Why Does My C# Project Throw a 'BadImageFormatException' Error When Referencing Another Project?

"Attempt to load a malformed program" error occurred in C# project: Dependency conflict

When working with interdependent C# projects, developers may encounter the vexing "BadImageFormatException" error accompanied by the message "Cannot load file or assembly". This error usually occurs when trying to load a malformed program.

This article describes a specific situation: this error occurs when project B references project A. Troubleshooting steps have been taken, including ensuring compatibility of the CPU architecture ("Any CPU"), target framework (.Net 4.0 client profile), and "Local Copy" settings. However, the error still exists.

One possible explanation for this issue is a conflict between 32-bit and 64-bit configurations. If project B is set up to run on a 64-bit system, but project A is compiled for 32-bit, this mismatch will cause an error.

Solution:

To resolve this issue, make sure both projects are compiled for the same CPU architecture. In this case, if project B is set to 64-bit, project A should also be compiled as 64-bit. This can be adjusted under "Build" -> "Platform Target" in the project properties.

Also, if the problem persists in the web hosting environment, it is recommended to check the application pool settings in IIS. Navigate to Application Pools, select the pool hosting Project B, and under Advanced Settings enable "Enable 32-bit applications" to resolve compatibility issues.

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