Installing .NET Framework 4.8.1 in Windows Server 2022 container image

[jagrut-patel]

How can I install .NET Framework 4.8.1 runtime inside mcr.microsoft.com/windows/server:ltsc2022-KB5058385 base image?

##Details:

My Dockerfile

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/windows/server:ltsc2022-KB5058385

# Copy .NET Framework 4.8.1 installer to the container
COPY ["./windows/Prerequisites/NDP481-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe", "C:/Install/Files/"]

# Set the working directory inside the container
WORKDIR C:/Install/Files

# Install .NET Framework 4.8.1
RUN powershell.exe -Command \
    $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'; \
    Start-Process NDP481-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe -ArgumentList '/quiet /norestart' -Wait ;

# Other instructions removed for brevity

NDP481-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe is the offline installer for .NET Framework 4.8.1

docker build completes without errors.

However, inside the resulting container, the registry entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full keeps showing REG_DWORD 0x81041. (i.e. .NET Framework 4.0)

Please assist.

[github-actions]

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[vrapolinario]

You might want to check how the .NET team builds the dockerfile for the Server Core image here: https://github.com/microsoft/dotnet-framework-docker/blob/main/src/runtime/4.8.1/windowsservercore-ltsc2022/Dockerfile.
I believe you should be able to repurpose the dockerfile for the Server image.

[jagrut-patel]

Thank you @vrapolinario.

I also tried similar instructions but it did not work either.

It seems there is something typical about Windows Server image. Even though instructions complete, .NET 4.8.1 is just not put into effect.

Just as a note, I am not able to use Windows Server Core base image mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/framework/runtime:4.8.1-20250513-windowsservercore-ltsc2022 because some other pre-requisites that I need in the containers are not compatible with this base image.

[ntrappe-msft]

@jagrut-patel Could you check your logs or run any of the commands as verbose to see if you're hitting any errors? It looks like something may be failing silently as you're using the official installer.

[ntrappe-msft]

And for the sake of documentation:

• Server 2022 has 4.8 pre-installed (ref).
• Server 2025 has 4.8.1 pre-installed (ref).
• Server Core 2022 can have 4.8.1 installed (@vrapolinario's comment).

[richlander]

@jagrut-patel -- Can you share the Dockerfile you used and the problem you saw?

[jagrut-patel]

@jagrut-patel -- Can you share the Dockerfile you used and the problem you saw?

DockerFile is in the description.

[jagrut-patel]

@jagrut-patel Could you check your logs or run any of the commands as verbose to see if you're hitting any errors? It looks like something may be failing silently as you're using the official installer.

I am searching how can I run .NET Framework 4.8.1 installer in verbose mode. It does not seems to have any /switch or -switch for verbose logging.

[jagrut-patel]

@ntrappe-msft I cannot find how to make the installer generate logs. If you know that please share.

I ran .NET 4.8.1 installer directly from the CLI inside the Windows Server 2022 container.

PS C:\Install\Files> powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'; Start-Process NDP481-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe -ArgumentList '/quiet /norestart' -Wait ;
PS C:\Install\Files> Write-Host $LASTEXITCODE
0
PS C:\Install\Files> .\net481app.exe
PS C:\Install\Files>

Here net481app.exe is a sample console application that targets .NET 4.8.1. If .NET 4.8.1 is installed then it is expected to output a message on the console. Instead it ends up with following error in the event viewer

EntryType          : Error
Message            : .NET Runtime version : 4.0.30319.0 - This application could not be started.This application requires one of the following
                     versions of the .NET Framework:
                      .NETFramework,Version=v4.8.1

                     Do you want to install this .NET Framework version now?
Source             : .NET Runtime

[ntrappe-msft]

I'm going to defer to @richlander as he knows far more about .NET and whether it'll be possible to install version 4.8.1 in Server Core 2022.

[jagrut-patel]

whether it'll be possible to install version 4.8.1 in Server Core 2022.

Correction: Whether it'll be possible to install version 4.8.1 in Server 2022 (not Server Core 2022)

[jagrut-patel]

Closing the issue.

I can confirm that .NET 4.8.1 could be installed in Windows Server 2022 base image using the DockerFile that I shared before.

I was thrown off by 2 things.

The registry entry inside container never reflects the release version corresponding to .NET 4.8.1

And, the console app targeting .NET 4.8.1 that I was running inside the containers did not run until I removed the exe.config file.

Appreciate @ntrappe-msft and @richlander for looking into this for me.