After encountering an update problem relating to both versions of Microsoft
.net framework, I happened to visit windows update newsgroup and
dotnet newsgroup and found every other person was having this problem.
Incidentally this problem had happened with them after they had installed xp
sp2. After a lot of browsing on Google and Microsoft knowledge base
articles, I found the only solution to the problem was uninstalling both
versions of .net and reinstalling them again. Interestingly sp2 had done
enough damage to not allow repair of these programs. Now uninstall was
another bigger problem, but thanks to the following knowledge base
articles: -
1) Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 320112 --- For removing Microsoft
.NET Framework 1.0.3705
2) Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 824643 --- For removing Microsoft
.NET Framework 1.1
And then I got stuck on using Msizap.exe utility, which wanted me to
download Microsoft Windows Installer Software Development Kit (SDK). I
accordingly went to the site for the download but found out that it was a
pretty big job as it included other compulsory downloads. I failed after
numerous tries to download as the site didn't allow using any download
managers and using dial-up for huge downloads is definitely a problem. And
then I searched for Msizap.exe utility on the net after I found out that sp2
supported this tool. I found it here: -
Referrer
http://www.google.com.pk/search?q=cache:7Iu8UFkOULQJ:www.extorr.com/software.htm+download+Msizap.exe+&hl=en
I then used it separately for both the versions of .net (as you can also
find different commands for both versions in the above referred knowledge
base articles)
A reboot and again the installation failed (I was attempting install
from the newly downloaded redistributables)
And then I attempted a repair from the run command also mentioned in
these knowledge base articles, after which, interestingly enough, the
installs (both) succeeded.
Another visit to the windows update site followed and the updates
completed successfully. I am happy that I am out of this quagmire but I
wonder how many other problems sp2 will unfold in future.
For those who are prompted for the location of netfx.msi after trying to
install .net, they can extract it from dotnetfx.exe and then browse to that
location. To do this, download dotnetfx.exe or locate it on your local hard
drive or a CD. Then, from a cmd prompt run the following: c:\dotnetfx.exe
/t:c:\temp /c. You can substitute any folder you want for the "c:\temp"
parameter. This will extract netfx.msi to c:\temp.
I hope this helps.