Cannot enable feature with feature receiver via PowerShell

Question

I have a problem where I can enable a feature from the UI and code in FeatureActivated method works as expected. However, if I try to enable the feature via powershell as a scripted deployment, the feature is activated but the code in FeatureActivated method is not executed.

I am running the Powershell as Admin.

Has anyone come across this issue before?

Praveen

Answer 1

Looks like you have some kind of threading issue here. Standard PowerShell runs each pipeline/line on different threads while the SharePoint PowerShell console runs all in the same thread. Try starting a std PowerShell console and write

$Host.Runspace.ThreadOptions = "ReuseThread"

And then run your script again and report back.

Also make sure that you do not have any references to SPContext in your receivers...

Answer 2

I got this working now.

The code in FeatureActivated was not executing when I used the General PowerShell command window even when running with Admin rights.

However, the code executed fine when I used “SharePoint 2010 Management Shell”.

Praveen

Answer 3

Use Sharepoint Management shell to run Powershell scripts. We have faced the same issue and got the solution by using Sharepoint Management shell which automatically adds Microsoft.Sharepoint.Powershell dll as reference.