I'm upgrading from VB6 to VB.net and am using the express edition. The only problem I have with it is its rather limited deployment tools.

For my VB6 projects I use NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Instal System) - http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page

This is great as it allows me create a professional branded installer with a licence agreement, install my app with shortcuts, and install some default files which are not overwritten when user installs again (upgrades).

NSIS can check to make sure the .net framework is installed and download it as necessary so I have that covered.

My question is - can I build my VB.net project, and then just copy the created app from the build folder and its manifest into my NSIS script in place of my vb6 exe.

An even simpler question - can I just take the built app and copy only that 1 file and run it on any machine with the .net 2.0 framework installed. Will I get any messages the first time I try to run it about it being an unknown publisher etc.

Sorry I have to ask - my test machine burned out last week and I'm waiting for a new disk.