NuGet has problems with missing packages, how to restore?

Question

When I try to compile my program I get the following error:

This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Enable NuGet Package Restore to download them.  For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=317567.     

Now when I right click on the solution and press

All packages are already installed and there is nothing to restore. 

I tried manually reinstalling every package which didn't solve the problem, I tried reinstalling NuGet but that didn't help either and I even tried reinstalling visual studio.

I also tried moving the package folder from the tfs folder to overwrite my package folder but that didn't solve anything. I also tried redownloading them with this package missing, that didn' t solve the problem either.

Anybody know how to restore the nuget packages?

Answer 1

Use Package Manager Console in Visual Studio to run this command.

1.This will restore all packages from solution

nuget restore YourSolution.sln 

2.If you want to reinstall the packages to the same versions as were previously installed

Update-Package -reinstall 

Answer 2

Honestly, whoever developed the NuGet command for VS needs to go back to the drawing board. They totaly missed the fact that sometimes these DLL(s) and/or files get corrupt or deleted. a "NuGet Get-Packages -Force" option would really save their bacon. The only GAP I see is that VS and the Package console does not allow you to invoke a forced download from NuGet. Even clearing the cache via VS is useless.