'Package failed to load' errors on first start of release version

I got this error when starting the ide. I got the same errormessage several times for different packages when trying to click on any of the links in the workspace.

The program also crashed on exit.

I've tried the beta version earlier, but it didn't work correctly either (header files seemed to be missing from the installation). I've uninstalled all the beta stuff before installing the release version.

my setup is
win xp, english home edition, SP 2 with latest updates
amd xp 2500+
nforce2 motherboard
plenty of diskspace left, and 1 gb ram

the installation goes fine with no warnings, but it obviously isn't installed correctly.

I've been using vc++ 6.0 so far on the same machine with no problems.

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'Package failed to load' errors on first start of release version

RamsBangalore
I had the same problem as PKH !
The tool solved the problem! Thanks a lot !

/Jonas
PeteCarterGreenan
I just installed Visual Studio Express edition and get the exact same problem with the packages as PKH. I've run all the different tools, including the "hammer" tool to uninstall the VS installation. None of the tools report any errors and I've run them both with VS installed and uninstalled without any difference.

The problem is either the "Visual Studio Explorer and Designers Packages" which comes up on startup, or if I create a web page and enter the design mode, it comes up with the "Visual Studio Common IDE package" which is the problems. Also when exiting VS it crashes for some reason.

The only thing I had installed previously on my computer was the .NET Frameworks 2.0 Beta and I guess having had this installed on the computer is what caused my problems.

I sure hope someone finds the solution to this problem soon.
Cathal Bolster
Did you try running the troubleshoot tool at http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/10/27.aspx - Item No.2
Troubleshooting tool - this tool should be run to find and fix problems while running the final release of VS 2005 and .NET Framework 2.0 if you previously uninstalled in the incorrect order; this tool also has the automatic uninstall functionality built-in, but you should use the first tool if you only need to uninstall
KanishK
This seems to work for me too. Havent had time for any real testing, but the IDE starts, and I can make and run the default forms-project.

I had to remove all microsoft.visualc stuff from the registry as well to be able to uninstall all the microsoft.visualc files from c:\windows\assembly.

Thanks for the help.

PKH
Adam West
I am experiencing the same problem after installing Visual Web Developer Express on my desktop PC, I had Betas previously installed (which did not work) but uninstalled them using the Beta removal tool.

I've done a full unistall of the software (twice), I have also run the troubleshooting utility which did not report any issues. In addition, I have gone as far as running the 'Hammer', have physically deleted all the VS8 folders and deleted the VS8 Registry entries that where left over after running the 'Hammer'.

Sony Vaio
MS Windows XP
Media Center Edition (V2002)
Service Pack 2
Pentium 4 3.2 GHZ
1GB Ram
180GB HD w/140GB available

I also installed VWD Express on a laptop computer which has never had the software installed on it. Not a problem there.

Please let me know if you find a solution to this problem. Thanks.
nguyenkiem
I ran all the uninstall programs before installing vc++. After the next to last install, I ran the last uninstall program to remove the whole installation. This removed vc++ and framework 2.0.

I've tried reinstalling again later, but got the same result. I had framework 2.0 from windows update installed beforehand that time though.

I also have .net framework 1.1 and 1.1 hotfix installed. Can they cause problems

I think it's a problem with my configuration, because the beta version didn't work either, even the 1st time I installed it.

PKH
Dean Hiller2
Maybe this can help!

I found in some blogg that it could be something with the files in C:\WINDOWS\assembly. I looked there and found duplicates of some of the Microsoft.VisualStudio files. I the checked the properties of some of those files and found that some of them were old. I uninstalled these and now the program runs perfectly.

Regards,
Kristian
Exitboy
Yeah, works here too now after having removed an old version of Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop.8.0.dll. If you check the c:\windows\assembly you can find two versions of that one, just check the properties to see which is the old one and uninstall it. That worked for me.

"The most common problem I saw was that there were 2 copies of the file Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop.8.0.dll in the GAC, one from beta 1 and one from beta 2. For some reason, the beta 1 version takes precedence when devenv.exe launches and the VS IDE package fails to load." from http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/04/19/409905.aspx
valko
Hi,
Could you try running the uninstall tool from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/ LinkID=47598 If you are still seeing Package Load Failures try running the troubleshooting tool at http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/10/27.aspx - Item number 2.

Sandhya
Stefano B
I've run the uninstall-programs listed at the links, but it doesn't change anything.
The uninstall-programs don't find any parts of the beta or the .net framework left to uninstall either.

The first failed package is "visual studio and designers package" and this message comes as soon as the program is started and the ide has loaded.

PKH
'Package failed to load' errors on first start of release version

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