Security Update for .NET Framework 4 Windows Update error. Here’s how to fix.

Posted on October 14th, 2010 at 1:20 pm

Since this morning I’ve been getting a Windows Update error when trying to install KB2160841 on my Vista 64 machine. Restarting the PC has had no effect and the small Windows Update icon has been popping up constantly. I couldn’t find any help on Google at all but I did finally manage to fix it. Here’s how:

Problem update: Security Update for .NET Framework 4 on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems (KB2160841)

Fix:
Go to Start/Control Panel
Click Programs and Features (choose ‘classic view’ if you can’t see it)
From the list of programs click on Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile and then select Uninstall/Change (at the top).
A small window will pop up. Select the ‘repair’ option and click ‘next’. This may take some time, it appeared to freeze for 30 seconds for me, but soon you’ll see the green progress bars slowly repairing your system.
One that’s done you’ll need to head back to Windows Update so click Start/All Programs/Windows Update and select ‘check for updates’.
That annoying .Net security update will appear but this time it will install as expected so go ahead and install it. Ta da!

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 14th, 2010 at 1:20 pm and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Trackback from your own site. Save to del.icio.us

23 comments so far.

  1. Ghost:) on the October 15th, 2010 at 11:28 pm said:

    Thank you!!! It worked for me just awesome!..

  2. shadowlink on the October 16th, 2010 at 5:52 pm said:

    Thanks this solved the issue.

  3. thaxtedfox on the October 17th, 2010 at 6:09 pm said:

    It worked for me as well. Thank you

  4. Twiz on the October 19th, 2010 at 3:28 pm said:

    Thank you!

  5. eric on the October 20th, 2010 at 3:47 pm said:

    You’re a lifesaver! Worked for Windows 7 too.

  6. John on the October 25th, 2010 at 4:21 pm said:

    You’re awesome!! This update had been driving me crazy for a while now.
    Don’t know how you figured it out but it works like a charm.
    Thanks

  7. Kathy on the October 25th, 2010 at 8:51 pm said:

    Thanks for the information. The fixed worked for me also!!

  8. Skip on the November 14th, 2010 at 11:01 pm said:

    Thanks for posting this. It worked for me.

  9. TCInc on the November 29th, 2010 at 1:24 pm said:

    Worked for me as well. Thanks a lot!

  10. SH on the December 7th, 2010 at 3:09 am said:

    Hi there mate, Thanks, worked for me and its all well :D

  11. Ozbone on the December 27th, 2010 at 2:45 am said:

    Thanks… worked for me as well. It’s too bad that with all the money we funnel to Ol’ Bill that he can’t come up with the support that you have provided free of charge!

  12. sam on the January 2nd, 2011 at 3:40 am said:

    I went to programme and feature but I only have Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, how can I update the Microsoft .NET Framework 4 please.
    thank you

  13. Vicma on the April 15th, 2011 at 8:32 pm said:

    that was amazinggggg….it worked good 4 me thanks…

  14. Nic on the April 16th, 2011 at 3:37 am said:

    Wow!!! Thank you so much!!! I cannot believe it is that simple yet all those acclaim Windows forums make things so complicated.

  15. Nicola on the April 17th, 2011 at 10:24 pm said:

    Thanks, this has been driving me nuts! The information is in English and easy to understand, which is more than I can say for the other bits I’ve been reading!!!

  16. Patrick on the April 19th, 2011 at 2:36 am said:

    Great Fix! And user friendly instructions. Thank-you!!!

  17. Loretta on the April 19th, 2011 at 11:16 pm said:

    I have been trying to install this update for over a week. The last successful update to my system I could find was back in October, 2010, about the time you made this original post. This update has failed periodically since that date. This is the FIRST place I have found information that actually WORKED! THANK YOU!

  18. danny on the May 15th, 2011 at 9:46 pm said:

    thank you! This works with Windows 7

  19. Jean on the May 17th, 2011 at 7:57 pm said:

    Thanks sooooooooo much this thing has tried to update 76 times and failed since 4/14/11. I had almost given up.

  20. Raymond on the June 4th, 2011 at 11:55 pm said:

    Thanks for the help. The thing has tried to install since 4/15/11. I had tried several times to find the solution.

  21. Anita on the June 7th, 2011 at 3:05 pm said:

    THANK YOU…
    sooooo much…i have tried quite a few ‘fixes’ from other sites without success but your advice was definitely the cure i needed. Many thanks….and well done.

  22. Anita on the June 7th, 2011 at 3:07 pm said:

    Long live the King! lol

  23. Petras on the July 23rd, 2011 at 9:35 am said:

    not working …

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