How to cancel a pending .NET 3.5 Installation on Windows Server 2012?

Question

I tried to install a HP printer driver package that obviously needed .NET 3.5. The installation failed for some reason and I canceled it. Now, on login of all users, the system tries to finish the .NET installation, but fails. The error dialog says "The following feature could not be installed: .NET Framework 3.5 (contains .NET 2.0 and 3.0)."

Apparently this is a conflict between System-control "Windows Features" and the Server Manager (I am not sure about the English names as I am running a German version).

I now simply want to get rid of the error message and cancel the installation completely. How can I achieve this?

Answer 1

Thanks for your question. I have a little experience about windows server 2012-r2 but I had an experience regarding .NET issue . So my suggestion is that , log in to the server:

1. Then in the windows menu search for "gpedit" ,

2. click "Group Policy editor", then try finding "Computer Configuration --> Administrative Templates-->System" .

3. After clicking "System" folder see the settings files on right side window.

4. Look for "Specify Settings for Optional Component installation and component repair" by scrolling down , double click on it .

5. In the new window , enable the feature .

6. Then look for "Contact windows update directly to download repair content instead of Windows Server Update Service(WSUS)". Enable it .

7. Then Apply-->Ok.

8. Now open command prompt as admin . Type "gpupdate /force"

9. Now go to Control Panel-->Programs-->Programs and Features page and click "Turn Windows features on or off" when the feature window pops up , select .NET Framework 3.5 and press ok.

10. In the new window , click "Download files from Windows Update" . After finishing Installation don't forget to restart your server.

I hope this will help you up setting .NET 3.5 on your server.