aeromed, if MS is still working with you on the problem, stick with them until they surrender or fix it. While you are waiting, here's some reading...
this is intended for reference and not necessarily a cure:
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Article ID: 306160 - Last Review: July 2, 2010 - Revision: 7.0
How to repair an existing installation of the.NET Framework
You may need to repair your installation of the .NET Framework if you upgrade your operating system or if the current installation of the .NET Framework becomes corrupted. This article describes how to do so.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306160
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
- Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1
- Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0
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Here's another article that may lead to another route/solution. Remember, I'm not posting these as potential cures but as areas of study/search.
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http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951950
The hotfix registration or the update registration is corrupted
After a hotfix or an update is installed on a Windows Installer-based product, the hotfix registration or the update registration may become corrupted. This problem can occur because of third-party registry cleaner utilities that remove certain registry keys. These keys include the keys that are meant for internal use by Windows Installer. In this case...
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There is a huge library of support articles and forum posts but sometimes a bit of searching can dig up the right stuff. Start at the above article and then look around. This is not an uncommon issue so it has been addressed.
Also, as with any other system/subsystem repair, work slowly and methodically and read carefully.
Just as a note for those wondering about all the .net versions, problems have been noted when upgrading to W7 as there seems to be an issue with .net 2.0 so you can see this sort of problem can rear it's ugly head at any time with any system.
Once more, as long as all bits are working, leave well enough alone. If you get a problem, use a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.
Just be aware too that this is getting pretty esoteric and may well get the thread moved to a different forum as it's not really a FS2004 issue.
If you have not, or are not interested in tinkering with the sensitive inner workings of Windows, flush all of this from your memory. It will cause headaches, paranoia, tremors and endless frustration.:isadizzy: