I'm continually being offered the update:

gini said:

...Will .Net Framework 4.5 replace version 4.0...

Yes, it will replace it. (If it installs correctly.)

gini said:

...and make KB2656351 unnecessary?

Correct, but your computer has a problem - you can put a sticker over the problem if you want.

As far as I remember, a system restore point is automatically created when the .NetFramework setup is run. Even if it doesn't, don't forget to manually create one before installing!

DavidW7ncus said:

nilank said:

Yeah you guys are absolutely right about system backups but backing up the entire system prior to doing a little update is kinda overkill for me...

Maybe someday you will see it differently if you ever lose a system and have to re-install the OS and all programs, and lose personal data.
Worse yet, what if your advice causes someone else to lose their data and have to re-install everything?
I don't want to be controversial or argumentative, but I think you should re-think this...

Problems in posts corrected as directed.

Thank you nilank,
Your suggestion of downloading
" .Net Framework v4.5 from the following link and install it: Download .NET Framework Version 4.5 – FileHippo.com " solve my problem.
Thanks again.

Hello nilank,

I think what I stated was mis-understood
I never intended to direct you, and apologize if it sounded like that.
I never tried to imply your suggestion would not work.
I simply tried to say I BELIEVE it's best to create a System Backup Image before making changes that could cause problems, and there is no way to recover from that change(s).
I deleted my posts...
Thanks, and please accept my humble apology.

Layback Bear said:

I need some help to understand this.
jovannis you can download a Net Framework from Filehippo and install it but you can't do the download and install using the Microsoft web site. Is that correct?

The OP could not install updates to .NET 4.0

Two or three of the nine .NET updates/patches that I've seen don't always install correctly. Those updates either fail to install or they install over and over - claiming success each time. Some of the W7 computers that I deploy at work are "new" but have been sitting in storage so long that they don't even have SP1 installed. I've had the task of installing lots of updates on lots of W7 boxes. The .NET ones seem to cause me the most problems. Maybe it is due to the antivirus tool (Symantec Endpoint Protection) or some other app common to the corporate images.

This is from a box with .Net 4.0, but without any updates/patches:
Attachment 262084


As far as I've seen, .NET 4.5 has not been offered via Windows Update; it is something that you have to manually download from MS or a place like FileHippo. And then you will be offered more updates/patches.
Attachment 262085

The two people in this thread that had problems updating .NET 4.0...
...may have a general problem with Windows Update
...may have a specific problem with a few .NET 4 updates
...may have OS file integrity problems
We may never know, since the issue has been hidden (fixed?) by the installation of .NET 4.5.

In the past, MS has just added versions of .NET with each install, but .NET 4.5 is different in that it replaces .NET 4.0 (and thus no need for the problematic updates). If you wanted to run apps written for .NET 3.5, you had to keep .NET 3.5 on your computer. If you installed .NET 4.0 or .NET 4.5, they did not help you to run the app written for .NET 3.5. It is sort of like having to have different versions of the C++ redistributable installed to support different apps.

It is probably best to get stuff like this from MS's websites. I would not have even thought to look at FileHippo for this file. But keeping in mind that this is an international forum, FileHippo's servers might work better for some members since FileHippo offers:
Full support for resuming downloads and download managers

Hello OP,

Glad to know that my struck out solution worked. I suggested that because I am already experienced with these kind of issues. Windows updates offers updates in parts, not a full package. If installing the parts prove to be problematic, it's common sense to download the entire package and see if it helps.

@David, I respect all senior members. You are not an exception!

As far as I can see, OP never tried to download the entire package from Microsoft at the first place.

The reason why I gave Filehippo links is that they mostly provide offline installers for download, so you can save them and use them forever, whereas many such packages are provided as online installers from Microsoft where you are first supposed to download some freaky 500 kb installer which further downloads the required stuff to some temp folder. I hate this concept of "online installers".

   Information

Filehippo is a trusted and popular source. I was frankly stunned to see senior members going against it. Filehippo DOES NOT modify/tamper files they distribute. They are all original/genuine stuff. Seems like over exaggeration not 'trusting' Filehippo for 'Microsoft' stuff

Another peice of info. NF 4.5 is just an update to v4, not a completely different development platform.