Thanks again difarn, have had a quick look at the site there seems to be a bit more info here than when I downloaded the MS fixit prog. I didn't realize that there was an aggressive setting. I will have a read up and try running it tomorrow. Its getting time to go out here in Cyprus (need a break from this problem) Thanks again, will report back on the outcome.

SUCCESS (I think - put it like this only the final reboot, windows updates said "No important updates available"). Hiwatt I tried that solution but thanks anyway. The article from - Microsoft Community - that difarn suggested seemed to produce the solution. There seem to be numerous variations on a theme so :Here is what I did:

I uninstalled manually .NET Framework 4 client profile and .NET Framework 4 Extended via Control Panel> uninstall programs.

I think I could have left the above steps out, had I just run .NETFrameworkCleanup_tool.zip (I think this does the uninstall for you, but I ran it anyway). Then did a shutdown although this was not called for. On reboot I installed .NET Framework, shutdown(not called for) rebooted and went to window updates and surprise surprise there were 11 waiting to be downloaded and installed, which I did (takes the best part of an hour)and then shutdown (restart is offered, but I opted to shutdown as there appear to be quite a few comment that full shutdown is required at times). On reboot there was no important updates available. HOORAY. I recon I must have spent 8+hours on this Pain in the Axxx, so hopefully this thread might help others not go through the rigmarole I went through. One more comment reading all the different forums this problem seems to arise with relatively new computers with W7 loaded so not sure if it is a problem with OEM W7. Thanks again to Hiwatt and difarn for their help.