BadImageFormatException error in using InstallUtil tool

c# installutil
Bohn picture Bohn · Jun 16, 2012 · Viewed 11.4k times · Source

I have created and compiled my windows service using .NET 4.0 So I go to .NET 4.0 folder and say something like this: I copied the bin folder to C drive to make path shorter:

InstallUtil.exe "C:\bin\Debug\MyTestService.exe"

and this is the error I get:

Exception occurred while initializing the installation: System.BadImageFormatException: Could not load file or assembly 'file:///C:\bin Debug\MyTestService.exe' or one of its dependencies. An attempt was made to load a program with an incorrect format..

So I don't know what to do.

Answer

Russell McClure picture Russell McClure · Jun 16, 2012

That error happens when you use the wrong version of installutil. For instance, you are using installutil.exe for .NET 2.0 but your target exe is built with 4.0 or you are using a 32 bit version of installutil on a 64 bit dll/exe.

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