Strange one, this. The last 7 times I have shut down the PC, it sets about installing MS .Net Framework 2.0 SP1 Update KB 110806. This does not feature on my list of installed programmes and so I can't uninstall it. The Update download history shows that it was successfully installed on the 12th of Apr and that the subsequent 7 downloads/installations have failed.

What to do? Google searches lead me to a MS Installer tool, but I don't really understand what that is all about. Do I need the .Net framework at all? and how can I uninstall a patch which is not showing on my PC as installed.

I could ignore the 'install and shutdown' prompt, but it's all a bit curious?!!

Could anyone shed some light on this dark corner please?

Dell Dimension PC, Win xp SP2 fully patched (except this!)

Many thanks,
mcdhu

In general, the .NET Framework is used by installed applications, not core XP functions. If you remove it, XP itself should be OK, but the application(s) that want it would stop working.

Updates are not normally shown in Add/Remove because there are so many of them, but there is a "show updates" checkbox.

If you have several machines to update, or problems with the automatic update, it's probably better to go to Microsoft's Downloads page and get the latest .NET Framework packages, then apply them.

If it's been installed correctly, the .Net 2.0 SP1 update does show up in the Add/Remove Programs without the 'Show Updates' box being checked. It shows as 'Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1'.

If it keeps appearing on your Shut-down button, that implies that it hit a snag when it first tried to install itself and that snag is being replicated at each subsequent attempt.

I had this problem earlier this week (with other auto-updates). The solution in my case was to uninstall Norton Corporate Anti-Virus. After letting the shut-down procedure do its thing, all was well. It seems that in nine out of ten cases, an over-aggressive AV program is the root cause of installation problems. :}

Thank you to Ken Hughes and bnt for your replies. Unfortunately my PC, in its wisdom will not let me uninstall .Net Framework 2.0 so that I can reinstall it. I have disabled my (Windows) firewall and it still will not behave correctly. I am reluctant to switch off my AVG (even if I could find a button to do so with) to see if that would help. Is it safe to do that?

Thank you,
mcdhu

Your firewall can be left switched on.

Temporarily disabling your AVG will be safe as long as you re-enable it before loading any software or getting your email.

If you want to be really sure, disconnect from the internet before you disable AVG.

Thanks ken, I'll have a go at that!

Regards,
mcdhu