Target .NET Framework 2.0 (not .NET Core 2.0) with Visual Studio 2017

Question

I want to contribute to Open Hardware Monitor, which uses .NET Framework 2.0 (again, it is not .NET Core 2.0).

When I clone the repo and open the solution file, Visual Studio 2017 says I have to download some sort of "targeting pack" in this url. However, I cannot find the option to download .NET Framework 2.0. (the minimum version is 3.5 SP1.)

How can I target .NET Framework 2.0 with Visual Studio 2017? I don't want to download and install older versions of Visual Studio.

Answer 1

First of all, you have to enable .NET Framework 3.5 in the "Windows Features" tab of the control panel, which includes .NET Framework 2.0. You won't be able to target those frameworks if you don't.

Then, you'll see in the project properties panel a "Target Framework" property, set it to .NET Framework 2.0.