How to Install .NET Framework 3.5 Offline in Windows 8 (8.1)

It is not common to revert to a previous software version after upgrading to Windows 8, but sometimes, it reaps more benefits than our expectations. In fact, in the case of .NET Framework, this procedure is often a necessity.

.NET Framework is a Windows software framework designed to create the required environment to run .NET-developed programs. If you are using Windows 8, you might encounters errors while trying to open applications that need .NET Framework 3.5 version, instead of the preinstalled 4.5 release. Typically, you are presented with the following message:

“An app on your PC needs the following Windows feature:

.NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)”

While you may choose to Install this feature using the in-built option, the method requires you to connect to the internet, and let Windows download the setup of .NET Framework 3.5 from there. That’s strange because the same files can be accessed from your Windows 8 setup, and installed directly from the Control Panel Programs and Features applet, just like Media Center, Internet Explorer, and other OS components. So, if you are unwilling to waste crucial bandwidth, or are simply deprived of network connection currently, you’ll be glad to know that there is still a way to install this module offline. The following steps will show you just how.

Firstly, you need to copy Windows 8 setup files to your local hard disk. If you have the setup ISO moved to your system, you can either proceed with Mounting it by right-clicking the file and choosing Mount, or extracting it using the extract option. Alternatively, if you have Windows 8 installation CD/DVD, simply insert the media and ensure operating system access to the contained data.

Next, open Command Prompt as admin. This can be done by Searching “Command Prompt” in the Start Menu (Windows key), and right-clicking the icon to choose Run as administrator. Once launched, type the following command on the elevated window and hit Enter:

Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source:F:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess

Note: Replace F:\sources\sxs with the appropriate path to your Windows 8 setup files

As soon as you execute this command, Windows will start installing .NET Framework 3.5 without utilizing any internet resources. Once done, you’ll see the message

The operation completed successfully

That’s all there is to it. You should now be able to open the problematic application without further worries. However, if your installation process was interrupted by some unexpected error, refer to the common resolutions below and see if they suit your case:

Resolutions for error code 0x800F081F

This problem occurs due to any of the following reasons:

• The location specified does not contain the required installation files
• The user does not have at least READ access to the location of the data
• The set of installation content is corrupt, incomplete, or invalid for the version of Windows currently running

To resolve this issue, you need to make sure you have set the right path listed alongside Source (x:\soucres\sxs), and that you have atleast READ access to the location. Verify this by manually browsing to the source from the affected computer. Check that all files are complete, and contain valid data. If the problem persists, try to use a different installation source.

Resolution for error code 0x800F0907

This problem appears if an alternative installation source is not specified, or if Group Policy settings are incorrectly set to proceed with the task. This can be resolved by reviewing policy setting from Local Group Policy Editor and determining whether it fits your environment:

• Open Run box (Windows + R keys)
• Type gpedit.msc and hit Enter
• Expand Computer Configuration
• Expand Administrative Templates
• Click System
• Double-click Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair
• Select Enabled
• Specify correct path of a shared folder that contains the contents of the \sources\sxs folder from the installation media
• Example: \\server_name\share\Win8sxs
• Clikc OK
• At an elevated Command Prompt, type gpupdate /force and hit Enter to apply policy changes immediately

Besides these two errors, error code 0x800F0906 is also a common error that appears while enabling the .NET Framework. To resolve it, read 0x800F0906 .Net Framework fixing guide.

Try these resolutions and attempt to use the Command Prompt instruction again. Hopefully, you should proceed unconstructive now.