GeekLab

I recently installed a new Microsoft WSUS server. Most of it went just fine. Except for a few updates that weren't needed according to windowsupdate.com, but were required according to WSUS.

Especially KB974417 was pretty annoying. I tried installing it a dozen times, but after each reboot, WAU came back telling the update was ready to install. I checked out the eventvwr, and got the following useless message:
Event Type: Error
Event Source: HotFixInstaller
Event Category: None
Event ID: 5000
Date: 3/16/2010
Time: 3:06:25 PM
User: N/A
Computer: PC1
Description:
EventType visualstudio8setup, P1 microsoft .net framework 2.0-kb974417, P2 1033, P3 1642, P4 msi, P5 f, P6 9.0.40302.0, P7 install, P8 x86, P9 w2k3r2, P10 0.

Installing it manually

I downloaded the file from the Microsoft website, to find that the update itself thought itwasn't needed as well: None of the products that are addressed by this software update are installed on this computer. Click Cancel to exit setup.

So what I did:

1. When running NDP20SP2-KB974417-x86.exe, all files are extracted to c:\[random-hex-string].
2. Go there, using explorer
3. Doubleclick the .msp file to install
4. Reboot your computer
5. Wait for WAU to synchronise with the WSUS server. When it asks to install "the update", allow it. Windows Update will detect the update is already deployed in a second and remove the yellow icon from the taskbar. The computer will disappear from the "updates needed" reports in 5 minutes to an hour.

My setup

I tested this on Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server. It may work on other versions of Windows as well, but I haven't tested that.

Request

Please please please link this page on any website or forum discussing KB974417 problems.