title: The project file could not be loaded. Root element is missing
body: <p>I am trying to build a dotnet 3.5 project solution file with <code>VS Build tools 2017</code> in Jenkins. The project is compiling well with DotNet 3.5's MSBuild, but when I try the same activity with <strong>MSBuild Engine Version</strong> <code>15.9.21+g9802d43bc3</code>, it is throwing <code>MSBUILD : error MSB4025: The project file could not be loaded. Root element is missing</code>.</p>
  
  <p>This is the command which I have used to compile dotnet 3.5 project. </p>
  
  <pre><code>cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\BuildTools\MSBuild\15.0\Bin"
  MSBuild.exe "%WORKSPACE%\WBR.sln" /p:Configuration=Debug /p:DeployOnBuild=True /p:AllowUntrustedCertificate=True /p:CreatePackageOnPublish=True
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Please find below Jenkins execution logs</p>
  
  <pre><code>C:\Users\Netadmin\.jenkins\jobs\FCRS\jobs\FCRS_VS\workspace&gt;cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\BuildTools\MSBuild\15.0\Bin" 
  
  C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\BuildTools\MSBuild\15.0\Bin&gt;MSBuild.exe "C:\Users\Netadmin\.jenkins\jobs\FCRS\jobs\FCRS_VS\workspace\WBR.sln" /p:Configuration=Debug /p:DeployOnBuild=True /p:AllowUntrustedCertificate=True /p:CreatePackageOnPublish=True 
  Microsoft (R) Build Engine version 15.9.21+g9802d43bc3 for .NET Framework
  Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
  
  Building the projects in this solution one at a time. To enable parallel build, please add the "/m" switch.
  Build started 8/19/2019 6:38:12 PM.
  MSBUILD : error MSB4025: The project file could not be loaded. Root element is missing.
  
  Build FAILED.
  
    MSBUILD : error MSB4025: The project file could not be loaded. Root element is missing.
  
      0 Warning(s)
      1 Error(s)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The below pic is my jenkins workspace directory. </p>
  
  <p>Any help would be great.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/pgJwo.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/pgJwo.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>