How-to: Install Net Framework 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5

Method 1 - Try The Installation Via Server Manager

Typically, the easiest way to install Net Framework 2.0, 3.0 & 3.5 is to go to Server Manager...

1. Open "Server Manager"

2. Click on "Manage"

3. Select "Add Roles and Features"

4. On the "Before you begin" page click "Next

5. On the next page, ensure that "Role-based or feature-based installation" is selected, and again click "Next"

6. Select your local server out of the list and continue to click "Next"

7. Bypass the "Server Roles" page by clicking "Next" again

8. Onto the "Features" page now, put a "check" in the "Net Framework 3.5 Features" box and again click "Next"

9. Select "Install" to begin the installation

Method 2 - Specify Alternate Source Files If Method 1 Fails

If the installation fails, you can specify the alternate source path/files which are contained on your Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2 installation disc or .iso

1. Insert your installation disc or mount your .iso within Server 2012 / 2012 R2

2. Open "Server Manager"

3. Click on "Manage"

4. Select "Add Roles and Features"

5. On the "Before you begin" page click "Next

6. On the next page, ensure that "Role-based or feature-based installation" is selected, and again click "Next"

7. Select your local server out of the list and continue to click "Next"

8. Bypass the "Server Roles" page by clicking "Next" again

9. Onto the "Features" page now, put a "check" in the "Net Framework 3.5 Features" box and again click "Next"

10. This time, click on "Specify an alternate source path" and type the path of your Server 2012 or 2012 R2 installation media e.g.

D:\Sources\SxS (Where D:\ is your DVD Drive containing the installation disc)

11. Select "Install" to begin the installation

Method 3 - Installing Using The Command Line

Should you have trouble with methods 1 & 2, you can try to install using the command line.

1. Insert your Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 Installation media or mount your .iso in Windows Explorer.

2. Open "Command Prompt" with administrator privileges

3. Type in the following command (Where D:\ is your installation media path):

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /Source:D:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess

4. A progress bar will be displayed along with the installation results.

Method 4 - Installing Using The Command Line (Alternate Method)

Should you have trouble with method 3, you can try to install again without the /LimitAccess switch using the command line.

The /LimitAccess switch prevents the installation from contacting Windows Update (instead it would contact your WSUS server)

For me, I was setting up a lab environment without WSUS being configured, so Windows Update was the next best choice for me, and should anything be missing or corrupt on the installation disc/image, it would gather the files from Windows Update

1. Insert your Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 Installation media or mount your .iso in Windows Explorer.

2. Open "Command Prompt" with administrator privileges

3. Type in the following command (Where D:\ is your installation media path):

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /all /featurename:NetFX3 /Source:D:\sources\sxs

4. A progress bar will be displayed along with the installation results.

Method 5 - Force (Using Group Policy) For The Install To Contact Windows Update For Install Content

I was still unfortunate and could not get either of the previous 4 methods to work, in the end I had to do the following

1. Open up Group Policy (gpedit.msc)

2. Navigate to the following:

Computer Configuration --> Administrative Templates --> System

3. Double-click on "Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair"

4. Click on "Enabled" and select the check-box stating "Contact Windows Update directly to download repair content instead of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)"

5. Click on "Apply"

6. Close Group Policy

7. Open "Command Prompt" with administrator privileges

8. Type in the following command (Where D:\ is your installation media path):

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /all /featurename:NetFX3 /Source:D:\sources\sxs

9. A progress bar will be displayed along with the installation results.