
While setting up your server and planning to do some deployment on the server there could be some features that are part of the requirement for the deployment. In this guide, I will show you how to fix “the request to add or remove features on the specified server failed”. Please see Check .NET Framework version on Windows, and Steps to enable DotNet Framework in Windows 11. Also, see DotNet Framework in Windows 11, and how to integrate TestRail with Jira.
For example, you could need to install .NET Framework 3.5 as part of what is needed to make a particular deployment successful. But while installing these features you can encounter an error like ”The request to add or remove features on the specified server failed”.
The steps below show how to go about fixing this error so you can successfully complete the installation of the .Net Framework 3.5. Here is a YouTube video on how to resolve this issue. “The request to add or remove features on the specified server failed”.
If you need to read more on some Windows errors you can read these: How to Fix Windows Error 0x80070057. How to fix Unknown Hard Error on Windows Server and Windows 10, and how to Fix “Unknown hard error” on Windows Server and Windows 10.
Fix the request to add or remove features failed
The image below shows the process of installing the .Net Framework 3.5 Features after going through the Add Roles Features from the Server Manager.

In the image below while installing the .Net Framework 3.5 Features. It gets halted and displays this error “The request to add or remove features on the specified server failed. Installation of one or more roles, role services, or features failed. The source files could not be found”.
What you need to do is to locate the source of the file. This is exactly what we will be doing next.
Please see how to RUN Command on AWS, and how to Allow RDP access for non-administrators: Add User to Remote Desktop Users Group in Active Directory. Also, see how to enable or disable DotNet Framework (NetFx3) via PowerShell, Control Panel, and DISM in Windows. Learn about Security Best Practicse to secure your Cisco Router and Switches.
Resolution to the installation of one or more roles, role services, or features failed
1: Go ahead and close this Installation progress page and restart the installation.

2. When you get to the Confirm installation selections page. Click on Specify an alternate source path and locate where the files are located.

3. The .Net Framework 3.5 files can be located in this location \sources\sxs

This is the location displayed in the image below \sources\sxs

Specify the alternate source path
Also, see how to Fix “Insufficient System Resources Exist to Complete the Requested Service” error, how to Fix DISM Error 87: The package is unknown, and Hard Drive is Not Accessible: How to fix Cyclic Redundancy Check Data Error.
4. Now copy the directory where the file is located into the Specify Alternate Source Path and click Ok.

5. After doing all this the installation will continue and will complete successfully

FAQs
You can use PowerShell to add or remove features on a Windows server. PowerShell provides the Install-WindowsFeature
and Uninstall-WindowsFeature
cmdlets for this purpose.
– Here is how to add a feature: Install-WindowsFeature -Name
– Here is how to uninstall a feature: Uninstall-WindowsFeature -Name
The error can also occur during the installation of updates or patches if there are issues with the update process. Similar troubleshooting steps, such as checking permissions and verifying installation sources, can be applied.
I hope you found this blog post on how to fix error the request to add or remove features on the specified server failed interesting and helpful. In case you have any questions do not hesitate to ask in the comment section.