You cannot install it outside of Windows 8, and it gets installed and set up during a fresh install.
This is
incorrect. Windows 8
does not install Netframework 3.5 automatically.
Sorry, but on every fresh install I have done, it did install. The Programs I have that require it, did not install it and they worked. Also, I tried installing the package manually and I got a message that said that it could only be installed or removed via the Features. Maybe some version of Windows 8 you worked with did not have it turned on, but it is still there in the Features section and I'll bet the Installer did not work and you got a similar message. This is Three machines I've seen that message on. But I have never had to install it or add it from the Features because it was already there and selected.
Actually my version of 8 also has 2.0 and 3.0 added to the 3.5 pack: This is exactly how it looked from day one on installing 8. Yours is the same way, so I was wrong about having to add 2.0 manually.
View attachment 29073
And it was installed from day one. I just checked my other system, and it is the same way. Both Windows 8 Pro, the other machine has Media Center.
Maybe what you mean is that it was not installed on your system, you added it later. But it cannot be installed by downloading the installer and trying to install it that way, 3 machines I tried this on refused, that was when I discovered it was already there. I always install Dot Net 2 and 3 on machines just after a fresh installation of Windows 7, that's what I was trying to do when I discovered it was already there.