.NET Framework Reinstallation Impossible

Question

[repost from https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/d34f0efe-5f18-4a2a-9908-075ff9c6feff/net-framework-reinstallation-impossible?forum=netfxsetup\]

After running into a nasty accident with some software, I decided to uninstall and reinstall all the Visual C++ redistributables and .NET Framework versions. I've also uninstalled the updates for .NET Framework. My PC runs Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and it's giving me a headache. After running the repair tool and even removal tool for this software, it seems like some versions have stuck after uninstallation. I've downloaded all the installers from version 4.0 up to 4.8 and want to run every one in order, but 4.0 reports that there's a newer version installed. I then checked the log, found the internal name and ran

msiexec /uninstall {09CCBE8E-B964-30EF-AE84-6537AB4197F9}

• it uninstalled succesfully (I think). Then I've disabled the rollback policy, but it still isn't helping (4.0 would roll back after trying to install).

Here's the latest log, I've run a repair under "Programs and Features": https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ai5azJpjMubdcyBICiWtJxjgh0k?e=bI5dQ3

All the Visual C++ versions from 2005 to 2019 installed just fine. For whatever reason, the .NET installer seems to also access E:\, a completely different partition that's on my 2nd hard disk, reserved for Windows 10.

Thanks in advance.

Update: after following some advice on disabling and enabling the built-in .NET 3.5.1, it's become impossible to turn it back on from the control panel. Ran the repair tool and tried to get it working again with dism, but no luck. I even set the .NET system folder to full permissions. What a joke. Broken Microsoft garbage. Several hours wasted. Do I have to repair Windows 7 or something?

Answer 1

My system is up to date and all that. Windows 7 ships with much newer versions of the components you've mentioned. Under Event Viewer, there's this error: can't initialize fusion.

- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>
  <Provider Name="MsiInstaller" /> 
  <EventID Qualifiers="0">10005</EventID> 
  <Level>2</Level> 
  <Task>0</Task> 
  <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords> 
  <TimeCreated SystemTime="2020-09-07T14:07:38.000000000Z" /> 
  <EventRecordID>88135</EventRecordID> 
  <Channel>Application</Channel> 
  <Computer>MSGWBASICN17</Computer> 
  <Security UserID="S-1-5-21-3506631707-1916707478-1933209808-1000" /> 
  </System>
- <EventData>
  <Data>Product: Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile -- Error 25003. Error occurred while initializing fusion.</Data> 
  <Data>(NULL)</Data> 
  <Data>(NULL)</Data> 
  <Data>(NULL)</Data> 
  <Data>(NULL)</Data> 
  <Data>(NULL)</Data> 
  <Data /> 
  <Binary>7B46354230394346442D463042322D333641462D384446342D3144463642363346433742347D</Binary> 
  </EventData>
  </Event>

The only version causing trouble is 4.0 and some of my programs have stopped working because of this. Sometimes when I'd use the removal tool it would stick around in Control Panel. Now, after a failed installation, it shows up under Programs and Features but is impossible to repair or install over. It would get very close, install KB958488 (it fails if I don't uninstall that update in advance) then goes through the installers before exiting netfx_Core_x64.msi with error code 1603. I've already given full permission to the .NET installation folder (as far as it lets me). I also tried running Setup.exe /x64 myself from the folder that the installer extracts, but it somehow knows that it wasn't summoned by the downloaded installer and refuses to work.
Disregard the partition I mentioned, I unplugged the second hard drive and it made no difference.

Answer 2

Hi,

I would like to confirm your issue for a better understanding.

"4.0 would roll back after trying to install"

You have removed all Net.frame work version from 4.0 to 4.8, but failed to reinstall them, right?

Did you checked your system meet prerequisites for installation 4.0?
Such as: Windows Installer 3.1 or later and Internet Explorer 5.01 or later.

"For whatever reason, the .NET installer seems to also access E:\, a completely different partition that's on my 2nd hard disk, reserved for Windows 10."
How did you find it?

As Windows 7 is out of support since Jan. 14 2020, did you activated system with ESU(Extended Security Updates) product key?

Any related error message recorded in Event Viewer\Windows logs\Application, system?

Bests,

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Answer 3

update: I've succesfully turned 3.5.1 back on. 4.0 almost installs, except...

    Exe (C:\e0023c80958d0bc1d1\Windows6.1-KB958488-v6001-x64.msu) failed with 0x240006 - (null).

[...]
    Final Result: Installation failed with error code: (0x80070643), "Fatal error during installation. " (Elapsed time: 0 00:00:57).

The KB958488 update is already installed on this machine.