Recently, one of my clients encountered a strange issue while using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). They reported that whenever they tried to read the properties of a database by right-clicking on it, they received the following error message:
“Could not load file or assembly ‘SqlManagerUi, Version=14.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91’ or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified. (mscorlib)”
Upon further investigation, I discovered that the root cause of the error was the missing file mentioned in the error message. In this case, the missing file was ‘SQLManagerUI.dll’.
When comparing the client’s SSMS installation with a working one, we noticed that several files were missing from the folder where SSMS was looking for the ‘SQLManagerUI.dll’ file. This can happen due to various reasons such as viruses or malware, file system corruption, or a failing hard drive.
To resolve this issue, we had to repair the shared features of SQL Server. Here are the steps to repair the instance:
- Open the Control Panel and navigate to “Programs and Features”.
- Locate your SQL Server installation and right-click on it.
- Select “Change” or “Repair” from the context menu.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to repair the installation.
After completing the repair process, the missing files were restored, and the error was resolved.
If you encounter a similar error message while using SSMS, it is recommended to check if any files are missing from the specified folder. If so, repairing the SQL Server installation should fix the issue.
For more detailed instructions on repairing a failed SQL Server installation, you can refer to the official Microsoft documentation here.
Remember, maintaining a healthy and up-to-date SQL Server installation is crucial for smooth database management and troubleshooting.