Failed to load data access DLL, 0x80004005

Question

0:025> !pe
Failed to load data access DLL, 0x80004005
Verify that 1) you have a recent build of the debugger (6.2.14 or newer)
            2) the file mscordacwks         


        

Answer 1

The problem is that the correct version of mscordacwks.dll can't be located. The DLL acts as an abstraction layer between the runtime and SOS and thus it must correspond to the version of the runtime. There's an excellent write up of the problem and its solution here http://blogs.msdn.com/dougste/archive/2009/02/18/failed-to-load-data-access-dll-0x80004005-or-what-is-mscordacwks-dll.aspx

Make sure to follow the advice on renaming the DLL very carefully, cause if you get it wrong it doesn't work and the error messages are not very helpful imo.