Could not load file or assembly System.Data.SqlClient, Version=4.2.0.2 when I use System.Data.SqlClient Version 4.4.3

Question

I use System.Data.SqlClient Version 4.4.3 for all .NET Standard 2.0 class libraries in my ASP.NET Core 2.0 project. Why do I get

Cou

Answer 1

I had a similar issue to this today, I updated a number of packages including the All meta-package to 2.0.6. My app then wouldn't work quoting the error above. After a lot of investigation I did the following and it now seems to be working.

Connect to the Azure Web Site using FTP, navigate to the site -> wwwroot folder. Here I had a folder called "refs" and another called "runtimes". I deleted both of these folders (after taking a local backup), re-published my app and it worked!

Not sure why it worked but I thought this might be useful is someone stumbles across this with a similar issue.