FAO Microsoft Support,
I have a Notebook configured using W8.1 x64 with all the latest patches and SPs installed and SQL2014 Advanced Express. I am experiencing a significant issue in the development of a DataBase solution. When I use Data Sources to Add New Data Source, I receive the following error message on the 4th Next navigation to Choose Your Database Objects "Could not load file or assembly Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc, Version=11.0.0.0. etc (There are no issues using SQL Configuration Manager, SQL Management Studio and other SQL tools or Server Explorer within VS2013)
After using Dependency Walker to examine the DLL, the following are flagged as missing :-
API-MS-WIN-CORE-KERNEL32-PRIVATE-L1-1-1.DLL
API-MS-WIN-CORE-PRIVATEPROFILE-L1-1-1.DLL
API-MS-WIN-SERVICE-PRIVATE-L1-1-1.DLL
API-MS-WIN-CORE-SHUTDOWN-L1-1-1.DLL
EXT-MS-WIN-NTUSER-UICONTEXT-EXT-L1-1-0.DLL
IESHIMS.DLL
After searching the Internet I found a similar problem that had been reported and closed by Microsoft Support (URL http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-performance/32-bit-application-fails-to-start-after-81-upgrade/b825723e-e2a2-4c8f-bd1f-10446a5d7059)
The concluding response was as follows :-
The Microsoft's resolution to this issue was:
"We diagnosed and tried rigorous troubleshooting to find the reason for missing stub dlls on the machine however these are by design on windows 8.1 after the upgrade. We are closing this case as by design"
Given that SQL Express 2014 was released this month, how could Microsoft Support have stated and I quote "Missing/Moved Stub dll files are part of the design of the operating system and is not certain to change in future", as this is a significant unresolved issue that affects users as evident when using search engines by the number of hits found.
If the above missing DLLs (by design) are required by Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.dll and also by other dlls stored in the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\120\SDK\Assemblies, then these assemblies cannot (by design!) be loaded by VS2013 as part of a Database development cycle.
In summary I am unable to develop Database solutions using VS2013 Professional and SQL 2014 Express until this issue is resolved by Microsoft who have developed all the products I have elected to use.
Finally is it possible that SQL 2014 Express should be built using the W8.1 platform as this is the solution 3rd party software suppliers have used to address a product failure when users have upgraded to Windows 8.1.
As an observation I am curious as to why version=11.0.0.0 (SQL 2012 has been manually uninstalled) is still being used when the newer version=12.0.0.0 (SQL 2014) has been installed. An explanation on this behaviour would be appreciated.
I would be grateful to receive a solution to this missing DLL Assembly problem and look forward to receiving a helpful reply
Kind Regards
Anthony Wallach