InstallAware First to Support New Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

November 26, 2007; 05:32 AM

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 26, 2007 -- InstallAware Software Corporation has shipped a free update for InstallAware, allowing ISVs and enterprises to deploy the latest technologies included in Microsoft's new Visual Studio 2008 programming environment along with their products. Visual Studio was released only one week ago, and InstallAware is the only commercial installation toolkit at this time that allows the installation of Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, the major enhancement offered in Visual Studio 2008, ahead of other competitors such as InstallShield.

The free plug-in update pack also supports the new Visual C++ 9 runtime. Developers building applications using Visual Studio 2008 often need to deploy either the Visual C++ 9 runtime or the .NET Framework 3.5, both of which are included in the free update pack. The update pack may be downloaded immediately and free of charge at www.installaware.com/dotnet35update.asp.

"InstallAware's superior compression algorithm continues to work miracles, and the new .NET 3.5 Framework is no exception," says Panagiotis Kefalidis, Developer Evangelist at InstallAware Software Corporation. "We've managed to reduce the full framework installer size to only 132 MB, down from the original 197 MB. That's 65 MB less than the original. Its 33% space savings you get for free, simply by deploying the framework using InstallAware. Of course, the framework can also be downloaded on-demand from the Internet at install time - only when needed - so your setup remains bloat free."
   
InstallAware also improves the reliability of the framework installation process. As has been reported by Microsoft bloggers, installations of the framework on Windows Vista may occasionally be interrupted by a reboot that is caused by Windows Update. If such a reboot occurs in the middle of the new framework's installation, the Windows Vista operating system is left in an inconsistent state. Even though this issue was identified during the beta testing of Microsoft's original installer, it remains unfixed in the final version that Microsoft shipped: blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2007/11/13/6190778.aspx. InstallAware remedies this situation by automatically detecting Windows Vista and suppressing the reboot request until the entire installation of the framework completes successfully, or is cancelled.

Of course, adding either of the new runtimes to existing setup projects is easy. After the update pack has been downloaded and installed, the Application Runtimes designer of the InstallAware IDE displays two new runtimes, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and Microsoft Visual C++ 9.0. A single check-mark on either of the runtimes adds it to the developer's existing setup project, without requiring any further changes. InstallAware's advanced compression and partial web deployment capabilities are also automatically available for the new runtimes.

InstallAware is available in multiple editions with prices starting at US$199. A time limited fully-functional trial download is available at www.installaware.com. The update pack is available free of charge, for both trial and licensed users, at www.installaware.com/dotnet35update.asp.

About InstallAware Software Corporation

InstallAware Software Corporation, founded in 2003, is a software development company focused solely on state of the art software installation tools which offer the highest compression ratios and bullet-proof installations. The company produces software installation and compression technologies for the Windows Installer (MSI) platform on the Microsoft Windows Operating System. InstallAware is supported by thousands of users worldwide, and is a CodeGear Integrated Partner. For more information, visit www.installaware.com.