Deploying Linq-to-SQL C# application that contains service based database

Question

I built a C# application in Visual Studio with Linq-to-SQL and it contains a service-based database (.mdf file). I want to deploy it to another computer so it can be used there.

I have already created the setup installer using Visual Studio installer -> Setup project in my solution. I try to install it in another computer. After the installation is completed, I can open the application.

But when I want to access the database I get this error:

Microsoft .NET Framework: Unhandled exception has occurred in your application. If you click continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click quit, the application will close immediately.

The underlying provider failed on open.

Can anyone help? I'm new to C# programming, I use Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express and Visual Studio 2015. Thank you

Here's the error log:

`See the end of this message for details on invoking just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text ************** System.Data.Entity.Core.EntityException: The underlying provider failed on Open. ---> System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: An attempt to attach an auto-named database for file C:\Program Files\Techno zone\LocalACC\Database1.mdf failed. A database with the same name exists, or specified file cannot be opened, or it is located on UNC share. at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds..ctor(DbConnectionPoolIdentity identity, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, SqlCredential credential, Object providerInfo, String newPassword, SecureString newSecurePassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance, SqlConnectionString userConnectionOptions, SessionData reconnectSessionData, DbConnectionPool pool, String accessToken, Boolean applyTransientFaultHandling) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions options, DbConnectionPoolKey poolKey, Object poolGroupProviderInfo, DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnection owningConnection, DbConnectionOptions userOptions) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreatePooledConnection(DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnection owningObject, DbConnectionOptions options, DbConnectionPoolKey poolKey, DbConnectionOptions userOptions) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.CreateObject(DbConnection owningObject, DbConnectionOptions userOptions, DbConnectionInternal oldConnection) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.UserCreateRequest(DbConnection owningObject, DbConnectionOptions userOptions, DbConnectionInternal oldConnection) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.TryGetConnection(DbConnection owningObject, UInt32 waitForMultipleObjectsTimeout, Boolean allowCreate, Boolean onlyOneCheckConnection, DbConnectionOptions userOptions, DbConnectionInternal& connection) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionPool.TryGetConnection(DbConnection owningObject, TaskCompletionSource1 retry, DbConnectionOptions userOptions, DbConnectionInternal& connection) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.TryGetConnection(DbConnection owningConnection, TaskCompletionSource1 retry, DbConnectionOptions userOptions, DbConnectionInternal oldConnection, DbConnectionInternal& connection) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionInternal.TryOpenConnectionInternal(DbConnection outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory, TaskCompletionSource1 retry, DbConnectionOptions userOptions) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.TryOpenInner(TaskCompletionSource1 retry) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.TryOpen(TaskCompletionSource1 retry) at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.Open() at System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.Interception.InternalDispatcher1.Dispatch[TTarget,TInterceptionContext](TTarget target, Action2 operation, TInterceptionContext interceptionContext, Action3 executing, Action3 executed) at System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.Interception.DbConnectionDispatcher.Open(DbConnection connection, DbInterceptionContext interceptionContext) at System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.DefaultSqlExecutionStrategy.<>c__DisplayClass1.<Execute>b__0() at System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.DefaultSqlExecutionStrategy.Execute[TResult](Func1 operation) at System.Data.Entity.Core.EntityClient.EntityConnection.Open() --- End of inner exception stack trace --- at System.Data.Entity.Core.EntityClient.EntityConnection.Open() at System.Data.Entity.Core.Objects.ObjectContext.EnsureConnection(Boolean shouldMonitorTransactions) at System.Data.Entity.Core.Objects.ObjectContext.ExecuteInTransaction[T](Func1 func, IDbExecutionStrategy executionStrategy, Boolean startLocalTransaction, Boolean releaseConnectionOnSuccess) at System.Data.Entity.Core.Objects.ObjectQuery1.<>c__DisplayClass7.b__5() at System.Data.Entity.SqlServer.DefaultSqlExecutionStrategy.Execute[TResult](Func1 operation) at System.Data.Entity.Core.Objects.ObjectQuery1.GetResults(Nullable1 forMergeOption) at System.Data.Entity.Core.Objects.ObjectQuery1..GetEnumerator>b__0() at System.Data.Entity.Internal.LazyEnumerator1.MoveNext() at System.Collections.Generic.List1..ctor(IEnumerable1 collection) at System.Linq.Enumerable.ToList[TSource](IEnumerable1 source) at SmallProject.AllTransactionForm.btnShowAll_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e) at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks) at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m) at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

************** Loaded Assemblies ************** mscorlib Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework64/v4.0.30319/mscorlib.dll ---------------------------------------- SmallProject Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0 CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Techno%20zone/LocalACC/SmallProject.exe ---------------------------------------- System.Windows.Forms Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll ---------------------------------------- System Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Drawing Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Configuration Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Core Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Core/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Core.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Xml Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll ---------------------------------------- EntityFramework Assembly Version: 6.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 6.1.40302.0 CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Techno%20zone/LocalACC/EntityFramework.DLL ---------------------------------------- System.Data Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_64/System.Data/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Data.dll ---------------------------------------- EntityFramework.SqlServer Assembly Version: 6.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 6.1.40302.0 CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Techno%20zone/LocalACC/EntityFramework.SqlServer.DLL ---------------------------------------- Anonymously Hosted DynamicMethods Assembly Assembly Version: 0.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_64/mscorlib/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/mscorlib.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Numerics Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Numerics/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Numerics.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Data.OracleClient Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_64/System.Data.OracleClient/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Data.OracleClient.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Transactions Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_64/System.Transactions/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Transactions.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Xml.Linq Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml.Linq/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.Linq.dll ---------------------------------------- System.EnterpriseServices Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0 Win32 Version: 4.6.1532.0 built by: NETFXREL1LAST

CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_64/System.EnterpriseServices/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.EnterpriseServices.dll

************** JIT Debugging ************** To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this application or computer (machine.config) must have the jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section. The application must also be compiled with debugging enabled.

For example:

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer rather than be handled by this dialog box.`

Answer 1

go to your project properties. in publish tab open 'application files' , then find your mdf file and change it's publish status to 'Data File(Auto)'.

Answer 2

Have You Tried Deattaching and Then Attaching Database?
If Not Then Read Have Look At Solution Briefed Below.

If I'm not wrong you are using Sql Server 2012. You just simply need to do is open Sql Server and do right click on your database -> Drop Down Will Appear -> Look For Deattach - Hit That Button. Now You Copy Your .mdf file. Now in second computer / in your client computer follow these steps:- 1) Open Sql Server. 2) Right click on Connection Detail appearing at Top Left Corner in Hierarchy Format, A drop down will appear -> Look for attach database button -> Click -> Now browse for .mdf file which you've deattached from your pc and now its time to attach in second PC. click submit. Now your database will be appearing in Connection Hierarchy. That's It. Now start your application if problem persist please do share with us :) and if problem is solved then click this answer as verified / accepted .. :) I hope this solution can help you out.