.NET 2.0 app crashes without normal verbose dialog??

[Les Caudle]

I've got a .NET 2.0 app that works quite well on all of my test boxes.

However, at the client's site, it crashes with

'has encounted a problem' basic dialog. No useful info.

I've yet to see a .NET app crash like this, without the verbose dialog that will
tell me the line # of the problem (the app was compiled in debug mode).

What steps can I take to track this down?

The app uses some .NET dlls for remoting, and a COM objects.

But, it crashes before even loading a window.

I'm looking into adding some ThreadExceptionEventHandler and
UnhandledExceptionEventHandler's to the app.

But, I'd like to try to resolve this without throwing too many different
versions at my client, who is not very computer savy and is probably as
frustrated as I am.

I've never encountered this before, in all the years I've worked with .NET.

 

[Aneesh Pulukkul]

I've got a .NET 2.0 app that works quite well on all of my test boxes.

However, at the client's site, it crashes with

'has encounted a problem' basic dialog. No useful info.

I've yet to see a .NET app crash like this, without the verbose dialog that will
tell me the line # of the problem (the app was compiled in debug mode).

What steps can I take to track this down?

The app uses some .NET dlls for remoting, and a COM objects.

But, it crashes before even loading a window.

I'm looking into adding some ThreadExceptionEventHandler and
UnhandledExceptionEventHandler's to the app.

But, I'd like to try to resolve this without throwing too many different
versions at my client, who is not very computer savy and is probably as
frustrated as I am.

I've never encountered this before, in all the years I've worked with .NET.

May be a problem with .Net framework installation. Uninstall framework
and VS(if installed) completely and reboot. Re-install everything.and
try. I don't see any other way.

 

[Les Caudle]

I had her 'repair' .NET 2.0.

We tested with a simple .NET app that opens a window, so .NET seems to be
installed ok.

The only problem is with my more complex app, which crashes.

Guess I'll modify to see about any untrapped exceptions.

Thanks, Les Caudle

 

[Egghead]

It seems that is the security issue or one of your app files missing.

 

[Les Caudle]

User installed it on a network share, which caused the problem, a security
violation.

Still usure why it didn't fail with the normal dialog - as it is very hard to
guess at this remotely with so little information.

Regards, Les Caudle

 

[Jeffrey Tan[MSFT]]

Hi Les,

Can you tell me the type of your .Net application, is it console, Winform?
Normally, the verbose error dialog will only show in the .Net Winform
application. .Net console application will not show verbose error dialog.
Please refer to the link below to understand the default behavior of
unhandled error in different type of .Net applications:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/04/06/NET/default.aspx

However, in .Net Winform, if the .Net unhandled exception is generated
before Application.Run() method is called, the verbose error dialog will
not show, the behavior will be same as console application, which pops a
'has encounted a problem' dialog in a clear machine. Also, if the exception
is generated in a non-GUI worker thread, it will behave like console
application.

You may register AppDomain.UnhandledException event yourself to be notified
the error in the current AppDomain. In this event, you may use
Environment.StackTrace to examine the stace trace of this unhandled
exception. This will help you to examine the cause of this problem.

If you want to perform an intensive debugging for this problem in the
client machine, I would recommend you to installed a light-weight windbg on
the client machine to catch this unhandled exception, see my blog entry
below for the configuration and details:
"How to debug application crash/hang in production environment?"
http://blogs.msdn.com/msdnts/archive/2006/11/24/how-to-debug-application-cra
sh-hang-in-production-environment.aspx

Additionally, based on your last reply, it seems that your problem is
caused by .Net Code Access Security check. You may run "caspol.exe -s off"
in "Visual Studio 2005 Command Prompt" to turn off the .Net2.0 CAS check
temparily. If this error goes away, it means that it is caused by CAS
check. If you have determined that the problem is caused by CAS, you may
follow the following steps to evaluate the permission set and code group of
your application assembly:

You can open ".Net Configuration 2.0" tool from "Administrative tools" in
Control Panel. Click "Runtime Security Policy" node the left panel. Then
click "Evaluate Assembly" link in the right panel.

In the popup dialog, input your assembly path, and click next to evaluate
your assembly permission set. Normally, it should be Unrestricted.

Please paste any details here for further analysis, thanks.

Best regards,
Jeffrey Tan
Microsoft Online Community Support
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[Les Caudle]

Jeffrey - it is a windows form app. It uses several .NET remoting DLLS, and it
might be possible that they are somehow called (as they are set up in the config
file) and cause the behavior where there is no useful dialog.

Thank you for the detailed response. I think I have a handle on it now.

I was just stressed a bit as the 1st thing my client saw when trying to run the
software was this crash, and I had no idea she'd copied the code to a network
share.

Regards, Les Caudle

 

[Jeffrey Tan[MSFT]]

Ok, if you need further help, please feel free to feedback, thanks.

Best regards,
Jeffrey Tan
Microsoft Online Community Support
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most efficient resolution. The offering is not appropriate for situations
that require urgent, real-time or phone-based interactions or complex
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[Guest]

I came across a similar 'problem'. It turned out to be that in the initial
load of the form there was a call to a config file that I had not included in
the build, once this was placed in the correct location the application
loaded correctly. I seem to recall it threw an unhandled error.

From this point on I now include full try{} catch{} blocks whenever. Also
use multiple catch{} blocks to enable better debugging information.

Simon

 

[Ben Voigt [C++ MVP]]

Jeffrey - it is a windows form app. It uses several .NET remoting DLLS,
and it

Jeffrey said that it isn't considered a Forms app until Application.Run is
called. And certainly a startup permissions problem would happen before
that.

 

[Jeffrey Tan[MSFT]]

Hi Les,

How about this issue now? Have you managed to resolve it? If you still need
any help or have any concern, please feel free to feedback, thanks.

Best regards,
Jeffrey Tan
Microsoft Online Community Support
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professional working with you may need further investigation to reach the
most efficient resolution. The offering is not appropriate for situations
that require urgent, real-time or phone-based interactions or complex
project analysis and dump analysis issues. Issues of this nature are best
handled working with a dedicated Microsoft Support Engineer by contacting
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[Les Caudle]

Jeffrey - no worries. Once I realized she'd instaled on a network drive, I knew
what to do.

Thanks, Les Caudle

 

[Jeffrey Tan[MSFT]]

Hi Les,

Thank you for confirming the status. Ok, if you need further help, please
feel free to post, I will work with you, thanks.

Best regards,
Jeffrey Tan
Microsoft Online Community Support
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where an initial response from the community or a Microsoft Support
Engineer within 1 business day is acceptable. Please note that each follow
up response may take approximately 2 business days as the support
professional working with you may need further investigation to reach the
most efficient resolution. The offering is not appropriate for situations
that require urgent, real-time or phone-based interactions or complex
project analysis and dump analysis issues. Issues of this nature are best
handled working with a dedicated Microsoft Support Engineer by contacting
Microsoft Customer Support Services (CSS) at
http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/support/default.aspx.
==================================================
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