How to install the latest version of the Microsoft .net compact framework on your Windows Mobile Device
I recently got a new Palm Treo Pro from Sprint and of course I’m having fun installing applications on it. So far I’ve installed the Windows Marketplace for Mobile and OpnMarket for Windows Mobile (all their apps are free). I’ve also started hearing about Microsoft Tag and downloaded Microsoft Tag Reader to start figuring out how it all works. I also discovered another application, Luna TagGen for Mobile, which you can use to generate a Microsoft Tag on your phone. If you have the Tag Reader installed, you can download Luna TagGen for Mobile from their site by launching Tag Reader, which turns on your cell phone camera, and pointing it at the Microsoft Tag that’s on their web page. Very cool use of the technology, yes?
Luna TagGen installed successfully on my phone, but when I launched it, I got the following message: “This application requires a newer version of the .net compact framework than the version installed on this device.” I made my way over to the Microsoft Download Center, searched for ".net compact framework" and found the .NET Compact Framework 3.5 Redistributable. The instructions are a bit tricky, you need to download the file, which is called NETCFSetupv35.msi, to your computer, connect your Windows Mobile Device to your PC with ActiveSync, and then execute the .msi. In my case, once I accept the EULA, the install ran itself with no intervention on my part.
However, if you don’t ActiveSync and/or a PC available, it’s not that easy, as Mike Temporale said in his post Is it Really That Hard to get .Net Framework 3.5 on Windows Mobile 6.5 Device? And if you are not a developer, but just a regular Windows Mobile user, you should be able to download only the CAB file to update your phone, which is all you really need – not the 33 MB file really meant for developers. As Mike says, “And now the steps if a CAB file was available directly from Microsoft’s site: 1) go to download page, 2) download file, 3) install file. DONE.”
February 5, 2010 @ 8:16 pm
You are right. It should be much easier to get the compact framework installed and now it is.
We added a tag right on the LunaTagGEN for Mobile page that anyone with the Microsoft Tag reader installed on their mobile device can use to download the compact framework right to their phone.
February 5, 2010 @ 8:42 pm
That is so cool and I love the way you did that so quickly!
February 7, 2010 @ 8:30 pm
Aside from the hassle with .Net Compact Framework, how do you like the Treo Pro? I really liked the overall design, size, and speed of the device. The smallest thing got the best of me. I hate how the “,” is a function press away. Perhaps I use the comma too much. I don’t know.
Overall, I enjoyed the phone. Hope you do as well. 🙂
February 8, 2010 @ 7:59 am
Hi Mike:
I like the Treo Pro a lot. It feels more like a phone than the Mogul did, and it’s much faster, too. Even though I know there won’t be any updates for it *, as Palm has left the WinMo market, it will definitely keep me happy until Sprint starts selling Windows Mobile 7 phones.
The only thing I haven’t been able to do is get the back cover off! I needed to do a soft reset and tried everything, but it wouldn’t come off. But I figured out that if you take the stylus out, you can reach the soft reset button with a paperclip!
* I am hoping, though, that there will be a fix released for the “2016 SMS” problem. Both Sprint and Palm have said they are working on it.
February 10, 2010 @ 11:47 am
Ah yes, the battery door can be a little hard to open on that device. The whole back of the device should slide up. What I do, is put the phone face down in my left hand, then cup my right hand over the back, apply some pressure down and then push forward with my right hand. It should pop open pretty quickly.
Hope that helps! 🙂
February 10, 2010 @ 12:11 pm
I gave it a try – it won’t budge. Will you be at the Summit? Maybe we could meet up and you could show me?
February 10, 2010 @ 9:22 pm
I am – arriving early on Monday. I’ll send you an email with my contact details. 🙂
August 3, 2014 @ 5:28 pm
I’m really loving the theme/design of your weblog. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility issues?
A small number of my blog readers have complained about my blog not operating correctly
in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?
September 18, 2014 @ 12:16 pm
Hi Howard:
It seems to work well in IE, Chrome and Firefox. I just recently moved to Word Press and I am still learning the platform and tweaking the site.