.NET 4.5 project not compiling in Visual Studio 2022

3
votes

I have installed Visual Studio 2022 on my PC today. I have an old app, which targets .NET 4.5. I see this error when attempting to build/compile the project:

"Error MSB3644 The reference assemblies for .NETFramework,Version=v4.5 were not found. To resolve this, install the Developer Pack (SDK/Targeting Pack) for this framework version or retarget your application. You can download .NET Framework Developer Packs at https://aka.ms/msbuild/developerpacks"

I have read this: https://thomaslevesque.com/2021/11/12/building-a-project-that-target-net-45-in-visual-studio-2022/. C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework.NETFramework\v4.5 already exists on my PC.

I have downloaded the .NET 4.5 Developer Pack here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/dotnet/framework/install/guide-for-developers. I see this when I attempt to run it:

enter image description here

Is there anything else I can try?

1
.netvisual-studio

1 Answers

1
votes

Because you might install a higher version of .net framework firstly, so installer might stop you install a lower version of .net framework

There is another way can try to fix it without reinstalling.

  1. Download Microsoft.NETFramework.ReferenceAssemblies.net45 enter image description here
  2. Modify the file extension name from microsoft.netframework.referenceassemblies.net45.nupkg to microsoft.netframework.referenceassemblies.net45.zip and Unzip the download file
  3. copy the files from build\.NETFramework\v4.5\ to C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETFramework\v4.5
  4. Run your project again.

Note

This way might also work for .net4.0 Microsoft.NETFramework.ReferenceAssemblies.net40 or other older version which Microsoft might not support in feature