Download Microsoft-windows-netfx3-ondemand-package.cab

It is 2026, and .NET 8.0 and .NET 9.0 are mainstream. Why would anyone need a framework from 2007?

Thus, even on a modern Windows 11 PC, you may need this file.

Yes. Installing an x64 CAB on an x86 system will fail with “The package is not applicable to this image.” Download Microsoft-windows-netfx3-ondemand-package.cab

During Windows deployment (via MDT or OSD in SCCM), add a “Run Command Line” step after the “Apply Operating System” step:

dism /image:C:\ /add-package /packagepath:"%DEPLOYROOT%\Drivers\netfx3.cab"

This injects .NET 3.5 into the offline image before first boot. It is 2026, and

If you’ve ever tried to install older software (like AutoCAD 2016, SQL Server 2014, or legacy ERP tools) on Windows 10 or Windows 11, you’ve likely encountered the dreaded error: “.NET Framework 3.5 includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0.”

The recommended solution often involves pointing Windows to a file called Microsoft-Windows-NetFx3-OnDemand-Package.cab. But what is this file, and how do you use it safely? Let’s break it down. Thus, even on a modern Windows 11 PC, you may need this file

Absolutely. That is one of the main reasons to use the offline CAB method.

Click the “Download” button next to the correct entry. A small popup will appear with a direct link (usually starting with http://download.windowsupdate.com/...). Right-click that link and select “Save link as” to download the .cab file to an easy-to-find location, such as C:\temp\.