After installing Update 10586.3 from Windows Update the Compact Framework projects could not be loaded in Visual Studio 2008. The error was something like “C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Microsoft.CompactFramework.CSharp.targets’ cannot be found.”
I haven’t found any explanation of why this file (and some other Compact Framework files was removed during the update.
But the simple solution was to do a Repair/Reinstall of Visual Studio 2008.
Update August 17, 2016
Now Windows updated to Version 1607 (Build 14393.51) and the same problem is back again. It looks like we will have to do a reinstall of Visual Studio 2008 after each update of Windows 10.
Update May 22, 2019
I case anyone else than me still does maintenance work in Compact Framework the commenters are absolutely right. The Power Toys for .NET Compact Framework 3.5 (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13442) is much easier to install than reinstalling Visual Studio.
But what I’ve done a few times is just copying the files named *CompactFramework* from another computer, that also has Visual Studio 2008 installed, into C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5. Or just save the *CompactFramework* files in another folder or a network drive until the next Windows Update.
Alternatively you can download “.NET CompactFramework power tools 3.5” and install that. Saves all the hassle of finding your original install disks etc.
Shocking though that an update does this. And this is the SECOND time that it’s happened to me. Really MS, c’mon!
To remedy the issue simply install Power Toys for .NET Compact Framework which will place these missing files back where they belong.
I’ve just discovered the same issue
And this is totally unacceptable from Microsoft
I have several customer to support using CE application !
I’ll try to found a solution
The badest one for Microsoft is to decide to definitely switch to Android !
Yep. Happened to me, too. Thanks M$.