Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server 2012 throws the error: “Error while enabling Windows feature : NetFx3, Error Code : -2146498298 , Please try enabling Windows feature : NetFx3 from Windows management tools and then run setup again.”

Problem

You’re installing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server 2012 but notice that the install fails with the error:

Error while enabling Windows feature : NetFx3, Error Code : -2146498298 , Please try enabling Windows feature : NetFx3 from Windows management tools and then run setup again. For more information on how to enable Windows features , see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=227143

Solution

The solution is actually quite simple and that is to install .NET Framework 3.5 onto the Windows Server 2012 server via adding features in the Server Manager console:

Note the yellow banner in the following screenshot notifying you to specify the installation Windows Server 2012 binaries to proceed:

Make sure you specify the source or the install will fail:

With the .NET Framework 3.5 installed, SQL Server 2012 will now install successfully.