I'm running Windows 11 24H2 and using Visual Studio 2022 Professional. When debugging my program, it fails with "Error while trying to run project: unable to start the program".

Chris Hurtig 15

However, this is working on my laptop just fine. It has Visual Studio 2022 and runs this same debug without issue. I think it is related to windows 24H2, but can't be sure. The program I'm debugging hasn't changed so it related to something else. I am able to go into debug on some visual studio projects, but not all.

2 answers

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,966 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-05T04:51:18.41+00:00
Hello @Chris Hurtig ,

Please try to clean some debugging related cache files first. Remove following, manually:

Close VS, remove bin, obj and the hidden .vs folder in your project folder. Restart VS, rebuild your project and then run/debug it.

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\17.0_xxxxxxxx\ComponentModelCache folder(remove/rename the ComponentModelCache folder, restart VS).

If the issue persists, consider repairing VS and resetting VS settings.

About repairing VS: VS Installer > More > Repair

About resetting VS settings: close VS and run devenv /ResetSettings in Developer Command Prompt for VS 2022.

I think it is related to windows 24H2, but can’t be sure.

I test locally, but till now, I fail to reproduce this issue.

Feel free to let us know the results.

Sincerely,

Tianyu

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Chris Hurtig 15 Reputation points

2024-11-05T17:52:42.0666667+00:00

I can get Visual Studio to debug some of my other apps, but certain ones come up with this error. I can manually go to the bin folder and run the .exe, so the app works fine. I can run this same solution on another computer running an older version of windows and it debugs just fine.

Chris Hurtig 15 Reputation points

2024-11-05T17:55:49.25+00:00

Thanks for answering, Tianyu. I tried all 3 items you listed and still getting the same result. I tried providing this to my answer of No, but it wouldn't let me submit it.

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,966 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-06T06:34:04.5566667+00:00

Hi @Chris Hurtig ,

No problem.

I am thinking if some settings block VS from starting the program.

As I don’t know the detailed properties and the configurations that you set for your projects, I think you can check following:

If there are many projects in your solution, make sure that you have set the correct project as the startup project(right-click the correct project > Set as Startup Project).

Make sure that all the configurations(Debug/Release, Any CPU/x64/x86…) are set/selected correctly.

Are you using any extension or antivirus? Try to disable them temporarily and test again, maybe they block VS from running the program.

Will it work if you restart your machine and run VS as administrator?

Does this program rely on some frameworks or some system features, settings? Except the Windows OS version, is there any other difference between your laptop and this machine?

Do you consider reinstalling VS, if possible.

Feel free to let me know the results.

Kind Regards,

Tianyu

Chris Hurtig 15 Reputation points

2024-11-07T16:51:52.31+00:00

I only have 1 solution and it is setup a single startup project

Set to Debug and any CPU

I have antivirus, but can't disable it. I have the same on my laptop and this is working.

Running VS as admin did not help

The .exe for the program runs just fine so that doesn't seem to make sense

I did the repair method you mentioned earlier and maybe an uninstall\reinstall would do more

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,966 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-08T05:41:38.46+00:00

@Chris Hurtig ,

If you move the project(copy and paste the whole folder) to another simple directory, for example C:\MyProject, and then run it, will it start?

About those fail-to-run projects, if you create new projects but select the same project type, can you confirm that the newly created projects will or will not fail to run?

I don't think that the project has problems, I believe that the issue is caused by the system environment. Reinstalling VS should be a method to exclude the impact from VS. If you finally try to reinstall VS, do let me know the results.

BTW, if you can share us some screenshots or .gif pictures to check, it will be very useful.

Kind Regards,

Tianyu

Hung Nguyen 0 Reputation points

2024-11-15T05:45:17.74+00:00

I am having the same issue after 24H2 windows update. I have repaired VS but it did not help.

Chris Hurtig 15 Reputation points

2024-11-15T20:15:03.7433333+00:00

I moved the project to my desktop and it still failed with the same error. What screenshots would you like to see?

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,966 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-20T09:36:54.9566667+00:00

@Chris Hurtig ,

Is there a <Prefer32Bit>false</Prefer32Bit> setting in your project file? Or you can check this through UI => project's properties page > Build > Prefer 32-bit > check this option.

Besides, may I know if these projects are .NET Framework(4.7.2, 4.8.1...) projects or .NET(.NET 6.0, 7.0, 8.0...) projects?

What screenshots would you like to see?

For example, some parts of the project file(.xxproj file, avoid the privacy information).

Chris Hurtig 15 Reputation points

2024-11-20T14:34:52.0066667+00:00

debug.png vbproj1.png vbproj2.png

I have it set to any CPU.

It is .net framework 4.8

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,966 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-27T06:14:20.7766667+00:00

Thank you very much @Chris Hurtig for sharing the screenshots.

I do see that "Prefer 32-bit" option is not checked in your project property page. And the <Prefer32Bit> property is set to false in your .vbproj file.

Would you mind testing to check the "Prefer 32-bit" option or set the <Prefer32Bit> property to true and rebuild your project?

I see some similar issues these days and looks like it’s true that this issue might be related to the Windows Update. I would suggest you directly raise a ticket on our Developer Community by clicking Help > Send Feedback > Report a Problem. You will get the latest information from VS Product Team there. If you do raise a ticket, please kindly share the ticket link here for better tracking.

By the way, as VS 2022 version 17.12.2 has been released, please kindly try to update VS 2022 to the latest version and test again.

Sincerely,

Tianyu

Chris Hurtig 15 Reputation points

2024-11-27T13:10:06.77+00:00

I was able to get the app to debug by marking prefer 32bit to true. (Sorry, my mind went to x86 CPU on your first request.) So it does launch now, but when launching, I get the following exceptions in the immediate window that I don't normally get. Again these do not show up on my laptop running the exact same project with the earlier release of windows. The INGEAR.NET DLL is there and I added a screenshot of it. It is copied to local. Screenshot 2024-11-27 080341.png

Exception thrown: 'System.ArgumentException' in System.Windows.Forms.dll

Exception thrown: 'System.ArgumentException' in System.Windows.Forms.dll

Exception thrown: 'System.DllNotFoundException' in INGEAR.NET.Logix.dll

Exception thrown: 'System.Threading.WaitHandleCannotBeOpenedException'in System.dll

Exception thrown: 'System.IO.IOException' in mscorlib.dll

Exception thrown: 'System.IO.IOException' in mscorlib.dll

Exception thrown: 'System.DllNotFoundException' in INGEAR.NET.Logix.dll

Exception thrown: 'System.Threading.WaitHandleCannotBeOpenedException' in System.dll

Chris Hurtig 15 Reputation points

2024-11-27T13:17:51.3533333+00:00

Also, I did the visual studio update before checking 32bit and that did not fix it.

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,966 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-11-29T09:44:44.68+00:00

Hi @Chris Hurtig,

If you rename the hidden .vs folder in your solution folder, manually remove the bin and obj folders, and rebuild your project, then run it again, will these exceptions appear?

Also, if you try to re-reference the INGEAR.NET.Logix.dll, and rebuild the project, will the exceptions disappear?

Morgan SOULLEZ 1 Reputation point

2024-12-04T16:01:23.6133333+00:00

I'm having the same issue.
The "Prefer 32-bits" allow me to debug, but is not a proper solution.
I've raised a ticket : https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/t/On-W11-24H2-WPF-app--NET-Framework-o/10806059?

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,966 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-12-05T05:55:41.83+00:00

Thank you @Morgan SOULLEZ ,

I think, if you can also share the Windows Update package numbers(KBxxxxxxx) there, it will be more helpful for product team to investigate.

You can check the numbers from Settings(Windows) > Windows Update > Update history.

Anyway, thank you again for reporting this issue, sharing the ticket link and helping us make Visual Studio better :)

Kind Regards,

Tianyu

Morgan SOULLEZ 1 Reputation point

2024-12-05T08:13:52.62+00:00

There is no KB, i've used the "Windows 11 Installation Assistant".

Morgan SOULLEZ 1 Reputation point

2024-12-10T08:54:01.0966667+00:00

Ticket closing as duplicate.

The discussion follow on this one : https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/t/Follow-on-Problem-Report-to-Unable-to-d/10761447?moreInfo=true&viewtype=all
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TANISHA SONI 0 Reputation points

2024-11-28T06:26:08.1066667+00:00

Hey Chris, try this answer https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/t/error-while-trying-to-run-project-unable-to-start/16094#T-N19538
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Hung Nguyen 0 Reputation points

2024-11-28T06:38:00.5566667+00:00

That "fix" completely broke my VS.

Hung Nguyen 0 Reputation points

2024-11-28T06:38:26.73+00:00

that "fix" completely broke my VS
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I'm running Windows 11 24H2 and using Visual Studio 2022 Professional. When debugging my program, it fails with "Error while trying to run project: unable to start the program".

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