, you can deploy using version 4.6 of the framework, and be guaranteed that your clients already have it.