What Is the NETFx Folder?
By Jack Gerard
Viruses and other harmful programs often install themselves on computers without the computer's owner realizing that they are there. Because of this, many computer users are suspicious of program folders for applications that they do not remember installing. Folders such as the "NETFx" folder may seem suspicious to users who are not aware that it is a part of the Microsoft .NET Framework.
.NET Framework
The Microsoft .NET Framework is a common component shared by Microsoft versions of programming language compilers. The use of the .NET Framework ensures that programs compiled using .NET-compatible compilers will have the same base requirements in regard to their underlying software platform. An end user who installs these programs can meet these requirements simply by installing the version of the .NET Framework required by the program, regardless of any other customizations or changes that have been made to his computer or operating system.
WinFx
With .NET Framework version 2.0, Microsoft changed the framework platform name to "WinFx" to reflect the fact that it was a significant change from the original version of the framework. The "WinFx" name was created as a shortened version of "Windows Framework X," indicating that the framework was intended for use with Windows operating systems and that it was not simply the name of a single version of the .NET Framework. WinFx was designed to be backward-compatible with software requiring .NET Framework versions 1.0 and 1.1.
NETFx
As the .NET Framework continued to expand its scope as an underlying software platform, a new name was given to the framework starting with the release of .NET Framework 3.0. The new name, "NETFx," was intended to separate the framework as a product from the Windows family of operating systems. The name reflected back to the .NET product line while still referencing the product identity created when WinFx was released. Similar to the naming of WinFx, the NETFx name was created as a shortened version of ".NET Framework X."
The NETFx Folder
The NETFx folder is created automatically when any version of the .NET Framework 3.0 or later is installed. Files and executables within the folder are not essential for Windows to run, but may be required for programs that require a newer version of the .NET Framework. The folder should be removed if the .NET installation is uninstalled, and can be deleted manually if it is not automatically removed during the uninstallation process. Future installations of the .NET Framework will recreate the NETFx folder if it has been removed.
References
Writer Bio
Born in West Virginia, Jack Gerard now lives in Kentucky. A writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience, he has written both articles and poetry for publication in magazines and online. A former nationally ranked sport fencer, Gerard also spent several years as a fencing coach and trainer.