After many failed attempts to install both the .Net Framework 3.0 and/or 3.5 standalone it kept failing on my development machine, it installed with no problems on all of my other computers. I tried many different resolutions that I found all over the internet, from changing registry permissions to uninstalling the .Net Framework 2.0 and reinstalling it to no avail. Finally it came time for me to install Visual Studio 2008 and of course the install crapped out on the .Net 3.5 installation step and would not proceed, after searching for every error in my event log I finally came across a post pointing me to download this utility…
http://astebner.sts.winisp.net/Tools/dotnetfx_cleanup_tool.zip (Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated or support this utility or its owners, but it resolved my issue and I thank them)
I ran this utility which removes all or certain versions of the .Net Framework from your machine; it took around 10 to 15 minutes and a reboot. I then attempted to reinstall VS 2008 and to my relief it is installing as I write this. I did not reinstall the other Framework versions as the VS 2008 installer reinstalled v2.0 for me and then v3.5 over, I don’t care about v1.1 as I no longer use it. Anyway it does seem there was an issue with a previous install, but I had to blast it to get the issue resolved.
Dot Net Framework 2.0 3.0 3.5, Visual Studio 2008