Quick link tip: finding the download link for the full, offline install for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

Recently, I needed to install the full .NET Framework version 3.5 onto a computer. That computer doesn't have Internet access. It was an industrial control computer, which doesn't much benefit from Internet access, let alone expose it to security risks.

But, where can you download the full, off-line installation capable version of .NET 3.5? If you use Windows Control Panel applet ("Turn Windows features on or off") to install .NET 3.5, you will need an Internet connection. Likewise, if you download .NET 3.5 installation package from Microsoft Downloads, it only contains a web-installer which downloads the required bits only after you've started installing.

Fortunately, links for the .NET Framework 3.5 full off-line install package circulate around, even though (to the best of my knowledge) you cannot find it directly using Microsoft's Download area search. Here's the link:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/0/f/60fc5854-3cb8-4892-b6db-bd4f42510f28/dotnetfx35.exe

Hope this helps!