Installing DotNet 3.5 Without DVD

13 Jan 2022

This has stumped me a number of times and I have tried all sorts of things to get around the issue of installing dotNet 3.5 on Windows Server without having to mount the DVD.

Finally today I found this post showing how to change local group policy to force the server to download the package from Windows Update.

In short;

1. Start the Local Group Policy Editor or Group Policy Management Console (WIN+R and type gpedit.msc).
2. Expand Computer Configuration Folder–> then click expand Administrative Templates Folder–> then select System.
3. Double click to open Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair Group Policy setting, and then select click Enabled.
4. Also click Enable for Contact Windows Update directly to download repair content instead of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) checkbox.

Now go to Add Roles and Features Wizard and select enabling checkbox .NET Framework 3.5 and get it installed successfully.