• Unable to install vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1 or 5.5 in a Windows Server 2012 system.
• You see the error:
  
  Internal error 28173, 2146498298
   
• You may see the error:
  
  Error 28173.Setup failed to enable Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5. Enable this feature in Windows Server Manager before installing vCenter Server.
   
• In the %temp%\vminst.log file, you see entries similar to:
  
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 10:55:12 Getting Property VersionNT = 602
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 10:55:12 --- function: EnableFeatureOnWindows
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 10:55:12 [C:\Windows\system32\DISM.exe…See moreVMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 10:55:12 [C:\Windows\system32\DISM.exe /online /enable-feature /all /featurename:NetFx3 ]
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 10:55:12 Util_Launch::Wait: 1 Hide: 1
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 10:55:12 Found "C:\Windows\system32\DISM.exe"
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 10:55:12 Attempting to launch ["C:\Windows\system32\DISM.exe" /online /enable-feature /all /featurename:NetFx3 ]
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 11:02:24 Process returned 2148468998
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 11:02:24 Util_Launch::done Res: 1
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 11:02:24 Error executing DISM.exe: [C:\Windows\system32\ /featurename:NetFx3] failed with error code [2148468998]
  VMware Single Sign On-build-1027680: 11:02:24 Posting error message

To resolve this issue, install the NetFx3 feature manually before installing vCenter Server.

To install the NetFx3 feature:

1. Mount the Windows Server 2012 ISO in the virtual machine.
2. Open an elevated command prompt. For more information, see Opening a command or shell prompt (1003892).
3. Run this command:
   
   dism /online /enable-feature /all /featurename:NetFX3 /source:drive_letter:\sources\sxs
   
   Where drive_letter is the drive where the ISO is mounted.