NET Framework 3.5 takes too long to download

[Joan]

I live in rural MT and only have dialup. NET Framework 3.5 is only halfway
downloaded and it is 2 days now, yet showe 1 min to dl. What gives? It
shows it is a High Priority Update that i am to have. I note in my Control
Panel i have other earlier ones. I however cannot keep downloading this for
another 2 days?? What gives? as it says 1 min to dl.....

[JS]

It's an extremely large file (over 200MB).
The update is usually performed in two
step:
1) Downloads the small Bootstrapper file (about 2MB)
2) The bootstrapper then starts the download of the 200MB+
service pack.

You can not order a CD, so unless you have the patience,
time and the need for this update I'd say skip it.

[Alan]

Hi JS,

That's another thing about this NET Framework 3.5 update.

It shows up as 'Critical' when a user selects Custom, but no one --
including some of the MVPs -- seems to quite know why it's so critical...or
what it does.

[JS]

Yep, you can go running around in circles reading the MS KB articles and
when you done reading all of them, very little light is shed on the real
details. Also they should have broken the update into 3 pieces, one for .Net
2.0 the second for .Net 3.0 and the last for .Net 3.5.

That way you could install only the critical piece that applies to your PC.

[Harry Johnston [MVP]]

I would suggest you download and run the bootstrap installer, from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

This installer is more efficient and will need to download much less data,
although it may still take several hours.

Guess what? KB951748 is still pushed via WU/AU after that.

[Alan]

JS,

Before my eyes began glazing over from reading all those, my interpretation
was that there were earlier problems of NET Framework that became 'broken'
by installing earlier KBs: 958481, 958483, and 958484.

So, to fix those things that 'broke' with the earlier patches, Microsoft
released NET Framework 3.5 SP1.

Am I understanding the situation correctly?

[JS]

Actually .NET 3.5 SP1 was released earlier/before
958481, 958483, and 958484.

And I suspect that the current iteration of 3.5 SP1
available via Windows Update is not the same as
the original release of 3.5 SP1 available late
last year via Microsoft download.

[Tom Lo]

Thanks.
That is what I expected.
Problem is that , although it is the only "critical" Windows XP update I
have not downloaded, Windows One Care keeps telling me my computer is not
fully protected.
Any suggestions, other than: Replace Windows One care?

[jerry]

Would like to thank you for your posted suggestion of where to download net
framework 3.5. I have spent many hours trying to download and install this
update from various sites with no success. Your suggestion allowed me to get
this update downloaded and installed and I thank you very much.

Jerry