SQL Express 2008 Uninstall Causes Problems for VWD

Question

I have been developing a website using SQL Server Express 2008 and Visual Web Developer Express.
Yesterday I decided that I'd rather be using SQL 2005, so I uninstalled 2008, installed 2005.
First, I could not restore my database, but I worked around that...(maybe that's another discussion, but not my concern now).
Then when I went to connect to the database from VWD, I get this error:

Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

Since first getting this message, I uninstalled everything to do with SQL Server and VWD and reinstalled, because I thought, maybe it's one of the beta framework pieces that's confused. After reinstalling SQL 2005 Express and VWD, I am still getting this error.

Answer 1

I'll play the beta insurance card right from the begining - SQL Express 2008 and VWD Express 2008 SP1 are beta products that shouldn't be used on production systems - problems like this happen when you use pre-release software. It's also the by design behavior that databases are not backwards compatible. We'll see what we can do to resolve this issue - but it's generally not supported to go backwards...

 

How exactly are you trying to connect in VWD when you get this error, give the exact steps of buttons you're clicking and menus your using. There error indicates that you're trying to load a SQL 2008 file, which means something from 2008 is still referenced in you project. Also, which version of VWD Express are you using now?

 

Thanks,

Mike

 

 

 

Answer 2

I am experiecing this same problem, runnint VS 2008 SP1 Beta

Except I uninstalled Sql 2005 Express and installed Sql 2005...

So beta insurance card is not a good enough excuse!

Answer 3

I have the same problem SQL2008 RC0 and VS 2008 professional!

I can’t create or change any *.dbml files because of that.

Once you create the connation it comes up with the error:

Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified

Do you know how to tell VS2008 to use the SQL2005 version?

I tried repairing VS2008 twice now and it did not help, so I am assuming uninstalling and installing will not help.

Is the only solution to instal SQL2008 tools?

 

Thanks in advance

Ofer Gal

Answer 4

 

Hi,

Here is the solution:

Install the following from Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack RC0, June 2008 -

SQLSysClrTypes

SharedManagementObjects

sqlncli10

 

These features can be downloaded from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=089A9DAD-E2DF-43E9-9CD8-C06320520B40&displaylang=en

 

Good Luck!

Answer 5

The above post does work. However the link provided does not; also, at this moment, the net appears to be riddled with the same broken link.
 
So try this one:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C6C3E9EF-BA29-4A43-8D69-A2BED18FE73C&displaylang=en

Answer 6

Thank you suthakrish and Gaz D! This also worked for me. I used suthakrish's instructions and Gaz D's link! Thank you again

Answer 7

After creating a website, I added a reference to the project for the dll in question, and then it worked.

Answer 8

Thanks!
This worked great 

Answer 9

Hi - glad to have found this post, because I'm having the same problem - SQL Server Express 2005 with Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition.  New computer - so I downloaded SQL Server Express 2008, had some backward compatibility issues, de-installed it and installed SQL Server Express 2005.

 

I tried your link, download, etc. - still having same problem, same error message!  Any thoughts?

 

Thanks for any help you can provide...

 

Answer 10

 I had the exact same problem and I am running Version 9.0.30729.1 SP.  I was running SQL 2008 Express and decided to go back to SQL 2005.

This solution resolved my problem.  However note that the third file mentioned, sqlncli10 was not on that page.  Instead I downloaded and installed sqlncli.

Answer 11

DanTi said:

I have been developing a website using SQL Server Express 2008 and Visual Web Developer Express.
Yesterday I decided that I'd rather be using SQL 2005, so I uninstalled 2008, installed 2005.
First, I could not restore my database, but I worked around that...(maybe that's another discussion, but not my concern now).
Then when I went to connect to the database from VWD, I get this error:

Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

Since first getting this message, I uninstalled everything to do with SQL Server and VWD and reinstalled, because I thought, maybe it's one of the beta framework pieces that's confused. After reinstalling SQL 2005 Express and VWD, I am still getting this error.

I have a similar situation with several Visual Studio Express 2008 environments.  VB, VC#, VC++
I Had SQL2008EX, but due to lack of a nice management tool like SSMSEE2005, I decided to uninstall it and install 2005EX.

I can connect and work in SQL2005EX using SSMSEE, no problem.  However when using any of the VSEX tools (such as VB2008EX), I attempt to create a new database, I get the exact same error message above.

Running on WinXPPro sp3 at work, and Vista Home Premium SP1 at home.  Exact same results.

Answer 12

First off, there is indeed a 2008 verson of Management Studio available as part of SQL Express with Tools, SQL Express Advanced and as a standalone installer. All are available from the Microsoft Download Center.

Second, VS Express 2008 SP1 products are not compatible with SQL Express 2005; you need to use SQL Express 2008. If you want to use SQL Express 2005 you'll also need to go back to VS Express 2005.

Regards,
Mike

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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Answer 13

had the same problem, installing the above mentioned files worked perfectly. Keep up the great work guys ! Thanks.

Answer 14

I have been developing a website using SQL Server Express 2008 and Visual Web Developer Express.
Yesterday I decided that I'd rather be using SQL 2005, so I uninstalled 2008, installed 2005.
First, I could not restore my database, but I worked around that...(maybe that's another discussion, but not my concern now).
Then when I went to connect to the database from VWD, I get this error:

Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

Since first getting this message, I uninstalled everything to do with SQL Server and VWD and reinstalled, because I thought, maybe it's one of the beta framework pieces that's confused. After reinstalling SQL 2005 Express and VWD, I am still getting this error.

I believe I have a similar problem - and am desperately looking for a solution. The problem - I am teaching an upper level course using all Microsoft technologies - VS, SQL Express, IIS, etc. Without going into alot of detail, we have come to the position that some students are using VS 2008 and SQL Express 2008, some VS 2005 and SQL Express 2005, and the lab machines are a mix.

The problem - VS on the classroom and lab machines is having problems, and SQL Express Manager would not install on some of the student laptops (XP Home, XP Pro). So the end result is that many of the students are moving between 2005 and 2008 versions of the software. The problem I am writing about is that some of them have created databases using SQL 2008 Manager - when they try to open these in SQL 2005, no go. They also had some databases initially created in SQL 2005, then opened in 2008, and now won't open in 2005.

What can we do, if anything, to "recover" these databases for opening in 2005?

Thanks -