How Visual Studio .NET resolves assembly references?

Question

The project directory.
The directories specified in the "ReferencePath" property, which is stored in the .USER file.
The .NET Framework directory (see KB306149)
The directories specified under the following registry HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft.NETFramework\AssemblyFolders HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft.NETFramework\AssemblyFolders HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\7.0\AssemblyFolders HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\7.1\AssemblyFolders HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\AssemblyFolders HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft.NETFramework\AssemblyFoldersEx HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft.NETFramework\AssemblyFoldersEx
The HintPath.

Note: about 4.)

Future versions of Visual Studio .NET will also check : HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft.NETFramework\AssemblyFoldersEx HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft.NETFramework\AssemblyFoldersEx

Reference: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/wkze6zky(VS.100).aspx

Now I use VS 2010.

it would be great if this info was right for me,

is this the correct search order ? any more information about it ? any more search path ? I need know exactly how VS searchs the references (the right order, all search paths, etc).

Could you elaborate on your doubts, and the reasons you hold them? — Andrew Barber, Dec 19 '11 at 07:52
is this the correct search order ? any more search path ? I need know do exactly how VS searchs the references. sorry my english isn't not enough good — Kiquenet, Dec 19 '11 at 08:53

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:04

3

See this MSDN blog post

(taken from ajs410's answer here https://stackoverflow.com/a/2733113/28411)

edited May 23 '17 at 12:04

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answered Mar 21 '13 at 14:06

RJFalconer

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How Visual Studio .NET resolves assembly references?

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