Develop Reference

Assembly Binding Issue in asp.net web application, Enabled Fusion Log

I am working on legacy web application and I am getting run time assembly binding error (FileNotFoundException)
I looked into application base directory and can confirm that required DLL with correct version and public token is available under bin/ directory.
I enabled Fusion Log on server to capture details and realized that CLR is probing for assembly in GAC first (I think this is by design for signed assemblies) Below is log for quick reference :
I am able to make it work by installing assembly in GAC - but question and curiosity still remains open why CLR did not picked it from application base directory after it is not found in GAC ?
Also from below log it appears that after GAC, search is performed under directory C:Windows/System32 vs my application directory. I think it's because also logs says it's Running under executable C:\Windows\system32\dllhost.exe
Any help/comment appreciated !!
*** Assembly Binder Log Entry (6/28/2018 # 4:18:02 AM) ***
The operation failed.
Bind result: hr = 0x80070002. The system cannot find the file specified.
Assembly manager loaded from: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\clr.dll
Running under executable C:\Windows\system32\dllhost.exe
--- A detailed error log follows.
=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory, Version=3.19.3.10102, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Windows/system32/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
LOG: Dynamic Base = NULL
LOG: Cache Base = NULL
LOG: AppName = dllhost.exe
Calling assembly : (Unknown).
===
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: No application configuration file found.
LOG: Using host configuration file:
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: GAC Lookup was unsuccessful.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/system32/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/system32/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/system32/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory.EXE.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/system32/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory.EXE.
LOG: All probing URLs attempted and failed.
*** Assembly Binder Log Entry (6/28/2018 # 4:18:02 AM) ***
The operation failed.
Bind result: hr = 0x80070002. The system cannot find the file specified.
Assembly manager loaded from: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\clr.dll
Running under executable C:\Windows\system32\dllhost.exe
--- A detailed error log follows.
=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory, Version=3.19.3.10102, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Windows/system32/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
LOG: Dynamic Base = NULL
LOG: Cache Base = NULL
LOG: AppName = dllhost.exe
Calling assembly : (Unknown).
===
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: No application configuration file found.
LOG: Using host configuration file:
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: GAC Lookup was unsuccessful.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/system32/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/system32/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/system32/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory.EXE.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Windows/system32/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory/Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory.EXE.
LOG: All probing URLs attempted and failed.
*** Assembly Binder Log Entry (6/28/2018 # 4:18:03 AM) ***
The operation failed.
Bind result: hr = 0x80070002. The system cannot find the file specified.
Assembly manager loaded from: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\clr.dll
Running under executable C:\Windows\system32\dllhost.exe
--- A detailed error log follows.
=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory, Version=3.19.3.10102, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Windows/system32/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
LOG: Dynamic Base = NULL
LOG: Cache Base = NULL
LOG: AppName = dllhost.exe
Calling assembly : (Unknown).
===
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: No application configuration file found.
LOG: Using host configuration file:
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: The same bind was seen before, and was failed with hr = 0x80070002.
ERR: Unrecoverable error occurred during pre-download check (hr = 0x80070002).
*** Assembly Binder Log Entry (6/28/2018 # 4:18:03 AM) ***
The operation failed.
Bind result: hr = 0x80070002. The system cannot find the file specified.
Assembly manager loaded from: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\clr.dll
Running under executable C:\Windows\system32\dllhost.exe
--- A detailed error log follows.
=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory, Version=3.19.3.10102, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Windows/system32/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
LOG: Dynamic Base = NULL
LOG: Cache Base = NULL
LOG: AppName = dllhost.exe
Calling assembly : MS.UST.EC.Oem.ServiceProxy, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=0753af11def5a5f8.
===
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: No application configuration file found.
LOG: Using host configuration file:
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: The same bind was seen before, and was failed with hr = 0x80070002.
ERR: Unrecoverable error occurred during pre-download check (hr = 0x80070002).

The EXE image C:\Windows\system32\dllhost.exe is known as the "COM Surrogate" host. When you want to activate a COM+ component service, and not load it in your own process (for security or stability), dllhost.exe will be invoked to load the component and expose it as an "out of process" activation, then communicate back to your process via some transparent proxy channel, allowing the calling program to pretend that the component is loaded locally.
What this means is that you likely have some code which is being accessed via a COM+ interface and getting launched out-of-process. This code in turn is trying to load the Microsoft.IdentityModel.Clients.ActiveDirectory assembly. The problem is, it's not in your process anymore, and won't participate in any binding policy you've setup (private bin path, binding redirects, etc). This is why you see it trying the GAC first and then failing to find your dll - it's not your process.
Look for any component you might be loading which is a COM component: are you using some COM TypeLib, or a Runtime Callable Wrapper to some COM dll, or do you have any code which inherits System.EnterpriseServices.ServicedComponent?
If you can find where the out-of-process COM component is being launched, you may be able to refactor it to bring the logic in-process and fix your loading issues this way. Otherwise you'll have to put the assemblies in the GAC.

Assembly Binding Error: Unrecoverable error occurred during pre-download check (hr = 0x80070780)

I have a .NET 4.5 application that works and runs with no issues in most environments; however, one area of the application throws a runtime assembly reference error on some client machines:
Could not load file or assembly 'System.Xml.Linq, Version 4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089' or one of its dependencies. The file cannot be accessed by the system. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80070780)
I ran the fusion logs and interestingly, this assembly seems to be loaded twice, once for version 4.0.0.0 and then for version 3.5.0.0 when Newtonsoft.Json version 6.0.8 is loaded. The first load works and the second is where the binding error comes from.
Here is the Fusion log for the successful 4.0.0.0 bind:
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="charset=unicode-1-1-utf-8"><!-- saved from url=(0015)assemblybinder: --><html><pre>
*** Assembly Binder Log Entry (1/16/2017 # 12:40:06 PM) ***
The operation was successful.
Bind result: hr = 0x0. The operation completed successfully.
Assembly manager loaded from: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\clr.dll
Running under executable C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Apps\MyApplicationPath\MyApplication.exe
--- A detailed error log follows.
=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = System.Xml.Linq, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089, processorArchitecture=MSIL
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Users/<user>/AppData/Local/Apps/MyApplicationPath/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
LOG: Dynamic Base = NULL
LOG: Cache Base = NULL
LOG: AppName = MyApplication.exe
Calling assembly : (Unknown).
===
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: Using application configuration file: C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Apps\MyApplicationPath\MyApplication.exe.Config
LOG: Using host configuration file:
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: Found assembly by looking in the GAC.
LOG: Binding succeeds. Returns assembly from C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.Net\assembly\GAC_MSIL\System.Xml.Linq\v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089\System.Xml.Linq.dll.
LOG: Assembly is loaded in default load context.
</pre></html>
And here is the unsuccessful 3.5.0.0 bind:
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="charset=unicode-1-1-utf-8"><!-- saved from url=(0015)assemblybinder: --><html><pre>
*** Assembly Binder Log Entry (1/16/2017 # 12:41:12 PM) ***
The operation failed.
Bind result: hr = 0x80070780. The file cannot be accessed by the system.
Assembly manager loaded from: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\clr.dll
Running under executable C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Apps\MyApplicationPath\MyApplication.exe
--- A detailed error log follows.
=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = System.Xml.Linq, Version=3.5.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Users/<user>/AppData/Local/Apps/MyApplicationPath/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
LOG: Dynamic Base = NULL
LOG: Cache Base = NULL
LOG: AppName = MyApplication.exe
Calling assembly : Newtonsoft.Json, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=30ad4fe6b2a6aeed.
===
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: Using application configuration file: C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Apps\MyApplicationPath\MyApplication.exe.Config
LOG: Using host configuration file:
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: Version redirect found in framework config: 3.5.0.0 redirected to 4.0.0.0.
LOG: Post-policy reference: System.Xml.Linq, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089
LOG: Binding succeeds. Returns assembly from C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.Net\assembly\GAC_MSIL\System.Xml.Linq\v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089\System.Xml.Linq.dll.
LOG: Assembly is loaded in default load context.
ERR: Unrecoverable error occurred during pre-download check (hr = 0x80070780).
</pre></html>
What really makes no sense to me is that it is loading the assembly from the same exact location, and it just is not working the second time around. I thought this was perhaps due to a lock of some sorts on the GAC assembly, but after checking the Fusion log on a working environment, the log file is the same, just without the final error line, so that is not it.
What is also interesting is that this problem appears to only be happening on Windows 10 machines, but not all Windows 10 machines. It also appears to not be limited to upgrades or fresh Win10 installs; it happens on both.
I have tried numerous things to fix this problem, including:
.NET repair
fully removing and re-installing .NET
clearing temporary ASP.NET files
adding assembly binding redirects/probing to the application config files to manually point to the file referenced the application's bin folder or the root folder (tried this for version 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 of the referenced assembly.
Using the Windows 10 Repair functionality to reinstall the OS (and keep the files)
Ensuring the required assembly is located in the GAC (in the new GAC location)
Republishing the application using the latest version of Newtonsoft.Json.
creating a basic test app that references Newtonsoft.Json and the same System.Xml.Linq assembly (that works on the bad machines)
I appear to be running out of options, and unfortunately, I cannot get a more specified error than "Unrecoverable error," so I am not sure where else to look. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Could not load the file or assembly {ASSEMBLY-DETAILS} The system cannot find the file specified

Recieving this error in a VSTO project. The program flows like this:
WordAddIn (VSTO project) >> Ribbon btn click >> Capture content of doc >> All went ok? >> Call Office.Forms.frmOfficeAddIn.Initialise() >> Call same form's mbSignOn() function
A FileNotFoundException occurs at the final stage, mbSignOn(), because it cannot find the library ADODBHELPER. According to the FusionLog, it seems to be looking for the dll in the WordAddIn vsto project, even though the project is referenced and used exclusively in a seperate project containing frmOfficeAddIn.
This same code works on my standard dev machine (64bit Win7). The trouble is occurring on a new dev machine I'm trying to get up and running (32bit Win7). Exception details, fusion log included below. Any help appreciated.
Exception Msg:
{"Could not load file or assembly 'ADODBHELPER, Version=6.0.8.19015, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.":"ADODBHELPER, Version=6.0.8.19015, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null"}
Stack Trace:
at OfficeCaptureAddIn.frmOfficeAddIn.mbSignon()
at OfficeCaptureAddIn.frmOfficeAddIn.Initialise(Dictionary`2 dictFiles) in C:\SOURCECONTROL\dotNET\Office\Forms\frmOfficeAddIn.vb:line 45
FusionLog:
=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = ADODBHELPER, Version=6.0.8.19015, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/SOURCECONTROL/dotNET/dotNET/WordAddIn/bin/Debug/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
Calling assembly : OfficeCaptureAddIn, Version=5.0.6073.19015, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null.
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: Using application configuration file: C:\SOURCECONTROL\dotNET\dotNET\WordAddIn\bin\Debug\WordAddIn.dll.config
LOG: Using host configuration file:
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: Policy not being applied to reference at this time (private, custom, partial, or location-based assembly bind).
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/SOURCECONTROL/dotNET/WordAddIn/bin/Debug/ADODBHELPER.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/SOURCECONTROL/dotNET/WordAddIn/bin/Debug/ADODBHELPER/ADODBHELPER.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/SOURCECONTROL/dotNET/WordAddIn/bin/Debug/ADODBHELPER.EXE.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/SOURCECONTROL/dotNET/WordAddIn/bin/Debug/ADODBHELPER/ADODBHELPER.EXE.

C# binding failure on missing ".resources" files

I have a C# program that links to a (large) third-party library and builds successfully with it. All necessary references between my program and the library are included, and the program starts correctly.
Upon loading the .NET managed DLL for the aforementioned library, I get a System.IO.FileNotFoundException that says that the library or one of its dependencies could not be loaded ("The specified module could not be found.").
Since the relevant DLL is present in the Release directory, I went through the fusion event logs and found only binding failures for a bunch of nonexistent <PROJECT>.resource.<DLL|EXE> files under a nonexistent Release\en directory. This doesn't make much sense to me at all, since the project's only resource (a single icon) is internalized.
The logs look like this, with some information redacted:
*** Assembly Binder Log Entry (7/11/2016 # 10:08:49 AM) ***
The operation failed.
Bind result: hr = 0x80070002. The system cannot find the file specified.
Assembly manager loaded from: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\clr.dll
Running under executable C:\Users\USER\Desktop\PROJECT\bin\x86\Release\PROJECT.vshost.exe
--- A detailed error log follows.
=== Pre-bind state information ===
LOG: DisplayName = PROJECT.resources, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=en, PublicKeyToken=null
(Fully-specified)
LOG: Appbase = file:///C:/Users/USER/Desktop/PROJECT/bin/x86/Release/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL
LOG: Dynamic Base = NULL
LOG: Cache Base = NULL
LOG: AppName = PROJECT.vshost.exe
Calling assembly : PROJECT, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null.
===
LOG: This bind starts in default load context.
LOG: Using application configuration file: C:\Users\USER\Desktop\PROJECT\bin\x86\Release\PROJECT.vshost.exe.Config
LOG: Using host configuration file:
LOG: Using machine configuration file from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: Policy not being applied to reference at this time (private, custom, partial, or location-based assembly bind).
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/USER/Desktop/PROJECT/bin/x86/Release/en/PROJECT.resources.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/USER/Desktop/PROJECT/bin/x86/Release/en/PROJECT.resources/PROJECT.resources.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/USER/Desktop/PROJECT/bin/x86/Release/en/PROJECT.resources.EXE.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL file:///C:/Users/USER/Desktop/PROJECT/bin/x86/Release/en/PROJECT.resources/PROJECT.resources.EXE.
LOG: All probing URLs attempted and failed.
Update: This is what Process Monitor shows when loading the DLL:
The first three loads are the relevant DLL, and the following ones are (ostensibly) its dependencies, all from the standard VS C++ redistributable.
Update 2: Dependency Walker shows the same DLLs as missing, although this doesn't seem to manifest at load time:

EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database assembly linking issue with Workflow

I get the following error when i try to run a console program which calls a Workflow 4 activity I created. Note the workflow compiles and runs without issue when executed from unit Tests or embedded in another workflow.
Could not load file or assembly
'Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database,
PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or
one of its dependencies. The system
cannot find the file specified.
I am using EnterpriseLibrary 5.0 for logging and connection strings.
I notice that the path to the assemblies is as follows:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft
Enterprise Library
5.0\Bin\Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.*
Looking at the Assembly Binding Log is
see the following:
* Assembly Binder Log Entry (17/03/2011 # 15:32:48) *
The operation failed. Bind result: hr
= 0x80070002. The system cannot find the file specified.
Assembly manager loaded from:
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\clr.dll
Running under executable
C:\Development\Work\EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow\EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow.FeedManager\bin\Debug\EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow.FeedManager.vshost.exe
--- A detailed error log follows.
=== Pre-bind state information === LOG: User = EQUINOXEAIS\pmckee LOG:
DisplayName =
Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database,
Version=5.0.414.0, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
(Fully-specified) LOG: Appbase =
file:///C:/Development/Work/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow.FeedManager/bin/Debug/
LOG: Initial PrivatePath = NULL LOG:
Dynamic Base = NULL LOG: Cache Base =
NULL LOG: AppName =
EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow.FeedManager.vshost.exe
Calling assembly :
EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow.ActivityLibrary,
Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=null.
LOG: This bind starts in default load
context. LOG: No application
configuration file found. LOG: Using
host configuration file: LOG: Using
machine configuration file from
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config.
LOG: Post-policy reference:
Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database,
Version=5.0.414.0, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35 LOG:
GAC Lookup was unsuccessful. LOG:
Attempting download of new URL
file:///C:/Development/Work/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow.FeedManager/bin/Debug/Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL
file:///C:/Development/Work/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow.FeedManager/bin/Debug/Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database/Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database.DLL.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL
file:///C:/Development/Work/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow.FeedManager/bin/Debug/Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database.EXE.
LOG: Attempting download of new URL
file:///C:/Development/Work/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow/EquinoxeAISManagementSystemWorkflow.FeedManager/bin/Debug/Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database/Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database.EXE.
LOG: All probing URLs attempted and
failed.
I have tried the following to resolve the issue:
- Setting 'Specific version' to False for all referanced EnterpriseLibrary assemplies
- Recreating the app.config using the EnterpriseLibrary config tool again (and again and again :(
- Deleting all references assemblies and adding them back in one by one.
I would be really grateful if anyone had further pointer as to how to debug this issue.....THANKS!

I see three possible issues...
Your app is x64 (C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\), is Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Logging.Database x86 or x64? (never tried to do this so I'm not sure if it can be done or not)
Is this file being copied local on build? It has to be located in C:/Development/Work/[snip]/bin/Debug in order for the fusion loader to find it. Fusion won't look under every directory.
It is in the GAC, but it is not in the directory mentioned in #2. Fusion must first find the assembly under the install directory before it will probe the GAC for the assembly, IIRC*.
*this behavior depends on how the assembly is loaded at runtime using a partial bind, i.e., not using the assembly's strong name.