"The system cannot find the file specified"

Question

I saw many questions on SO with this error. But none were related to forms. I just hosted my application server after testing locally. I think it worked for a few mins but I'm not sure as I may have looked at the localhost tab for a moment. Then it stopped working. I may have changed something as I was making changes on server too.

I checked my connection string and also tried logging into the DB using other ways and it is online. So, any clues what could be wrong. I don't think it is possible that sql server is only not responding to requests from an app and is available if you log in through SSMS.

Below is the error I get.

Server Error in '/' Application.

The system cannot find the file specified

Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The system cannot find the file specified

Source Error:

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace:

[Win32Exception (0x80004005): The system cannot find the file specified]

[SqlException (0x80131904): A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 52 - Unable to locate a Local Database Runtime installation. Verify that SQL Server Express is properly installed and that the Local Database Runtime feature is enabled.)]
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection, Action1 wrapCloseInAction) +5296071 System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject stateObj, Boolean callerHasConnectionLock, Boolean asyncClose) +558
System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Connect(ServerInfo serverInfo, SqlInternalConnectionTds connHandler, Boolean ignoreSniOpenTimeout, Int64 timerExpire, Boolean encrypt, Boolean trustServerCert, Boolean integratedSecurity, Boolean withFailover) +5308555
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.AttemptOneLogin(ServerInfo serverInfo, String newPassword, SecureString newSecurePassword, Boolean ignoreSniOpenTimeout, TimeoutTimer timeout, Boolean withFailover) +145
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.LoginNoFailover(ServerInfo serverInfo, String newPassword, SecureString newSecurePassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, SqlCredential credential, TimeoutTimer timeout) +920
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.OpenLoginEnlist(TimeoutTimer timeout, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, SqlCredential credential, String newPassword, SecureString newSecurePassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance) +307
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds..ctor(DbConnectionPoolIdentity identity, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, SqlCredential credential, Object providerInfo, String newPassword, SecureString newSecurePassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance, SqlConnectionString userConnectionOptions) +434
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions options, DbConnectionPoolKey poolKey, Object poolGroupProviderInfo, DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnection owningConnection, DbConnectionOptions userOptions) +225
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreatePooledConnection(DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnectionOptions options, DbConnectionPoolKey poolKey, DbConnectionOptions userOptions) +37
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.CreateObject(DbConnectionOptions userOptions) +558
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.UserCreateRequest(DbConnectionOptions userOptions) +67
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.TryGetConnection(DbConnection owningObject, UInt32 waitForMultipleObjectsTimeout, Boolean allowCreate, Boolean onlyOneCheckConnection, DbConnectionOptions userOptions, DbConnectionInternal& connection) +1052
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.TryGetConnection(DbConnection owningObject, TaskCompletionSource1 retry, DbConnectionOptions userOptions, DbConnectionInternal& connection) +78
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.TryGetConnection(DbConnection owningConnection, TaskCompletionSource1 retry, DbConnectionOptions userOptions, DbConnectionInternal& connection) +167
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.TryOpenConnection(DbConnection outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory, TaskCompletionSource1 retry, DbConnectionOptions userOptions) +143
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.TryOpen(TaskCompletionSource1 retry) +83 System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.Open() +96
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlProviderServices.UsingConnection(SqlConnection sqlConnection, Action1 act) +79
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlProviderServices.UsingMasterConnection(SqlConnection sqlConnection, Action`1 act) +384
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlProviderServices.GetDbProviderManifestToken(DbConnection connection) +241
System.Data.Common.DbProviderServices.GetProviderManifestToken(DbConnection connection) +26

[ProviderIncompatibleException: The provider did not return a ProviderManifestToken string.]
System.Data.Common.DbProviderServices.GetProviderManifestToken(DbConnection connection) +170
System.Web.Providers.ModelHelper.GetStorageMetadata(String providerName, DbConnection connection, String ssdl) +35
System.Web.Providers.ModelHelper.CreateMetadataWorkspace(String providerName, DbConnection connection, String csdl, String ssdl, String msl) +154
System.Web.Providers.ModelHelper.CreateEntityConnection(ConnectionStringSettings setting, String csdl, String ssdl, String msl) +109
System.Web.Providers.ModelHelper.CreateMembershipEntities(ConnectionStringSettings setting) +28
System.Web.Providers.DefaultMembershipProvider.GetPasswordWithFormat(String userName, Boolean updateLastLoginActivityDate, Int32& status, String& password, Int32& format, String& salt, Int32& failedPasswordAttemptCount, Int32& failedPasswordAnswerAttemptCount, Boolean& isApproved, DateTime& lastLoginDate, DateTime& lastActivityDate) +118
System.Web.Providers.DefaultMembershipProvider.CheckPassword(String userName, String password, Boolean updateLastActivityDate, Boolean failIfNotApproved, String& salt, Int32& passwordFormat) +81
System.Web.Providers.DefaultMembershipProvider.ValidateUser(String username, String password) +105
System.Web.Security.Membership.ValidateUser(String username, String password) +26 Staff.Web.Account.Login.OnAuthenticate(Object sender, AuthenticateEventArgs e) in c:\Assembla\SVN\servicesdue\Staff.Web\Staff.Web\Account\Login.aspx.cs:28 System.Web.UI.WebControls.Login.OnAuthenticate(AuthenticateEventArgs e) +9449786 System.Web.UI.WebControls.Login.AttemptLogin() +119
System.Web.UI.WebControls.Login.OnBubbleEvent(Object source, EventArgs e) +75 System.Web.UI.Control.RaiseBubbleEvent(Object source, EventArgs args) +37
System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button.OnCommand(CommandEventArgs e) +114
System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button.RaisePostBackEvent(String eventArgument) +159
System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button.System.Web.UI.IPostBackEventHandler.RaisePostBackEvent(String eventArgument) +10
System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(IPostBackEventHandler sourceControl, String eventArgument) +13
System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(NameValueCollection postData) +35 System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint) +1724

Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:4.0.30319; ASP.NET Version:4.0.30319.18055

Someone also had this error and they said they were using the wrong store to connect to DB and hence the error. I only have one store in my code. There is no other.

Update:

I found the problem. It is membership related. Something is not right with my membership connection string. But I don't know what. My app requires registration so authentication is enabled. I left the default settings alone. Also published the mdf file in the App_Data folder. There is a similar question here: Deploying ASP.NET membership to Godaddy. But the solution is not clear and the answer is marked. I added the to the connection string and I see the error

The connection name 'LocalSqlServer' was not found in the applications configuration or the connection string is empty.

So, what should I do? This membership is working flawlessly locally.

Update:

I also tried what this one suggests Godaddy ASP.NET membership database woes. I removed the conn string and added with the name "LocalSqlServer" to make Godaddy happy. Then I removed and added the following with this connectionStringName - DefaultProfileProvider, DefaultMembershipProvider, DefaultRoleProvider and DefaultSessionProvider. Still get the same error of system cannot find the specified file.

Answer 1

A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. text

Generally issues like this are related to any of the following need to be looked at:

• firewall settings from the web server to the database server
• connection string errors
• enable the appropriate protocol pipes/ tcp-ip

Try connecting to sql server with sql management server on the system that sql server is installed on and work from there. Pay attention to information in the errorlogs.