Entity Framework ADO.NET Sql.Data.Client provider not found

Question

I have a similar problem as the one presented in the question No Entity Framework provider found for the ADO.NET provider with invariant name 'System.Data.SqlClient'

Answer 1

You need to register the Entity Framework provider for the System.Data.SqlClient SQL connection type. you should have in app.config:

<configSections>
    <!-- For more information on Entity Framework configuration, visit http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=237468 -->
    <section name="entityFramework" type="System.Data.Entity.Internal.ConfigFile.EntityFrameworkSection, EntityFramework, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" requirePermission="false" />
  </configSections>
  <entityFramework>
    <defaultConnectionFactory type="System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.LocalDbConnectionFactory, EntityFramework">
      <parameters>
        <parameter value="v11.0" />
      </parameters>
    </defaultConnectionFactory>
    <providers>
      <provider invariantName="System.Data.SqlClient" type="System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.SqlProviderServices, EntityFramework.SqlServer" />
    </providers>
  </entityFramework>

Answer 2

The problem in my case was that inorder to catch another exception I had enabled CLR exceptions. And I forgot to disable it.

I disabled it in my exception setting. and it overlooked this exception and went on to run and create a db for me (in my case) automatically.

Answer 3

There are 2 options which you can try.

1) Load "System.Data.SqlClient" manually

Include the follow statement in your context class

var type = typeof(System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.SqlProviderServices);

2) Don't load "System.Data.SqlClient"

By change from

<defaultConnectionFactory type="System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.LocalDbConnectionFactory, EntityFramework">
  <parameters>
    <parameter value="v11.0" />
  </parameters>
</defaultConnectionFactory>
<providers>
  <provider invariantName="System.Data.SqlClient" type="System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.SqlProviderServices, EntityFramework.SqlServer" />
</providers>

to

<providers>
  <provider invariantName="System.Data.SqlClient" type="System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.SqlProviderServices, EntityFramework.SqlServer" />
</providers>
<defaultConnectionFactory type="System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.LocalDbConnectionFactory, EntityFramework">
  <parameters>
    <parameter value="v11.0" />
  </parameters>
</defaultConnectionFactory>

I hope your issue is resolved.