Cannot install SQL Server Management Studio 2008: Could not load file or assembly

Posted on by

SSMS 2008 says: Could not load file or assembly

If SQL Server Management Studio 2008 fails to install with the following error message about loading file or assembly, a solution in this post might help you install it.

System.Configuration.ConfigurationErrorsException: An error occurred creating the configuration section handler for userSettings/Microsoft.SqlServer.Configuration.LandingPage.Properties.Settings: Could not load file or assembly ‘System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089’ or one of its dependencies

  • Go to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\local\Microsoft_Corporation\LandingPage.exe_StrongName_ryspccglaxmt4nhllj5z3thycltsvyyx\10.0.0.0
  • Rename user.config to user.config.old

Try installing SQL Server Management Studio again. This is only one of the many solutions out there. This solution has worked on my colleague’s system and may also help you.