Unable to install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows Server 2012 R2

I was unable to install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows Server 2012 R2 in multiple ways: using the GUI, PowerShell and Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool.

Add-WindowsFeature Net-Framework-Features -Source Z:sourcessxs

would produce the error:

Add-WindowsFeature : The request to add or remove features on the specified server failed.
Installation of one or more roles, role services, or features failed.
The source files could not be downloaded.
Use the “source” option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the feature. For more information on specifying a source location, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=243077. Error: 0x800f0906
At line:1 char:1
+ Add-WindowsFeature Net-Framework-Features -Source Z:sourcessxs
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (@{Vhd=; Credent…Name=localhost}:PSObject) [Install-WindowsFeature], Exception
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : DISMAPI_Error__Cbs_Download_Failure,Microsoft.Windows.ServerManager.Commands.AddWindowsFeatureCommand

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /ALL /featurename:NetFX3 /Source:Z:sourcessxs /LimitAccess

output:

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.3.9600.17031

Image Version: 6.3.9600.17031

Enabling feature(s)
[===========================66.4%====== ]

Error: 0x800f081f

The source files could not be found.
Use the “Source” option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the feature. For more information on specifying a source location, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=243077.

None of the attempts worked.

Then I followed MS KB Article “.NET Framework 3.5 installation error: 0x800F0906, 0x800F081F, 0x800F0907” and changed GPO settings.

No success either.

Then I found a reply on Unable to install .net 3.5 on Windows server 2012 from wainy:

After trying to install .net 3.5 on Windows Server 2012 for 3 days, I have finally managed to do it.

The key for me was to check the installed windows updates for KB2966826, KB2966827 and KB2966828. I had KB2966827 installed and after removing it, I could install 3.5 via Server Manager.

Which is described in more detail on [Fix] 0x800F0906 and 0x800F081F Error Messages While Installing .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows 8/8.1

In my case the faulty update was KB2966828.

After removing the update, the installation worked.

Thanks for the posts guys!

#sharepoint