Visual Studio keeps overwriting NewtonSoft.Json.DLL with an older version

Question

Visual Studio is overwriting the correct version of NewtonSoft.Json.DLL that I have configured in both my project references and the NuGet package file with an older version when I build any other project besides the website that contains the reference.

OK. Here is the scenario:

I have a solution with a backend service and a website. The website is running on .NET 4.5 and is configured with NuGet to pull in version 6.0.1 of Newtonsoft.Json.DLL.

<package id="Newtonsoft.Json" version="6.0.1" targetFramework="net45" />

Which adds the dependenAssembly binding to the web.config file.

  <dependentAssembly>
    <assemblyIdentity name="Newtonsoft.Json" publicKeyToken="30ad4fe6b2a6aeed" culture="neutral" />
    <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-6.0.0.0" newVersion="6.0.0.0" />
  </dependentAssembly>

I can build and run this website without any problems.

I recently updated all of the class libraries and backend service from .NET 4.0 to .NET 4.5. After the update, whenever I build one of the class libraries or run/debug the backend service, the website becomes inoperable.

Could not load file or assembly 'Newtonsoft.Json' or one of its dependencies. The located assembly's manifest definition does not match the assembly reference. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80131040)

I tracked this down to the fact that when rebuilding one of the class libraries or running/debugging the backend service from Visual Studio, the Newtonsoft.Json.DLL gets overwritten with an older version of the file - version 4.5.11. Because of the explicit dependentAssembly binding, any time I access the website after that I get the 'Could not load ...' error mentioned above.

This would be OK if I just wanted to run one or the other of the backend service or the website, but I have to run them both together to get my application running properly. But because of this error I cannot have the backend service running at the same time as the website or the website crashes.

How do I prevent Visual Studio from overwriting the DLL?

Note that I have the reference set for only 6.0.1 across the entire solution (i.e. there is no reference anywhere to 4.5.11). And in the website I have 'Copy Local' set to true and 'Specific Version' is also set to true for the Newtonsoft.Json.DLL.

Answer 1

This is a known bug in Windows Azure VS Tools

Workarounds:

• Remove Newtonsoft.Json.dll file from Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Azure.NET SDK\v2.3\ref\ folder.

• Uninstall Windows Azure VS Tools v 2.3