[windows-8.1] while installing vc_redist.x64.exe, getting error "Failed to configure per-machine MSU package."

In my case and while installing VS 2015 on Windows7 64x SP1, I experienced the same so tried to cancel and download/install the KBKB2999226 separately and for some reason the standalone update installer also get stuck searching for updates.

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Here what I did:

  1. When the VS installer stuck at the KB2999226 update I clicked cancel.
  2. Installer took me back to confirm cancellation, waited for a while then opened the windows task manager and ended the process of wuse.exe (windows standalone update installer)
  3. On the VS installer clicked "No" to return to installation process. The process was completed without errors.