Resolving Assembly Version Issues by Cleaning the Global Assembly Cache (GAC)

Resolving Assembly Version Issues by Cleaning the Global Assembly Cache (GAC)

You might encounter assembly version conflicts if an incomplete uninstall of a previous dotConnect provider leaves an empty folder in the Global Assembly Cache (GAC). This is an uncommon occurrence.

Accessing the Global Assembly Cache:

The Global Assembly Cache (GAC) is typically located at:

C:\Windows\assembly\GAC_MSIL\

Info
Note: you cannot directly access this folder using standard Windows Explorer due to its special shell extension.

Solution 1: Using a File Manager with System Administrator Permissions

For easier access, use a file manager (such as Unreal Commander) that allows viewing hidden and system files. Run the file manager with system administrator privileges. Navigate to the C:\Windows\assembly\GAC_MSIL\ folder and delete the Devart.Data folder.

Solution 2: Disabling the GAC Shell Extension in Explorer

If you only have Windows Explorer, you can disable the GAC shell extension to access the folder's contents. The shell extension is enabled through the Desktop.ini file within the assembly folder. Follow these steps in Command Prompt:

1. Navigate to the GAC folder:
cd %windir%\assembly

2. Remove system and hidden attributes from the Desktop.ini file:
attrib –s –h desktop.ini

3. Rename the Desktop.ini file to disable the shell extension:
ren Desktop.ini Desktop.ini.disabled

After executing these commands, you can use Windows Explorer to navigate to the %windir%\assembly\GAC_MSIL\ folder and delete the Devart.Data folder.

Finally, to re-enable the GAC shell extension, rename the Desktop.ini.disabled file back to Desktop.ini in the Command Prompt:

ren Desktop.ini.disabled Desktop.ini