Installing .NET framework 3.5 on windows server 2012

Question

I am installing .NET 3.5 framework on windows server 2012. I downloaded dotNetFx35setup.exe from Microsoft website and copied it to a location E:\Sources\SxS. On every link on google they are telling about this SxS folder, so did it like this. But still I am not able to install .NET framework from GUI . I selected .NET in features and specified the path to E:\Sources\SxS. What I am doing wrong ??

My pc in not connected to internet, so I need some ofline installation method.

Solution 1

You need your 2012/2012R2 ISO mounted or unpacked to a folder as the installation media for .net 3.5 is actually included on the DVD/ISO itself!

Next up, you can install by launching a command prompt (As Administrator) and running the following command:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:d:\sources\sxs

(Replacing d:\sources\sxs with C:\users\you\desktop... or wherever you unpack it to!)

The command switches used above do the following~:

/Online targets the operating system you're running (instead of an offline Windows image).

/Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 specifies that you want to enable the .NET Framework 3.5.

/All enables all parent features of the .NET Framework 3.5.

/LimitAccess prevents DISM from contacting Windows Update.

/Source specifies the location of the files needed to restore the feature (in this example, the D:\sources\sxs directory).

This works 99.9% of the time, and if it fails - it usually indicates a problem with the BITS/Windows update service - which are actually both used by the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool. To fix that, take a look at This Microsoft Fixit Article . The windows 8 manual instructiosn also work for 2012/2012R2!

Solution 2

You need your 2012/2012R2 ISO mounted or unpacked to a folder as the installation media for .NET 3.5 is actually included on the DVD/ISO itself.

Next up, you can install by launching a Command Prompt (as an administrator) and running the following command:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:Z:\sources\sxs

(Z: indicates the DVD drive)

Comments

[codaamok]

This didn't work for me on a naked install of 2012 R2. There are updates in kb articles that supposedly fix .NET 3.5 install (such as support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3005628) but no good for me as I wanted to do this without any updates installed.