After some digging, John stumbled upon a forum post from a fellow IT administrator who had managed to extract the patch from a larger update package. The post mentioned a "repack" of the patch, which seemed to be what John needed.
If you have the correct .msu file but it won't install, try these steps: Windows6.1-kb958-488-v6001-x86.msu Download REPACK
The Windows6.1-kb958-488-v6001-x86.msu Download REPACK query is a niche need, but with proper caution, you can safely revive an old Windows 7 system’s update capability. The Ultimate Guide to Windows6
: Fixes known bugs that could cause .NET applications to crash or behave unexpectedly. Stability Improvements : Fixes known bugs that could cause
When Jonah mounted the image in a virtual machine, the host system greeted him like an old friend with a weary nod. The update’s dialog box appeared in a serif font he hadn’t seen in years, polite and plain: "Installing update." Progress bars crawled like ants carrying away a summer picnic. For a moment the room smelled of ozone and solder—memories supplied by the glow.
: It consists of shared components for .NET Framework 3.5.1 and is often bundled with installers for newer versions, such as .NET Framework 4.0.