Got Live Writer working in Windows 8.1

Yes!!!

After about eight hours—four hours last night and another four hours this morning—of trying this and that I have finally got Microsoft Windows Live Writer from the Essentials 2012 pack working in Windows 8.1 Pro.

So happy. Might have a celebratory wine even though it is only 1:30 p.m.

For anyone else having a frustrating time trying to install .Net Framework 3.5 on Windows 8.1 so you can use something like Essentials 2012 Live Writer here is my secret.

I uninstalled the following two Windows Updates:

• KB2966826
• KB2966828

These are two Windows Updates that refer the .Net Framework.

I recommend that you only try this after you have tried the various other options outlined on the Microsoft site, most of which involve using the DISM utility. At this stage I can’t be sure about what other collateral I may have caused although so far everything seems to be okay.

After uninstalling these two updates and re-booting I was then able to install .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 without any issues. Just worked.

And then I could finally install Live Writer.

Phew!!