Question Is it safe to install .NET Runtime 5.0 if my system is running .NET Runtime 6.0?

[ICantAffordAGPU]

I'm trying to get Dell SupportAssist to reinstall but have been unable to sucessfully install it after uninstalling it. I've seen many posts online claiming that installing .Net Runtime 5.0 fixes the issue, although I am unsure if this is safe for my system.

I've found many sources stating that different .Net FRAMEWORKs can run side by side safely, but nothing on runtimes. As you can probably tell, I have no idea what either is and don't want to jeopardize my computer

 

[Lutfij]

Instead of using Dell's app, why not use the service tag for your system/laptop in their support site to bring up a page with driver and BIOS updates specific to your platform?

 

[USAFRet]

Why do you need 5.0?
Generally, the newer versions include all the functionality of the earlier ones.

 

[ICantAffordAGPU]

Instead of using Dell's app, why not use the service tag for your system/laptop in their support site to bring up a page with driver and BIOS updates specific to your platform?

I generally liked the convenience of the automatic process since I'm not very familiar with important updates such as BIOS updates, let alone drivers.

The main reason I'm interested in reinstalling that software is that, when uninstalling it, I also uninstalled a software called "Supportassist OS Recovery Plugin" by mistake. I have no idea what this software was, nor can I find any sources online about whether or not it is safe to uninstall. My PC seems fine right now, but since, to my knowledge, it activates when your computer fails to boot I would like to get it reinstalled asap.

 

[ICantAffordAGPU]

Why do you need 5.0?
Generally, the newer versions include all the functionality of the earlier ones.

Like I said, I know nothing about .NET stuff. My best guess is that Windows recently released 6.0 (replacing 5.0 on up-to-date devices) and that Supportassist has not be similarly updated to be supported by the newer version.

I've seen a number of sources online saying this is the issue, and when I check the event viewer there are errors stating that the missing 5.0 version is coincidently causing an issue with a Dell process that executes when I try to install SA.

 

[ICantAffordAGPU]

Quick update for anyone else possibly having this issue: I installed the correct version of .Net Runtime, which has led to no issues and immediately fixed my issue with Supportassist not installing.

I had also done a support chat with a microsoft employee, who told me that installing multiple .Net runtimes is safe (with the exception of those using ARM architecture, who need to take certain extra precautions to avoid file path issues with multiple versions)