Will application based on .NET FW 4.0 work on Windows Server 2012 R2?

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I'm a little bit confused about .NET framework versions and its compatibility with operating system. Please help.

I plan to upgrade my application to .NET 4.x. My application must support a variety of operating systems: XP, Windows Server 2003, 2008 (and R2) , 2012 (and R2), Windows 7.x and Windows 8.x.

I'd prefer to release one kit only - which means build the application with one specific .NET framework. The big question is which one?

I know that .NET 4.0 supports from XP to Windows Server 2008 R2 but does not support WS 2012. I know that .NET 4.5.1 supports WS 2012 and R2.

I'm wondering if what happens if I use my application with FW 4.0 and then try to install it on Windows Server 2012 R2: will it work (backward compatibility?) or not?

Thank you

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.netwindows-server-2008windows-server-2012.net-framework-version
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is more appropriate for ServerFault and would get a better response there. – JMK
Why? It's a question for developers I think – user4395430
Fair enough, just thought you might get a better response on ServerFault – JMK

1 Answers

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Apparently .NET 4.5 binary files replace .NET 4.0 ones with 100% backwards compatibility according to this from Rick Strahl's and this from Stackoverflow.com.

Also when you install your program on XP with .NET 4.0, make sure it's XP SP3 because that's the youngest version 'officially' supported.

However, just in case that you happen to want it on SP2, there is some trick you can force .NET 4.0 to be installed on XP SP2.