Installing .Net 3.5 on Windows 8

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Windows 8 includes .Net 4.5 by default on new installations, but not .Net 3.5 which is required for applications built with versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of .Net.

Windows 8 has a neat feature that detects if an application requires a version of .Net other than what is installed and will prompt you to install the missing feature on Demand

Using Control Panel version 3.5 can be enabled using Turn Windows features on or off under Programs and Features.

If using the On Demand or Control Panel fails to install .Net 3.5 you may get one of the following errors

  • 0x800f0906: “Windows couldn’t connect to the Internet to download necessary files. Make sure that you’re connected to the Internet, and click Retry to try again.”
  • 0x800F081F: “The changes could not be completed. Please reboot your computer and try again.”

This may be caused by one of the following reasons:

  • Language packs are installed on your system
  • Not connected to the internet
  • Your system is configured to use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) instead of Windows update

The quickest way install .Net 3.5 is using the Widows 8 Installation media. This can be accomplished by using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line tool.

From the command line (make sure to open the command prompt as Administrator) type the following command:

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:"D:\sources\sxs"
  • Use /All to enable all parent features of the .NET Framework 3.5.
  • Use /LimitAccess to prevent DISM from contacting Windows Update.
  • Use /Source to specify the location of the files needed to restore the feature.
After running the command you should see output similar to this:
C:\Windows\system32>DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:"E:\sources\sxs"

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Enabling feature(s)
[==========================100.0%==========================]
The operation completed successfully.

C:\Windows\system32>

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