[RESOLVED] IDE Crash

[formlesstree4]

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:

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:

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.

[formlesstree4]

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.

[stateofidleness]

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

[formlesstree4]

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?

[stateofidleness]

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

[formlesstree4]

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...

[stateofidleness]

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

[formlesstree4]

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.

[formlesstree4]

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.