[RESOLVED] Should I give up?

[JohnSavage]

I am trying to debug my latest effort at programming a mobile app and now I have this error

Unable to Start program”%CSIDL_Program_Files%\DeviceApplication1\Mobile1.exe

The System cannot find the file Specified!

Well that message does not surprise me because when I start the debugger it does not put the exe on my device, why not God knows; it used to but has decided it will not do now?

So let me ask a question other than giving up which would not please me after all this effort why does my IDE (Net 2005) not want to play with me?

I am deploying to my device because the only error message I get when I try to use the emulator is “Operation could not be completed” which is a real help!

[sapator]

I suggest you create a new application.
Put a textbox or 2 and try running it. If it does not complie then you have a problem, if it compiles ok then try to start a fresh new application and add all your code and buttons from the old (the 1 that does not work).

[petevick]

Hi,
first of all, try the infamous step of re-booting the PC and re-booting the PPC and then try again.

Try doing 'F10' to step into the application, then see what happens. Also, as sapator mentions, try a new application and see what happens to that.

Pete

[JohnSavage]

Pete,

Tried the re-boot, no luck

Sapator,

This is the new app with all the controls and code copied across, but have now tried the simple app with the same result

So is it the re-install of DOT NET

[petevick]

Hi,
what happens if you do F10, ie step thru the application - same thing?

Is this a new PDA, or the first time you have tried deploying an application to it?

Pete

[JohnSavage]

If I do F10 I get the message can't find exe etc as above

The PDA is the one I have always used, with no problems in the past

[petevick]

Hi,
click on project, properties and devices - what does it say in the 'output file folder', and is the 'deploy the latest...' box ticked?

Pete

[JohnSavage]

I have played around with the output folder but no matter what I name it the IDE simply does not create the exe at the location specified?

and Yes the 'deloy latest ' is ticked

[petevick]

Hi,
try re-installing the .Net Compact Framework on the device. If you uninistall it, when you deploy, it should re-install it

Pete

[JohnSavage]

Pete,

Sorry I don't know how to do that I'm afraid

The only time I have seen it happen has when I installed it on my computer and I had a device connected at the time

On this theme however I connected another device which used to work as a test machine before but I got the same result the exe is not created on the device so I get the same error message

[sapator]

If you run the program on a virtual device and not your phone does it work?

[petevick]

Hi,
on the pocketpc go to system remove programs, and you should see .Net CF there. If you remove it, reboot the PPC, and then try running your program again, it should re-install the CF for you

Pete

[JohnSavage]

Sapator,

No that does not work either

Pete,

I un-installed .net framework and when I then try to deploy I get the same error message about the location of the exe and .net framework does not re-install and the exe is not created on the device?

and before you ask yes the device is connected

[petevick]

Hi,
my next suggestion would be a bit drastic then - a hard reset, unless you have another device.

Can you backup your device first?

Pete

[JohnSavage]

I have tried all of the above on two devices already with the same results but am happy to go to a hard reset, if you tell me how it's done

[szlamany]

Each device is different - the manual for my HP IPaq told me how to do it for that PPC - some combination of holding down button-x while depressing button-y while turning the PPC on...

[petevick]

Does it work if you deploy to the emulator?

[szlamany]

Does it work if you deploy to the emulator?

I am deploying to my device because the only error message I get when I try to use the emulator is “Operation could not be completed” which is a real help!

From the OP - seems to me that it's a setup issue with the .Net IDE - but I've not done enough of this yet to know where all the settings and what not are...

[petevick]

Hi,
sorry - I missed that in the thread. If it is an issue deploying to 2 devices and the emulator, I agree, probably a .Net issue.

Try repairing VS2005 - it takes a while though.
Control Panel>Add Remove Programs>Microsoft VS 2005...>Change/Remove and then select 'Repair/Reinstall'

You will probably have time to prepare a 3 course meal whilst it runs - and I seem to recall you need your installation CD

I remember getting VB on 3 floppies

Pete

[szlamany]

@petevick - are you newly MVP or just a change in your sig?

[JohnSavage]

Thank you gentlemen, I will start the process tomorrow and report back later

[petevick]

Hi,
MVP since 2000 (ish) - saw your sig and thought 'what a good idea - I will pinch that'

Pete

[JohnSavage]

Pete,

His is bigger than yours? lol

Here's the bad news It's working again after watching the cd's turn around for a couple of hours!