[RESOLVED] IDE Crash

Basically, I've been working on a program for quite some time without issues. I came upon this issue when adding another window/form. It happened for a bit, so I reinstalled Visual Studio. It went away for a bit. Now, it's back and stopping me from using the Designer on anything. I can only write code, which is seriously hampering everything I do (obviously). I decided to Debug it and see what the Exception was, and I get this lovely piece of work:

Code:

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System.ArgumentNullException was unhandled
  Message=Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: sp
  Source=Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.10.0
  ParamName=sp
  StackTrace:
      at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.ServiceProvider..ctor(IServiceProvider sp, Boolean defaultServices)
      at MS.Internal.Package.Toolbox.AutoToolboxProjectManager.get_VSProject()
      at MS.Internal.Package.Toolbox.AutoToolboxProjectManager..ctor(IVsHierarchy hierarchy, IServiceProvider provider, IVsSmartOpenScope smartOpenScope)
      at MS.Internal.Package.Toolbox.AutoToolboxManagerService.Update(IVsHierarchy hierarchy, Boolean force)
      at MS.Internal.Package.Toolbox.AutoToolboxManagerService.Start()
      at MS.Internal.Package.DesignerPackage.<>c__DisplayClass2.<Initialize>b__0(Object arg)
      at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
      at MS.Internal.Threading.ExceptionFilterHelper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate method, Object args, Int32 numArgs, Delegate catchHandler)
      at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
      at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeInSecurityContext(Object state)
      at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.runTryCode(Object userData)
      at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.RuntimeHelpers.ExecuteCodeWithGuaranteedCleanup(TryCode code, CleanupCode backoutCode, Object userData)
      at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
      at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean ignoreSyncCtx)
      at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
      at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Invoke()
      at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.ProcessQueue()
      at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.WndProcHook(IntPtr hwnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam, Boolean& handled)
      at MS.Win32.HwndWrapper.WndProc(IntPtr hwnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam, Boolean& handled)
      at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.DispatcherCallbackOperation(Object o)
      at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
      at MS.Internal.Threading.ExceptionFilterHelper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate method, Object args, Int32 numArgs, Delegate catchHandler)
      at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.InvokeImpl(DispatcherPriority priority, TimeSpan timeout, Delegate method, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
      at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.SubclassWndProc(IntPtr hwnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam)
  InnerException:

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It is a vanilla installation of Visual Studio, and I am just trying to use the Designer. I think it happens as it's trying to load the Tool bar, but I could be wrong.

I've asked the same question here at MSDN's forums. I've gotten one reply to do logging, which gave me a rather bulky log file with 689 items logged, 134~ are warnings, but no errors.

Does anyone have any clues at all as to what could cause this? I can post the XML file, but I'm telling you, it's really large and most of it is pointless.

It does that for New, Blank Projects as well? or only the project you're working on when it happens?

Just this project. I don't know what's going on with it, could it be that I have an InstallShield Project attached to it?

Are you doing anything in your code that uses WinAPI or overrides the WndProc?

Juggalo had used his custom control to allow me to inherit his gradient form, but that doesn't explain why a blank form that I add (or any form) causes the IDE to crash...

i had something similar happening in 2008VS so I started commenting out all the custom stuff and api stuff and eventually i found the culprit. lmao.. weirdest thing, i'm actually on the forum right now looking for that gradient form post. I need his graident toolstrip :)

I just took Meidianto's advice and ran in safe mode. The IDE hasn't crashed yet, so it might be that InstallShield addon as it refused to load in safe mode.

Just an update: Removed the InstallShield project from my solution and I've been good ever since. Don't know why it did that, so marking as resolved.