Tuesday 4 December 2012

Install .NET Framework 3.5 bug on Windows Server 2012


I recently worked through a new SharePoint Server 2013 RTM Farm setup which included setting up a separate SQL Server 2012 and SharePoint Server 2013 VM, with both using Windows Server 2012 as their OS.
For both SQL Server 2012 and SharePoint 2013 I hit issues due to not having .NET Framework 3.5 installed, which isn’t installed by default on Windows Server 2012. 

You add it as a Feature, so lets try and add it how you're meant to add Features to Windows Server 2012 (spoiler - doesn't work)

So launch the Server Manager and select Dashboard.



Click "Add roles and features".


Next >


Role-based or feature-based installation then Next >


Select your Server and then Next >


Tick ".NET Framework 3.5 Features" and Next >



Can’t do it through the Add Roles and Features Wizard, note the exclamation warning sign and this message: “Do you need to specify an alternate source path? One of more installation selections are missing source files on the destination"
 .NET Framework 3.5 Fails to install via the Add Roles and Features Wizard.

This looks like a bug – instead you need to install the .NET Framework 3.5 feature via a Command Prompt (!!!) Hope they fix this in a future build.

In our case, CD Drive with the Windows Server 2012 media is G:\ ensure the Windows Server 2012 disk is in and run the following command -

dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /all /Source:g:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess

Start a new command prompt with ‘run as administrator’



.NET Framework 3.5 is now installed – Yeaaaaah!
Now you can go ahead and install SQL Server 2012 or SharePoint Server 2013 :)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you,

Worked a treat for me

Unknown said...

Perfect! thanks a lot...

Marco

Anonymous said...

Just saved me quite a bit!

Anonymous said...

you can specify a alternate source path via UI, in your last screen check the URL on the bottom

Anonymous said...

At the final screen in the add roles and features wizard, click on the link that says 'Specify an alternate source path' and enter the path to the xsx folder. In the example above it would have been G:\Sources\sxs. The feature would then install successfully.

Anonymous said...

This work for me. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much! I was wondering what I was doing wrong and couldn't get .NET FW 3.5 installed no matter what I did. This worked perfectly and I'm up and running!

Anonymous said...

Didnt work for me , below link worked.
http://sharelockpoint.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/sharepoint-2013-pre-requisites-install-fail-error-the-tool-was-unable-to-install-application-server-role-web-server-iis-role/#comment-78