Where are the symbols for ASP.NET MVC 4.0 RTM?

Question

I\'m trying to configure Visual Studio 2012 to allow me to step into ASP.NET MVC 4.0 source code. (System.Web.Mvc.dll). I\'ve followed SymbolSource\'s recommend

Answer 1

I had exactly the same issue (correct version but no symbols), but after a day or so of trying everything I've been able to get it working. These are catch-all instructions that worked for me, they may contain unnecessary steps:

1. Sign up for SymbolSource and follow the VS instructions using the authenticated URL form
2. Uninstall all versions of MVC with add/remove programs
3. Remove MVC assembly from the GAC (the question is about modifying MVC but the GAC answer is good)
4. Remove and then reinstall the MVC 4 reference to your project with NuGet
5. Start debugging, open the modules window, and cross your fingers that ‘Symbols loaded’ is next to System.Web.MVC when it appears.

(sprinkle in restarts as you see fit, for me the key final step was reinstalling the NuGet reference)

My theory is that as the GAC library is used at runtime in preference to the local reference, the symbols are not found when they are searched for. By removing MVC from the GAC and then reinstalling the NuGet reference, it seems the local reference is used and the symbols are found. It's counterintuitive as the System.Web.MVC.dll files are binary-equivalent between NuGet and the GAC, although they are dated differently.

I'm not totally convinced though as I tried to do the same thing for Razor and that didn't work.