Introduction
You may receive the following error message when attempting to install SharePoint 2013: This product requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5. Of course, in my case, it didn't help that I needed to install SharePoint 2013 in the year 2022. Maybe you are in the same boat, having to install ancient software in the modern age. If so, read on!
The Environment
- Windows Server 2012 R2 up and running with all patches installed
- SharePoint 2013 prerequisites have been installed successfully by using the SharePoint prerequisite installer
The Drama
- Prerequisite installer reports "Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5: equivalent products already installed (no action taken)"
- SharePoint installer reports "This product requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5"
- Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Client shows version data "4.6.01590"
- Prerequisite installer is correct, a newer version than 4.5 is installed, but SharePoint setup just can't seem to figure this out
The Solution
- Log onto the server using an administrator account
- Change owner for registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Client to the administrator account
- Give full control to the administrator account
- Make note of the "Version" value (4.6.01590 in my case)
- Set "Version" value to 4.5.50501
- Install SharePoint 2013
- Set "Version" value back to whatever it was before
- Change owner for registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Client back to NT Service\TrustedInstaller
- Remove full control of your administrator account
