Deploy standalone vb.net apps

Hi,

Some questions:

What are the ways to ensure that .NET Framework is installed on the client PC before the program launch/install?

Can the setup and deployment method check before install? Link that i followed: http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/VB.Ne...VB.NET-Part-1/

Is it possible not to use setup and deployment method for a standalone program to check but use method like batch file or other recommended methods?

I have developed the program using VS 2008 and does .NET Framework 2.0 sufficient enough for client to run the application as I did not use features like WPF/WCF etc.

If setup and deployment method can detect .NET Framework before install, can I set it to download .NET Framework 2.0 instead of the latest version?

Pls advise :)