LocalDB parent instance version invalid: MSSQL13E.LOCALDB

Question

I\'m unable to add a database on a developer machine. I\'m running win 10, visual studio 2015. I re-installed SQL server 2016 twice, last time with firewall disabled it all

Answer 1

Remember update the Register:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\UserInstances

Check .DEFAULT

I have to do that, because it was wrong and need it to work in Windows Server 2012.

Answer 2

I had the same problem for migrating from SQL LocalDb 2016 to 2017.

I simply changed the value of the ParentInstance key from MSSQL13E.LOCALDB to MSSQL14E.LOCALDB and it worked !

Ty for pointing me to the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\UserInstances

Answer 3

I had something similar and deleted any keys in: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\UserInstances that did not have the correct ParentInstance key such as MSSQL13E.LOCALDB.

No need to reinstall or reboot.

Answer 4

I needed to change my install of Microsoft SQL Server LocalDB 2016 Express to 2014, so I uninstalled 2016 then installed 2014. After this I got the following error when ever I tried to attach a database:

LocalDB parent instance version is invalid: MSSQL13E.LOCALDB

To resolve the issue I uninstalled all mention of Microsoft SQL Server 2016 from my computer then deleted the related instance GUIDs from the following registry location, rebooted, installed 2014 LocalDB and all was good:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\UserInstances\

Answer 5

It happened to me when my LocalDB got updated (probably by Visual Studio installer)
I've recreated the instance using following steps:

λ SqlLocalDB delete MSSQLLocalDB
LocalDB instance "MSSQLLocalDB" deleted.

λ SqlLocalDB create MSSQLLocalDB
LocalDB instance "MSSQLLocalDB" created with version 13.1.4001.0.

λ SqlLocalDB start MSSQLLocalDB
LocalDB instance "MSSQLLocalDB" started.