Installing .NET 3.5 framework on Windows 8/8.1 in a domain environment with WSUS

If you have a Windows 8 or 8.1 machine in a domain environment with WSUS and try to add the feature .NET 3.5 framework it may fail with error code 0x800F0906, because it is looking in WSUS which may not host the bits.  A lot of people recommend using the media with DISM to install .NET 3.5 offline but I would rather get it from the Cloud because that is what Microsoft wants of its people.  Here's how:

On the client machine open gpedit.msc as an administrator.

Browse to Computer Configuration -> Administrator Templates -> System

Open Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair, enable it.

And make the following change:

Save the policy and close gpedit.

Try to add the .NET 3.5 feature now:

Outlook 2013 Protip: disable animations to speed up the responsiveness.

I am running Outlook 2013 on Windows 8 and they are supposed to be a match made in heaven.  Not so much for me, Outlook 2013 is at best clunky and slow, but I know my pc can handle it, core i3-3240, 8gb of ram with an ssd.  So in troubleshooting a ran across this trick to disable animations.  It disables animations for all office programs.

Open regedit and browse to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common

Under Common create a new key:

And name it Graphics

Under the new Graphics key create a new DWORD

Name it DisableAnimation and give it a value of 1.

Double check it is created in: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common\Graphics

You can close regedit and because it is a HKCU change I recommend logging off and on of Windows.  After this change I noticed and snappier Outlook environment.

Windows 8 Protip: Turn off SmartScreen filter

Annoyed at the SmartScreen filter popups when you try to install a program just like I was?  Here's how to disable them:

Open up Control Panel and select System and Security:

Click on Action Center:

 Expand the Security box by clicking the down arrow on the right:

Under Windows SmartScreen select Change settings:

On the popup select Don't do anything.

Click OK and you are all set!