.NET application cannot start and receive XamlParseException

Question

I wrote an app that can install and work on my development PC (a Window 7).

Development Environment: Window 7, VS2010 WPF C# with both .NET 4 and .NET 3.5 installed

On other client computer (XP SP3, 2 and 1), it install with no error, but can not start. In task manager, I can see the application takes up memory briefly before closing by itself.

I had made sure .NET 3.5 consistency across my develop PC and various client XP machines by following:

The application targets .NET 3.5 (or 3.5 Client Profile)
Use VS2010 Installer for deployment: targets .NET 3.5 in Launch Condition
No error whatsoever about .NET compatibility during debug of application and installer project

eventvwr caught the following warning:

 ¬º˛¿‡–Õ:   ¥ÌŒÛ
 ¬º˛¿¥‘¥:   .NET Runtime
 ¬º˛÷÷¿‡:   Œﬁ
 ¬º˛ ID:    1026
»’∆⁄:       2011-10-18
 ¬º˛:       15:18:32
”√ªß:       N/A
º∆À„ª˙: WWW-9DB69D5A3AF
√Ë ˆ:
Application: Foo.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: ”…”⁄Œ¥æ≠¥¶¿Ìµƒ“Ï≥££¨Ω¯≥Ã÷’÷π°£
“Ï≥£–≈œ¢: System.Windows.Markup.XamlParseException
∂—’ª:
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.RewrapException(System.Exception, System.Xaml.IXamlLineInfo, System.Uri)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.Load(System.Xaml.XamlReader, System.Xaml.IXamlObjectWriterFactory, Boolean, System.Object, System.Xaml.XamlObjectWriterSettings, System.Uri)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.LoadBaml(System.Xaml.XamlReader, Boolean, System.Object, System.Xaml.Permissions.XamlAccessLevel, System.Uri)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.LoadBaml(System.IO.Stream, System.Windows.Markup.ParserContext, System.Object, Boolean)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Application.LoadBamlStreamWithSyncInfo(System.IO.Stream, System.Windows.Markup.ParserContext)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Application.LoadComponent(System.Uri, Boolean)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Application.DoStartup()
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Application.<.ctor>b__1(System.Object)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
   ‘⁄ MS.Internal.Threading.ExceptionFilterHelper.TryCatchWhen(System.Object, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32, System.Delegate)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeInSecurityContext(System.Object)
   ‘⁄ System.Threading.ExecutionContext.runTryCode(System.Object)
   ‘⁄ System.Runtime.CompilerServices.RuntimeHelpers.ExecuteCodeWithGuaranteedCleanup(TryCode, CleanupCode, System.Object)
   ‘⁄ System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
   ‘⁄ System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
   ‘⁄ System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Invoke()
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.ProcessQueue()
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.WndProcHook(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr, Boolean ByRef)
   ‘⁄ MS.Win32.HwndWrapper.WndProc(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr, Boolean ByRef)
   ‘⁄ MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.DispatcherCallbackOperation(System.Object)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
   ‘⁄ MS.Internal.Threading.ExceptionFilterHelper.TryCatchWhen(System.Object, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32, System.Delegate)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.InvokeImpl(System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherPriority, System.TimeSpan, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
   ‘⁄ MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.SubclassWndProc(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr)
   ‘⁄ MS.Win32.UnsafeNativeMethods.DispatchMessage(System.Windows.Interop.MSG ByRef)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.PushFrameImpl(System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherFrame)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.PushFrame(System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherFrame)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Run()
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Application.RunDispatcher(System.Object)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Application.RunInternal(System.Windows.Window)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Application.Run(System.Windows.Window)
   ‘⁄ System.Windows.Application.Run()
   ‘⁄ FooSoftware.App.Main()


”–πÿ∏¸∂‡–≈œ¢£¨«Î≤Œ‘ƒ‘⁄ http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp µƒ∞Ô÷˙∫Õ÷ß≥÷÷––ƒ°£

there was this XamlParseException causing my app to not start on XP Window Machine. What is going on?

I've edited my question with an exception I found in eventvwr, but no solution yet. — KMC
Try building it explicitly for x86 instead of 'Any CPU'. I'd expect a "bad image format" if this makes any difference but you never know. — Louis Somers
I have this issue on one client machine out of thousands. It's driving me batty! — tofutim

Simon Mourier Simon Mourier · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-22T06:01:11

XamlParseException is the generic error that happens when there is a problem at application start. I suggest you modify you application startup code to trace what's really going on and get, not only the XamlParseException, but also the inner exception(s) which should help you determine the root of the problem. Here is an example:

namespace WpfApplication1
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaction logic for App.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class App : Application
    {
        protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
        {
            // hook on error before app really starts
            AppDomain.CurrentDomain.UnhandledException += new UnhandledExceptionEventHandler(CurrentDomain_UnhandledException);
            base.OnStartup(e);
        }

        void CurrentDomain_UnhandledException(object sender, UnhandledExceptionEventArgs e)
        {
            // put your tracing or logging code here (I put a message box as an example)
            MessageBox.Show(e.ExceptionObject.ToString());
        }
    }
}

.NET application cannot start and receive XamlParseException

14 Answers