My ajaxcontroltoolkit was working fine until I selected "convert to web application" on the Solution Explorer. I now get the "Ajax 4.0 scripts" message with my project, and with both of my backups. I created a new project, same message. I uninstalled and reinstalled the toolkit, nothing. I even uninstalled and reinstalled Visual Studio Express 2012 for Web. No change. Here's my code from my master page. As I said, it's been working fine.
<ajaxToolkit:ToolkitScriptManager ID="ToolkitScriptManager1" EnablePageMethods="true" runat="server">
<Scripts>
<%--Framework scripts--%>
<asp:ScriptReference Name="jquery" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="jquery.ui.combined" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="WebForms.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/WebForms.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="WebUIValidation.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/WebUIValidation.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="MenuStandards.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/MenuStandards.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="GridView.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/GridView.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="DetailsView.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/DetailsView.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="TreeView.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/TreeView.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="WebParts.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/WebParts.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="Focus.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/Focus.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="WebFormsBundle" />
<%--Site scripts--%>
</Scripts>
</ajaxToolkit:ToolkitScriptManager>
tagprefix from web.config is
<add tagPrefix="ajaxToolkit" assembly="AjaxControlToolkit" namespace="AjaxControlToolkit" />
Comments: More details: For 4.5, the September 2012 release of the toolkit works. The January 2013 does not. The error message described is very easy to reproduce. Avoid the January 2013 release if you are using .NET 4.5.
<ajaxToolkit:ToolkitScriptManager ID="ToolkitScriptManager1" EnablePageMethods="true" runat="server">
<Scripts>
<%--Framework scripts--%>
<asp:ScriptReference Name="jquery" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="jquery.ui.combined" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="WebForms.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/WebForms.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="WebUIValidation.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/WebUIValidation.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="MenuStandards.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/MenuStandards.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="GridView.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/GridView.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="DetailsView.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/DetailsView.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="TreeView.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/TreeView.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="WebParts.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/WebParts.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="Focus.js" Path="~/Scripts/WebForms/Focus.js" />
<asp:ScriptReference Name="WebFormsBundle" />
<%--Site scripts--%>
</Scripts>
</ajaxToolkit:ToolkitScriptManager>
tagprefix from web.config is
<add tagPrefix="ajaxToolkit" assembly="AjaxControlToolkit" namespace="AjaxControlToolkit" />
Comments: More details: For 4.5, the September 2012 release of the toolkit works. The January 2013 does not. The error message described is very easy to reproduce. Avoid the January 2013 release if you are using .NET 4.5.