Corner Case: Managed Samples in SDK Docs Unavailable

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This article applies to the Windows SDK for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5, released February, 2008, and the earlier Windows SDK for Windows Vista Update, released February, 2007.

This issue occurs very rarely, but if you’ve experienced this you would probably like an explanation. In certain circumstances, deselecting the .NET Framework Documentation feature during SDK setup may cause the managed samples in the documents to be unavailable. You may be thinking, “if I deselect the documents I wouldn’t expect to get any documents, samples or otherwise.” That sounds reasonable, but SDK setup allows you to select only the .NET Framework documents that contain managed samples by clicking certain nodes.

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When installing the SDK, you are given the option of deselecting certain components. It is possible to deselect the Documentation/.NET Framework component, while leaving the Samples/.NET Framework/Samples in Documentation selected. When this specific combination is chosen, the .NET Framework Samples will fail to install correctly and an installation error will be generated.

If you attempt to correct this issue by running the Change wizard in Programs and Features (Add Remove Programs on pre-Vista operating systems), the .NET Framework Documents will install correctly but the samples will still be missing.

You can also get into this situation when you’ve chosen a default SDK installation but decide to uninstall the .NET Framework later by running the Change wizard in Programs and Features. If you remove the .NET Framework Documents, the managed samples in the documents will be unavailable. The files will still be on your computer, but you will be unable to access them.

Workaround 1:

Access the .NET Framework samples directly opening the managed sample .zip files installed by default to \Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.1\Samples.

Workaround 2: Repair the SDK Installation

1. Open Programs and Features (Add Remove Programs on pre-Vista operating systems)

2. Select the Microsoft Windows SDK for Server 2008 and click Change

3. In the Maintenance screen, select Change

3. When presented with the Installation Options screen for setup, select the Documentation/.NET Framework component and click Next.

4. Once SDK setup is complete, Repair the SDK installation by following these steps:

· Open Programs and Features (Add Remove Programs on pre-Vista operating systems)

· Select the Microsoft Windows SDK for Server 2008 and click Change

· In the Maintenance screen, select Repair