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C# Entity Framework Basics Introducing Entity Framework Using the Context

Andras Somodi
Andras Somodi
9,229 Points
Posted by Andras Somodi
Andras Somodi
9,229 Points

An unhandled exception of type 'System.NotSupportedException' occurred in EntityFramework.dll

"Additional information: Unable to determine the provider name for provider factory of type 'System.Data.SqlClient.SqlClientFactory'. Make sure that the ADO.NET provider is installed or registered in the application config."

I have MSSSQLLocalDB installed, so what am I missing?

Andras Somodi
Andras Somodi
9,229 Points
Andras Somodi
Andras Somodi
9,229 Points

I managed to solve this for myself, but since this might come up for others I will briefly explain how. It probably has to do with having other Database managers on your windows installed in my case MySql for example. This messes with the machine.config file in your Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64 and Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework folders when you install visual studio. In these files (I had 2 in each folder) wrong xml tags might be generated like this:

<system.data> <DbProviderFactories> <add name="IBM DB2 for i .NET Provider" invariant="IBM.Data.DB2.iSeries" description=".NET Framework Data Provider for IBM i" type="IBM.Data.DB2.iSeries.iDB2Factory, IBM.Data.DB2.iSeries, Version=12.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=9cdb2ebfb1f93a26"/>

<add name="Microsoft SQL Server Compact Data Provider 4.0" invariant="System.Data.SqlServerCe.4.0" description=".NET Framework Data Provider for Microsoft SQL Server Compact" type="System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeProviderFactory, System.Data.SqlServerCe, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91"/></DbProviderFactories>
<DbProviderFactories/>

</system.data>

Notice that there is an additional <DbProviderFactories/> tag at the end. I removed these from all files. I also removed the line for MySQL since I do not use that anymore, although I do not know which change actually solved the problem. It works now.

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,644 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,644 Points

Congratulations on resolving your issue. :+1:

That was a tricky one!