title: How can I install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 with WiX Burn?
body: <p>The <a href="http://wixtoolset.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">WiX</a> manual includes "<a href="http://wixtoolset.org/documentation/manual/v3/howtos/redistributables_and_install_checks/install_dotnet.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">How To: Install the .NET Framework Using Burn</a>".  However, these instructions don't seem to work for installing .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, and later operating systems.  See <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/q/16616430/342581">this StackOverflow question</a> and especially <a href="http://windows-installer-xml-wix-toolset.687559.n2.nabble.com/Burn-Prerequisites-on-Windows-2012-Server-and-the-Server-Manager-requirement-td7583243.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this wix-users mailing list discussion</a> for details.  The <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=25150" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service pack 1 (Full Package) installer</a> won't run, because you need to use <a href="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh825236.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM.exe)</a> or some other technique to enable the requested framework as a Windows feature.  A suggested command line is as follows, assuming Windows is installed in the default location:</p>
  
  <pre><code>C:\Windows\system32\dism.exe /online /norestart /enable-feature /featurename:netfx3
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is there a clean way to ensure that the .NET Framework 3.5 will be installed on Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 with WiX?  Is there a good way to include such a step in the install chain?</p>