How do I fix a "Unable to add data connection. The IVsDataConnectionDialog could not be initialized" error?

Question

I'm getting an error in Visual Studio 2008 anytime I try to create a data connection in the Server Explorer: "Unable to add data connection. The IVsDataConnectionDialog could not be initialized"

Also, the existing data connections are disabled and their icon is a red-slash-circle.

So far, the only advice I've found is here: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbide/thread/14683181-7a23-4f01-93d5-5af3153b4cf3

Choices there include:

• Reinstall VS2008
• Reinistall .net 3.5 sp1
• rename registry for vs2008 user settings

..but I've tried each recommendation to no avail.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

Answer 1

Sweet GLORY!!! This is fixed now.

BIG thanks to Glenn Berry on this post: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/Vsexpressinstall/thread/ae47e254-e4af-4290-a221-1abd7ad839d0

So I went into these folders: C:\Documents and Settings{my login}\Application Data\Microsoft C:\Documents and Settings{my login}\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft

... and changed the VisualStudio folder name to VisualStudioXXX

When I restarted the VS2008 I was able to add new data connections in the Server Explorer.

Answer 2

This fixed the same problem for me

Try to modify Registry: 1) Open the registry 2) Rename [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0] To [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0back] 3) Restart Visual Studio

Credit : http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbide/thread/14683181-7a23-4f01-93d5-5af3153b4cf3

Answer 3

I was getting a different error like:

Unable to add data connection. Could not find a part of the path 'c:\Programmer\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\DBPro\Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamSystem.Data.SqlViewExtensions.xml'. at DataViewSupport(4,3)

Deleting the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0\DataProviders{91510608-8809-4020-8897-FBA057E22D54}\TSDataViewExtensions and restarting VS.NET (as suggested at: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/vstsdb/thread/8981a078-0104-4ee7-ac34-404cfb7df97d) did the trick for me.