.NET Framework Update Troubles – Remove and Reinstall

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For months I have ignored the repeated errors from Windows Update regarding .NET framework. There seems to be a variety of errors appearing on Windows XP machines all connected to the .NET framework service packs (1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5). Below are a couple of example errors you may be seeing.

Some updates could not be installed

The following updates were not be installed:

Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1 Security Update for Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (KB953300)

The feature you are trying to use is on a CD-ROM or another removable disk that is not available.
Insert the ‘Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1′ disk and click OK.

After a few friends discovered the same error on their PC’s and asked me how to fix it I decided it was time I should work it out.

I gave Microsoft’s site a go first; I followed two articles from their knowledge base (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908077 and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306160). These just brought up errors at certain points and once complete made no difference.

Eventually I found a solution from Aaron Stebner, a Microsoft employee, on his blog. I can’t accept any liability for what these solutions do to your computer, I can only assure you that they have worked for me. His first solution is to follow several steps which attempt to repair the current .NET framework installations. This blog post can be found at http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2008/03/07/8108332.aspx

If the repair doesn’t work then you can follow Aaron’s final solution, which wipes all instances of the .NET framework, allowing you to do a fresh install. The tool can be downloaded at http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/pages/8904493.aspx.

1. Extract the zip file you have downloaded from the previous link
2. Run ‘cleanup_tool.exe’
3. Select ‘.NET Framework – All Versions’ from the dropdown box.
4. Click ‘Cleanup Now’
5. Run Windows Update
6. Click ‘Custom’
7. Then you can find .NET framework under ‘Software, optional’, tick the updates you want and then click ‘Review and install updates’
8. Then just simply follow the on screen prompts

Hopefully this will help you fix any corrupt installations of .NET framework on your computer. Do feel free to leave any positive or negative feedback below in the comments section.

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