Windows – Installing .NET framework 3.5 on windows server 2012

.net framework.net-3.5windowwindowswindows server 2012

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.

Best Answer

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!

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