I tried to enable this feature on Windows 8.1 ( as part of a SQL Server 2014 installation) – it failed. I tried downloading the redist executables separately – and installing. That failed as well. 

Here are some workarounds (the first one is a fool-proof method – works everytime)

The ISO download method (this SHOULD ALWAYS work)

Basically, the installation files that Windows is looking for are to be found on the installation disk (under sources \ sxs – e.g. F:\sources\sxs). If you can somehow mount the ISO on the server (e.g. from your MSDN subscription), then you are golden. Simply Specify an alternate path – when you are enabling the feature – and point to the mounted drive \sources \ sxs.

The feature enabling should succeed now.

The Powershell Method (this MAY work)

  1. Start Windows Powershell (Run as Administrator)
  2. dism.exe /online /enable-feature /all /featurename:NetFX3ServerFeatures /Source:D:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess
  3. Restart the server

This installs any missing pre-requisites for the redistributable framework – and enables the framework as well.

The Windows Update (for this specific issue)

 NOTE: If the above does not work, also try the following MSDN suggestion (it did nothing for me  – but it seems to be A possible solution).

 

 

Anuj holds professional certifications in Google Cloud, AWS as well as certifications in Docker and App Performance Tools such as New Relic. He specializes in Cloud Security, Data Encryption and Container Technologies.

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