Can't create new MVC5 project or any other ASP .NET projects in Visual Studio 2013

12
votes

When I attempt to create a new MVC5 project, I get a template selection dialog that doesn't load any options. I am unable to select a project type (ex. MVC, Web forms, Web API) and create the project.

It appears like this: http://i.imgur.com/OVLZfSj.png

To produce this issue, I go to File -> New Project -> Visual C# -> Web -> ASP .NET Web Application

After clicking OK, the point where I select the ASP .NET project template I want just sits there empty.

I am running Visual Studio 2013 Ultimate Update 3 and have tried the following:

  • Safe mode
  • Resetting Visual Studio
  • Running devenv /installvstemplates
  • Running Repair via Setup

UPDATE: This has been resolved for me by xinqui's response below. I deleted the following 3 files and am able to create new ASP .NET Web Application projects now!

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies\Microsoft.VisualStudio.Web.Internal.Contracts.dll
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies\Microsoft.VisualStudio.Web.WindowsAzure.Contracts.dll
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies\Microsoft.VisualStudio.Web.WindowsAzure.Explorer.dll
3
visual-studio-2013asp.net-mvc-5
Is there anything inside of C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\WebTemplates? – Jimmy
@Jimmy I've got the same problem, performed the same steps as altOnTab and inside my folder I see: MVC, WebApi, WebForms, all with vb and c# folders and 1033 folders with contens below – Larsi
Issue reported here: connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedbackdetail/view/941866/… – Larsi

3 Answers

20
votes

I'm from Microsoft web platform and tools team. In all of the problem reports we get, we find that there are several extra assemblies that did not get removed from installation process. Even we still don't know which installation process sequence caused the issue yet, we've be able to solve the problem by the following steps. Please try the workaround and let us know if it doesn't fix your problem. Thank you very much for all the support.

  1. Close VS.
    Goto C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies, delete the following assemblies if they exist: Microsoft.VisualStudio.Web.WindowsAzure.Contracts.dll Microsoft.VisualStudio.Web.WindowsAzure.Explorer.dll Microsoft.VisualStudio.Web.Internal.Contracts.dll

  2. Start VS2013 with update 3, try to create a ASP.NET Web application, see if the template exists and project can be created successfully.

0
votes

Info for XINQIU ...

I seemed to replicate this by trying to create a Web Api project and it asking me to update my account or re-log into my MS account on the right of this dialogue. I ignored this, closed the dialogue and then re-tried to add this project type. I was then presented with an empty dialogue.

Hope this helps!

-3
votes

I uninstalled VS, deleted the whole "Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0" directory, and reinstalled VS Express Web 2013 Update 3.

Others have mentioned deleting .dlls or using gacutil. I just wanted to start with fresh files. My stuff works now.