Visual Studio thinks `Microsoft Web Developer Tools` is installed

Question

Symptoms

• Visual Studio syntax highlighter and Intellisense for Javascript and Razor views are not working.

• There is no Web templates installed when creating a new project.

• When I try to uninstall the web developer feature:

  Add or remove Programs > Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2015 > Modify

  Microsoft Web Developer Tools is always checked. Even when I uncheck it and uninstall it, then restart the computer; the next time I still see it's checked:

  

What I did to solve this:

• Running devenv.exe \resetuserdata Command to reset the user data.
• Running devenv.exe \installtemplates to install the templates.
• Repairing the Visual Studio.
• Trying to uninstall and re-install the Web Developer Tools feature through the Visual Studio installer.

None have worked so far.

What I guess

I think Visual Studio thinks this feature is installed (through some registry keys probably) but the files are actually not installed.

Because whenever I try to Modify the installation of Visual Studio, the Microsof Web Developer Tools check box is not checked for the first second, then it is checked again after 1 second.

Question

Any suggestion on fixing this without uninstalling Visual Studio itself?

Answer 1

I was having the same problem and this is what worked for me:

1. Uninstall ASP.NET Web Tools from Control Panel

2. Download and install "Microsoft ASP.NET and Web Tools" extension from: https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/c94a02e9-f2e9-4bad-a952-a63a967e3935

Answer 2

Try this (in order):

1. Find Microsoft ASP.NET 5 RC1 ... in control panel / programs & select modify
2. Select repair
3. Run devenv.exe /installvstemplates as administrator
4. Run VS as administrator

Answer 3

I had the same problem with Visual Studio 2015. I tried several things, but simply updating Microsoft ASP.NET seemed to do the trick.

Install ASP.NET 5 RC1, restart, and the issue should be resolved.