Windows 8 comes pre-installed with .NET Framework 4.5, however to run older programs, you’ll need the .NET Framework 3.5 – which includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0. You can install it by downloading the required files from the internet, but if you have the Windows installation media (DVD or ISO), you can quickly install and enable the feature from it, without depending on the internet. Here’s how to do that:
Installing .NET Framework 3.5 Offline in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
Open a Command Prompt window with administrative credentials, and type in the following command:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All /LimitAccess /Source:D:\sources\sxs
- “D:” is the drive letter on which you have loaded Window ISO or DVD.
/Allis used to enable all parent features of the .NET Framework 3.5./LimitAccessis used to prevent DISM from contacting Windows Update./Sourceis used to specify the location of the files needed to install the feature.
After some time, you will get confirmation that the feature has been enabled. You can verify this by going to Control Panel –> Program and Features > Turn Windows features on or off.
That’s it. Restart your computer and everything that requires .NET 3.5, .NET 3.0, and .NET 2.0 will work fine.