Trouble downloading Visual C + + 2008 SP1 Redistributable pkg

I have tried numerous times to download this but it fails every time. When I boot my PC it is in the notification box as update to install. Even if I don't try to install it, when I go to shut down my PC it goes through the motions as if it had downloaded it. I have tried just about everything I can think of to resolve this. I ran Mr. Fixit, it didn't even though it said it did. I clicked on the link I found dealing with this particular problem. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=26368 That didn't help much either. Should I try downloading and installing it from the link below or is that going to fail too?

windows 7 update fails KB2538243, KB2467173 and KB2533552 - Microsoft Answers

I just realized that the publication date for that download is 6/7/2011. Shouldn't that have already been updated a long time ago?

Well the link you provided has some good info.

When updated fail via windows update, downloading the stand-alone installer usually works. If not take the advice for the .NET "fix" tool from microsoft about half way down that second link you provided...

I read the blog and glad I did, I have some programs that require NetFrame 1 and 2 to be there. If this removes them or parts of them then I will lose my MicrosoftWorks program and some programs I have set to run on earlier versions of Windows.

It is merely a tool to help when it appears that there has been some sort of corruption with the .net libs by allowing you to completely uninstall one or more versions and then reinstall them.

Though this never was about .NET I guess. Not sure why that got in there, sorry for not noticing that.

Did you DL and install the stand alone VS2008 redistributable installer though?

No, I didn't download the standalone, I wasn't sure if that link was to the original package or for the update to it?? Because of the date on it, I thought it was the original package.

The date on the file is a little old but that IS the correct KB number so yes, I'd DL and install it and see if the update for KB2538243 goes away in windows update. (The first link in your original post and the link in the first post of your second link both point to the same file)

I got it downloaded to my desktop, jumped through a few hoops, but I finally got it installed. For some unknown reason it put the installer on my external HD. I kept getting a message that it was on a different path than the one being shown. I realized after about 10 minutes hunting for a vs_red.msi file on my C drive that the letter in front of the path was to a drive I had change the letter for. So I went to my external drive and up it popped. I clicked on it and it put it in the box, when I clicked on retry it installed. Is there anyway to remove all of the failed attempts from the update history? or is that not necessary.

Thank you ever so much for your help. Now if I could only get the problem with the backup straightened out I'd be really really happy!!

Good luck :)

Hm I don't know if the update history can be edited... but as long as the update doesn't show up again in WU then it's all good.

No, the problem seems to be gone. It now shows it as a sucessful installation. I ran the update just to be sure and it didn't come up again.
Thanks again