Error 0x800F0954 Installing .NET Framework 3.5 or Windows Feature

When you attempt to install .NET Framework 3.5 or any other optional feature using “Windows Features” (optionalfeatures.exe) dialog or using DISM command-line, error 0x800F0954 may popup.

After enabling .NET Framework 3.5 and clicking OK, the following error may appear:

The same error may occur when attempting to install additional speech recognition or supplemental fonts using Optional features in the Settings page or using DISM command-line. For instance, you run the following command to install .NET Framework 3.5 from an elevated or administrator Command Prompt.

After pressing ENTER, here is the full error message you might see:

The DISM.log file would show these entries/errors:

And the CBS.log file would have recorded these errors:

Note that the error 0x800f0954 refers to CBS_E_INVALID_WINDOWS_UPDATE_COUNT_WSUS which indicates that your system might have been configured to use a WSUS server (on your domain network) to get updates instead of connecting to Windows Update servers directly.

[Fix] Error 0x800F0954 Installing .NET Framework 3.5 or Any Optional Feature

If the error 0x800f0954 occurs installing optional Windows features, it may be because the system is unable to access the Windows Update server. This is especially true in case of domain-joined computers which is configured to downloads updates from a WSUS server. It could also be possible that your computer was once a part or a corporate or domain network and the group policy setting is still in place.

Step 1: Bypass WSUS to Install Features/Updates Directly from Windows Update

To fix the problem, temporarily bypass WSUS server using the following registry edit (requires administrator privileges).

1. Right-click Start, and click Run
2. Type regedit.exe and click OK
3. Go to the following registry key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

   1	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

4. In the right-pane, if the value named UseWUServer exists, set its data to 0
5. Exit the Registry Editor
6. Restart Windows.

See if you’re able to install .Net Framework 3.5 or any optional features now. In most cases, the above steps should fix the problem.

Step 2: Install .NET Framework (or Optional Features) from Windows 10 ISO or DVD

If the procedure under Step 1 did not help, you may use the following DISM command (with the installation source path) to install additional features from the Windows 10 ISO or DVD. However, you must make sure that the Windows 10 version on your DVD or ISO corresponds to the version of Windows 10 installed on your system.

Here is the steps to install .NET Framework 3.5 from the Windows 10 setup disk or ISO:

1. Obtain the latest Windows 10 ISO (assuming that your Windows 10 system is running the newest build) using the Media Creation Tool.
   

   

   Editor’s note: Even better option would be to update your Windows 10 device fully, and then prepare an up-to-date Windows 10 setup disk by slipstreaming. See how to Slipstream Windows 10 (Integrate Updates with Original Setup Disk)

2. Mount the ISO image by double-clicking on the ISO file.
3. Note down the drive letter of your DVD or the mounted drive, let’s say H:\
   
4. Open an elevated Command Prompt (Administrator) window.
5. Type the following command, and press ENTER
   dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /Source:H:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess

   1	dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /Source:H:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess

   

Note: If you need to install the “Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) HTTP Activation” and “Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Non-HTTP Activation”, make sure you add the /All parameter, as seen in the above screenshot. As said earlier, these two components are usually not required for most users.