Compilation Error: "higher version than referenced assembly " - asp.net-mvc-3

Question

I got error on my view page so I updated my visual studio to mvc4, though I am working on mvc3. I 1st updated using NuGet but it don't works so, I updated through standalone MVC4. so it worked. But when I tried to run MVC3 project it gives me following Error:
CS1705: Assembly 'MVC3Project, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=null' uses 'System.Web.Mvc, Version=4.0.0.0,
Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' which has a higher
version than referenced assembly 'System.Web.Mvc, Version=3.0.0.0,
Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35'
Can anyone help me with this?

Answer 1

Inside the web.config file in the Views folder there is the host element under system.web.webPages.razor
This should be as follows for an MVC3 project:
<host factoryType="System.Web.Mvc.MvcWebRazorHostFactory, System.Web.Mvc, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
While for MVC4 it is:
<host factoryType="System.Web.Mvc.MvcWebRazorHostFactory, System.Web.Mvc, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
You also need to check the pages element is as follows for MVC3
<pages
validateRequest="false"
pageParserFilterType="System.Web.Mvc.ViewTypeParserFilter, System.Web.Mvc, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35"
pageBaseType="System.Web.Mvc.ViewPage, System.Web.Mvc, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35"
userControlBaseType="System.Web.Mvc.ViewUserControl, System.Web.Mvc, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35">
<controls>
<add assembly="System.Web.Mvc, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" namespace="System.Web.Mvc" tagPrefix="mvc" />
</controls>
</pages>
and the sectionGroup element:
<sectionGroup name="system.web.webPages.razor" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorWebSectionGroup, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35">
<section name="host" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.HostSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
<section name="pages" type="System.Web.WebPages.Razor.Configuration.RazorPagesSection, System.Web.WebPages.Razor, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" requirePermission="false" />
</sectionGroup>
In the main web.config in the root directory of the project you need to make sure that the assemblies element is as follows:
<assemblies>
<add assembly="System.Web.Abstractions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
<add assembly="System.Web.Helpers, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
<add assembly="System.Web.Routing, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
<add assembly="System.Web.Mvc, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
<add assembly="System.Web.WebPages, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31BF3856AD364E35" />
</assemblies>
There are more changes to make - best bet is to look at the web.config files for an MVC3 project and an MVC4 project and remove the stuff that shouldn't be there in yours.

Answer 2

I had the exact same problem with a later version of MVC. After I updated all my packages through Nugget, the problem is resolved.

Answer 3

The following worked for me
Install-Package Microsoft.AspNet.Web.Optimization

Answer 4

The worked solution for me i deleted the reference in project which gives error.
Reinstall that again with right click project -> add references --> search the name of Assembly then add that again.
for this question you have to delete System.Web.Mvc under first project references and click project -> add references --> Search System.Web.Mvc (you will see that is 4.0.0.0 now) install it.

Answer 5

you can download System.Web.Mvc.dll with version that you are looking for then :
Reference -> add ->browse and select ur file.
this solution worked for me !!
Good luck