"End of Central Directory record could not be found" - NuGet in VS community 2015

Question

I am getting an error when i try to install any package from the NuGet in VS community edition 2015.

Attempting to gather dependencies information for package 'Microsoft.Net.Http.2.2.29' with respect to project 'ClassLibrary1', targeting '.NETFramework,Version=v4.5.2'
Attempting to resolve dependencies for package 'Microsoft.Net.Http.2.2.29' with DependencyBehavior 'Lowest'
Resolving actions to install package 'Microsoft.Net.Http.2.2.29'
Resolved actions to install package 'Microsoft.Net.Http.2.2.29'
Install failed. Rolling back...
Package 'Microsoft.Bcl.Build 1.0.14' does not exist in project 'ClassLibrary1'
Package 'Microsoft.Bcl.Build 1.0.14' does not exist in folder 'C:\Users\441793\documents\visual studio 2015\Projects\ClassLibrary1\packages'
System.IO.InvalidDataException: End of Central Directory record could not be found.
   at System.IO.Compression.ZipArchive.ReadEndOfCentralDirectory()
   at System.IO.Compression.ZipArchive.Init(Stream stream, ZipArchiveMode mode, Boolean leaveOpen)
   at System.IO.Compression.ZipArchive..ctor(Stream stream, ZipArchiveMode mode, Boolean leaveOpen, Encoding entryNameEncoding)
   at System.IO.Compression.ZipArchive..ctor(Stream stream, ZipArchiveMode mode)
   at NuGet.Packaging.NuGetPackageUtils.ExtractPackage(String targetPath, FileStream stream)
   at NuGet.Packaging.NuGetPackageUtils.<>c__DisplayClass1_0.<<InstallFromStreamAsync>b__0>d.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter`1.GetResult()
   at NuGet.Common.ConcurrencyUtilities.<ExecuteWithFileLocked>d__0`1.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
   at NuGet.Common.ConcurrencyUtilities.<ExecuteWithFileLocked>d__0`1.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter`1.GetResult()
   at NuGet.Packaging.NuGetPackageUtils.<InstallFromStreamAsync>d__1.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.GetResult()
   at NuGet.Protocol.Core.v3.GlobalPackagesFolderUtility.<AddPackageAsync>d__1.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter`1.GetResult()
   at NuGet.Protocol.Core.v3.DownloadResourceV3.<GetDownloadResourceResultAsync>d__4.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at NuGet.PackageManagement.PackageDownloader.<GetDownloadResourceResultAsync>d__1.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ValidateEnd(Task task)
   at NuGet.PackageManagement.NuGetPackageManager.<ExecuteNuGetProjectActionsAsync>d__42.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
   at NuGet.PackageManagement.NuGetPackageManager.<ExecuteNuGetProjectActionsAsync>d__42.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at NuGet.PackageManagement.UI.UIActionEngine.<ExecuteActionsAsync>d__5.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at NuGet.PackageManagement.UI.UIActionEngine.<PerformActionAsync>d__3.MoveNext()
========== Finished ==========

Error message i receive is in the Error List tab is

End of Central Directory record could not be found

I tried from Console application to Class libraries and getting this error for all packages i tried to install.

NuGet Version is : 3.0.60624.657

Any help will be appreciated

Answer 1

Go into your solution folder and delete your "packages" folder. You'll need to right-click your solution and select "Manage packages" and click the "Restore" button at the top of the screen where it tells you the packages are missing.