The solution is to use the microsoft-windows-netfx3-ondemand-package.cab file, which contains the necessary installation files. 1. What is the NetFx3 OnDemand Package?
Microsoft does not host standalone, direct-download HTTPS links for individual Feature on Demand .cab files on its public website. The safest, official way to acquire the microsoft-windows-netfx3-ondemandpackage...cab file for Server 2012 R2 is to extract it from the original installation media.
The server cannot connect to the internet, and the local source path is missing or invalid.
Windows Server 2012 R2 is a robust platform, but by default, it does not have the .NET Framework 3.5 (which includes 2.0 and 3.0) installed. Furthermore, because it is considered a "Feature on Demand," the installation files are not present in the standard system directory.
Once you have copied the CAB file to your local directory (e.g., C:\sxs\ ), you can bypass Windows Update entirely by forcing the system to read from your local directory. Windows Server 2012 R2 is a robust platform,
: Open the local Group Policy Editor ( gpedit.msc ). Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System . Double-click "Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair" . Set it to Enabled and check the box to "Contact Windows Update directly to download repair content instead of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)" . Run gpupdate /force and retry the installation.
dism /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\Temp\NetFX3\Microsoft-Windows-NetFx3-OnDemand-Package.cab
To install .NET Framework 3.5 on when Windows Update fails, you must use the microsoft-windows-netfx3-ondemand-package.cab file found on the original installation media. This file is part of the "Features on Demand" payload and is not included in a standard installation. 1. Locate the .CAB File
The safest and most reliable source for this file is your original Windows Server 2012 R2 installation media. but by default
This means the source files could not be found. Re-check your /source path, ensuring it points to sources\sxs .
Enable .
: Prevents DISM from trying to contact Windows Update if you have the local files. 2. Using Server Manager (GUI) Open Server Manager > Add Roles and Features .
If you prefer a graphical user interface, you can specify the alternative path during the standard installation wizard. Open and click Add Roles and Features . Microsoft does not host standalone
The most secure and foolproof method isn't downloading the .cab file directly at all. .
dism /online /add-package /packagepath:C:\Temp\NetFx3.cab /quiet /norestart
After installation completes (progress bar 100%), verify success: