Could not load file or assembly 'System.Web.Mvc' . How to use the correct reference?

Question

I have an application built on ASP.NET web forms which also supports MVC 5. I included MVC 5 API controllers in my project for which I had to upgrade Json from version 4.5 to 7.0. After making those changes when I launched the application, I get the following error:

Could not load file or assembly 'System.Web.Mvc' or one of its dependencies. The located assembly's manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040)

I checked the reference for System.Web.Mvc. In the property dialog run time version is v4.0.30319 and version is 5.0.0.0. In web.config, the assemblies are set as the following:

<assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="NLog" publicKeyToken="5120e14c03d0593c" culture="neutral" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-2.0.1.0" newVersion="2.0.1.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="AntiXssLibrary" publicKeyToken="d127efab8a9c114f" culture="neutral" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-4.3.0.0" newVersion="4.3.0.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.Helpers" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="1.0.0.0-3.0.0.0" newVersion="3.0.0.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.WebPages" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="1.0.0.0-3.0.0.0" newVersion="3.0.0.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.Mvc" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="1.0.0.0-5.2.3.0" newVersion="5.2.3.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>
  <!--<dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="Newtonsoft.Json" publicKeyToken="30ad4fe6b2a6aeed" culture="neutral" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-4.5.0.0" newVersion="4.5.0.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>-->
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="Newtonsoft.Json" publicKeyToken="30ad4fe6b2a6aeed" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-7.0.0.0" newVersion="7.0.0.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="System.Net.Http.Formatting" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" culture="neutral" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-5.2.3.0" newVersion="5.2.3.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>
  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.Http" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" culture="neutral" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-5.2.3.0" newVersion="5.2.3.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>
</assemblyBinding>

The full error log is shown below:

=== Pre-bind state information === LOG: DisplayName = System.Web.Mvc (Partial) WRN: Partial binding information was supplied for an assembly: WRN: Assembly Name: System.Web.Mvc | Domain ID: 2 WRN: A partial bind occurs when only part of the assembly display name is provided. WRN: This might result in the binder loading an incorrect assembly. WRN: It is recommended to provide a fully specified textual identity for the assembly, WRN: that consists of the simple name, version, culture, and public key token. WRN: See whitepaper http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=109270 for more information and common solutions to this issue. LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Users/Ahmed/Documents/Visual Studio 2013/Projects/MediaSoft/Project/c#/YuClone/YuClone/ LOG: Initial PrivatePath = C:\Users\Ahmed\Documents\Visual Studio 2013\Projects\MediaSoft\Project\c#\YuClone\YuClone\bin Calling assembly : (Unknown). === LOG: This bind starts in default load context. LOG: Using application configuration file: C:\Users\Ahmed\Documents\Visual Studio 2013\Projects\MediaSoft\Project\c#\YuClone\YuClone\web.config LOG: Using host configuration file: C:\Users\Ahmed\Documents\IISExpress\config\aspnet.config LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config. LOG: Policy not being applied to reference at this time (private, custom, partial, or location-based assembly bind). LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/Ahmed/AppData/Local/Temp/Temporary ASP.NET Files/root/22a49c5f/2f5ffeb9/System.Web.Mvc.DLL. LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/Ahmed/AppData/Local/Temp/Temporary ASP.NET Files/root/22a49c5f/2f5ffeb9/System.Web.Mvc/System.Web.Mvc.DLL. LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/Ahmed/Documents/Visual Studio 2013/Projects/MediaSoft/Project/c#/YuClone/YuClone/bin/System.Web.Mvc.DLL. LOG: Using application configuration file: C:\Users\Ahmed\Documents\Visual Studio 2013\Projects\MediaSoft\Project\c#\YuClone\YuClone\web.config LOG: Using host configuration file: C:\Users\Ahmed\Documents\IISExpress\config\aspnet.config LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config. LOG: Redirect found in application configuration file: 5.0.0.0 redirected to 5.2.3.0. LOG: Post-policy reference: System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.3.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35 LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/Ahmed/AppData/Local/Temp/Temporary ASP.NET Files/root/22a49c5f/2f5ffeb9/System.Web.Mvc.DLL. LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/Ahmed/AppData/Local/Temp/Temporary ASP.NET Files/root/22a49c5f/2f5ffeb9/System.Web.Mvc/System.Web.Mvc.DLL. LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/Ahmed/Documents/Visual Studio 2013/Projects/MediaSoft/Project/c#/YuClone/YuClone/bin/System.Web.Mvc.DLL. WRN: Comparing the assembly name resulted in the mismatch: Minor Version ERR: Failed to complete setup of assembly (hr = 0x80131040). Probing terminated.

Following is the Stack Trace

[FileLoadException: Could not load file or assembly 'System.Web.Mvc' or one of its dependencies. The located assembly's manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040)]

[FileLoadException: Could not load file or assembly 'System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.3.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. The located assembly's manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040)] System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly._nLoad(AssemblyName fileName, String codeBase, Evidence assemblySecurity, RuntimeAssembly locationHint, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, IntPtr pPrivHostBinder, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection, Boolean suppressSecurityChecks) +0
System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly.nLoad(AssemblyName fileName, String codeBase, Evidence assemblySecurity, RuntimeAssembly locationHint, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, IntPtr pPrivHostBinder, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection, Boolean suppressSecurityChecks) +36
System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly.InternalLoadAssemblyName(AssemblyName assemblyRef, Evidence assemblySecurity, RuntimeAssembly reqAssembly, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, IntPtr pPrivHostBinder, Boolean throwOnFileNotFound, Boolean forIntrospection, Boolean suppressSecurityChecks) +152
System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly.InternalLoad(String assemblyString, Evidence assemblySecurity, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, IntPtr pPrivHostBinder, Boolean forIntrospection) +77
System.Reflection.RuntimeAssembly.InternalLoad(String assemblyString, Evidence assemblySecurity, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Boolean forIntrospection) +21 System.Reflection.Assembly.Load(String assemblyString) +28
System.Web.Configuration.CompilationSection.LoadAssemblyHelper(String assemblyName, Boolean starDirective) +38

[ConfigurationErrorsException: Could not load file or assembly 'System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.3.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. The located assembly's manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040)]
System.Web.Configuration.CompilationSection.LoadAssemblyHelper(String assemblyName, Boolean starDirective) +738
System.Web.Configuration.CompilationSection.LoadAllAssembliesFromAppDomainBinDirectory() +217 System.Web.Configuration.CompilationSection.LoadAssembly(AssemblyInfo ai) +130
System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.GetReferencedAssemblies(CompilationSection compConfig) +170
System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.GetPreStartInitMethodsFromReferencedAssemblies() +92 System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.CallPreStartInitMethods(String preStartInitListPath, Boolean& isRefAssemblyLoaded) +290
System.Web.Compilation.BuildManager.ExecutePreAppStart() +157
System.Web.Hosting.HostingEnvironment.Initialize(ApplicationManager appManager, IApplicationHost appHost, IConfigMapPathFactory configMapPathFactory, HostingEnvironmentParameters hostingParameters, PolicyLevel policyLevel, Exception appDomainCreationException) +531

[HttpException (0x80004005): Could not load file or assembly 'System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.3.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. The located assembly's manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040)]
System.Web.HttpRuntime.FirstRequestInit(HttpContext context) +9924184 System.Web.HttpRuntime.EnsureFirstRequestInit(HttpContext context) +101 System.Web.HttpRuntime.ProcessRequestNotificationPrivate(IIS7WorkerRequest wr, HttpContext context) +261

How do I upgrade the version of System.Web.Mvc to point to the correct assembly?

Answer 1

Error was caused due to incorrect binding. I changed:

<dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="System.Net.Http.Formatting" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" culture="neutral" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-5.2.3.0" newVersion="5.2.3.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>

to

  <dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity name="System.Net.Http.Formatting" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" culture="neutral" />
<bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-5.2.3.0" newVersion="5.0.0.0" />

and it works now.

Answer 2

Well, it's the version binding concern, and for the users getting into this now as in 2019, with say, VS 2017, (as I ran into) and as the OP mentioned :

How do I upgrade the version of System.Web.Mvc to point to the correct assembly?

Always let nuget package manager do it for you, to make the correct versions installed according to your project .NET version etc.

Since, I reached here searching for my issue :

Could not load file or assembly 'System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.4.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. The located assembly's manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040)

and got the indication of version binding concern, I did the following:

and it worked quite smoothly thereafter.

@Ahmed, Thanks for pointing to the right direction, though

Answer 3

In my case i solved by changing the PageControls and assemblyBinding elements on config to match the current version of `System.Web.Mvc, wich is 5.2.4.0

PageControls

At the PageControls section replace the version in all occurrences of assembly "System.Web.Mvc", for your current version.:

 <pages controlRenderingCompatibilityVersion="4.0" validateRequest="false" pageParserFilterType="System.Web.Mvc.ViewTypeParserFilter, System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.4.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" pageBaseType="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage, System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.4.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" userControlBaseType="System.Web.Mvc.ViewUserControl, System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.4.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35">
  <controls>
    <add assembly="System.Web.Mvc, Version=5.2.4.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" namespace="System.Web.Mvc" tagPrefix="mvc"/>
  </controls>

assemblyBinding

At the assemblyBindingelement map all previous versions of the assembly to the current version, like this:

 <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.Mvc" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"/>
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-5.2.4.0" newVersion="5.2.4.0"/>
  </dependentAssembly>

This element it is used by any package the references an old version.

How to check the current version of 'System.Web.Mvc'

You current version of System.Web.Mvc can be seen in properties tab, selecting the assembly from the project references, like this:

Note: I am answering an 2 years old question, so reasons for this error occur now may be different

Answer 4

In my case the application was working fine locally but not on one of the servers. Removing the section for 'System.Web.Mvc' fixed the issue for me.