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 10

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.

1 answer

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 31,411 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 10 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 10 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 31,411 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 10 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 31,411 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 10 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 31,411 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 10 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
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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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