LocalDB parent instance version invalid: MSSQL13E.LOCALDB

Question

I'm unable to add a database on a developer machine. I'm running win 10, visual studio 2015. I re-installed SQL server 2016 twice, last time with firewall disabled it all gave green marks in the end.

While i can create databases in VS2015 SQL server object explorer. I am unable to add a SQL database(S) to my projects, trough solution explorer.

Each time i try to add a database to a project i get event 527 SQLLocalDB 12.0 LocalDB parent instance version is invalid: MSSQL13E.LOCALDB

I've tried Start > Run > cmd > sqlcmd -L and it shows my SQLserver

Also made sure it uses the right ports as by (Why am I getting "Cannot Connect to Server - A network-related or instance-specific error"?)

i think that SQL is installed properly but that something is not allowing me to add databases (maybe because some root database?? is missing or so i am not sure i m not an export on SQL, but as the error says some DB seams missing ??

Answer 1

I had something similar and deleted any keys in: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\UserInstances that did not have the correct ParentInstance key such as MSSQL13E.LOCALDB.

No need to reinstall or reboot.

Answer 2

It happened to me when my LocalDB got updated (probably by Visual Studio installer)
I've recreated the instance using the following steps in PowerShell console:

λ SqlLocalDB delete MSSQLLocalDB LocalDB instance "MSSQLLocalDB" deleted.  λ SqlLocalDB create MSSQLLocalDB LocalDB instance "MSSQLLocalDB" created with version 13.1.4001.0.  λ SqlLocalDB start MSSQLLocalDB LocalDB instance "MSSQLLocalDB" started.