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Do I need all versions of my Windows Software Development Kit?

Anonymous
2019-05-15T21:39:06+00:00

I saw another question on this, but it failed to actually answer the question. So I'm asking again.

I've got four Windows Software Development Kits listed in "Uninstall or Change Program". I had five, and removed the oldest. I use Visual Studio Community.

What purpose does keeping the older versions of the SDKs serve? 

What reasons are there for *not* removing the old versions?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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  1. DaveM121 872.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-05-17T06:18:16+00:00

    Hi David

    Yes, I would keep the most recent and the same for the .NET Core SDK, this will not affect your coding projects . . .

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  1. DaveM121 872.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-05-16T06:16:13+00:00

    Hi David

    From the sizeof those, each is independent of the other, so you can safely remove the older versions . . .

    No, there is no way to force automatic removal of SDK's, when a new version is installed, you need to manually remove those . . .

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2019-05-15T22:04:49+00:00

    The versions are

    10.0.16299.91

    10.017763.132

    10.0.17134.12

    10.0.15063

    I assume those are all Windows 10.

    So again:

    What purpose does keeping the older versions of the SDKs serve? 

    What reasons are there for *not* removing the old versions?

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  3. DaveM121 872.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-05-15T21:52:27+00:00

    Hi davisdanielt

    You only need to have installed the SDK(s) for the platforms you are targeting with your code projects

    So you have the Windows 8 SDK and the Windows 10 SDK, if you only develop for Windows 10, you can safely uninstall the Windows 8 SDK . . .

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  4. DaveM121 872.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-05-15T22:09:34+00:00

    Hi davisdanielt

    Those versions numbers coincide with the bi-yearly Feature Updates to Windows 10 . . .

    As long as each one is independent of each other, then there is absolutely no need to keep the other versions of the SDK . . .

    What size it the 10.017763.132 version?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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