It used to be that when I launched the Toolbox in Visual Studio, it would show all the UI controls available (based on whether the project is of type WinForms or WPF).
In Visual Studio 2019, the Toolbox displays empty, and then I have to do a right-click and select 'Choose Items...' and go through the tedious task of selecting the controls from the 'Choose Toolbox items' dialogue.
Every. Single. Project. Every. Single. Time.
How can I get the original behavior so that it displays pre-populated?
Try to load the default environment and services by running the Visual Studio IDE in safe mode.
devenv.exe /SafeMode
If it works, load the default settings of the Visual Studio IDE:
devenv.exe /ResetSettings
devenv.exe is located in the following directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Community\Common7\IDE.
If devenv.exe isn't included in the system path, it can be run as follows:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Community\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" /SafeMode
References
/SafeMode (devenv.exe)
/ResetSettings (devenv.exe)
Related
Today I selected "Work Items" as I have a million times before but this time I was met with this error along the top of my "Team Explorer" tab:
"Page [some long GUID] not found."
This also happened for "Pending changes".
To fix the issue simply run the below command in an elevated command prompt as detailed here.
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" /setup
My understanding is this command forces the recreation (what Microsoft refers to as "merging") of current VS settings into what is apparently a corrupt settings cache. On the surface, this is similar to deleting the directory path C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\version and allowing visual studio to recreate it at launch. However, I prefer to not to delete this outright and instead rely on re-merge approach.
Recently I found this sometimes occurs when I launch several solutions at once (i.e. I have 1 or more Visual Studio instances loading a solution at the same time). I also have ReSharper, SQL Prompt, VSCommands and TFS Power Tools installed which I'm sure contribute to some degree.
UPDATE:
This fix should work for all versions of Visual Studio, however you will need to execute the command in the directory appropriate to your version. For example with Visual Studio 2015 the path would be:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" /setup
Version mappings for Visual Studio (original version mapping answer here):
Visual Studio 2005 = 8
Visual Studio 2008 = 9.0
Visual Studio 2010 = 10.0
Visual Studio 2012 = 11.0
Visual Studio 2013 = 12.0
Visual Studio 2015 = 14.0
Visual Studio 2017 = Path has changed to: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Professional\Common7\IDE"
Deleting all files in ComponentModelCache folder worked for me
For Visual Studio 2013:
"C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\12.0\ComponentModelCache"
For Visual Studio 2015:
"C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\ComponentModelCache"
or
%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\ComponentModelCache
If you get this issue in VS2015 and running "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\devenv" /setup doesn't fix you issue you can try the following:
Close all instances of VS
Delete all files in C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\ComponentModelCache
run "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\devenv" /setup
This happend also with my installation of VS '13 when I installed VS '15.
Removing the files at
"C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\12.0\ComponentModelCache"
did the job for me.
I encounter the same problem with you, and resolved by run the VS as administrator
Here are the steps I followed. Please make sure you follow them in correct sequence. These steps are for VS 2015. Use 12.0 (instead of 14.0) for VS 2013 and 10.0 for VS 2010
Close all instances of VS
Delete all files in C:\Users{UserName}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\ComponentModelCache
Delete the folder C:\Users{UserName}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0
run "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\devenv" /setup in a command prompt as administrator
I installed the free version of ApexSQL which is awesome in SSMS, but I really don't want all those menus in Visual Studio. I went to add-in manager and unchecked them, but the Startup column is checked and disabled so every time I restart Visual Studio they come back.
Is it possible to permanently remove the ApexSQL menus from Visual Studio?
If you have ApexSql installed and you don't want those pesky menus in Visual Studio do 2 things.
In Visual Studio, go to Tools > Add-in Manager and uncheck the ApexSql addins. Close Visual Studio.
In Windows 7, there's a hidden folder C:\ProgramData. In Windows Explorer go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\MSEnvShared\AddIns folder. Edit each of the *.MsvsLoader.Addin files and set <LoadBehavior> to 0. If you can't save the files directly, you'll have to save the files to a different location (desktop maybe) and then copy them back into C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\MSEnvShared\AddIns because there's some Admin privilege required.
Now when you restart VS those ApexSQL menus should be gone
The issue of crowding menus is resolved in latest releases, now all ApexSQL add-ins are under the main ApexSQL menu as sub-menus. They look like this now:
If you don't need ApexSQL add-ins in VS or SSMS you can simply choose not to integrate them with VS or SSMS during the installation, just check out SSMS ot VS version in which you want the add-ins integrated
Note: To get this dialog in which you can check the wanted integration you need to use individual installers not the main one. You can find all individual installers on this link
Disclaimer: I work for ApexSQL as a Support Engineer
For Visual Studio 2010 on Windows 7, I attempted #Chris Bayles suggestion and do not see ApexSql addins under Tools->Add-in Manager.
I followed #Jerome2606's pointer to https://knowledgebase.apexsql.com/remove-add-ins-just-visual-studio-retaining-sql-server-management-studio/ and it worked for me, but only when I removed the parent ApexSQL folder as well.
Summary of what is required to do:
Remove folder
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\Extensions\ApexSQL
Depending on the version of Visual Studio, the version number in the default installation location will be different:
Product name Version number
Visual Studio 2010 Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0
Visual Studio 2012 Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0
Visual Studio 2013 Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0
Visual Studio 2015 Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0
Select and delete the ApexSQL folder and its contents.
Open Command Prompt as an administrator, then run
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" /setup
Please note the command is different for Visual Studio 2012, 2013, and 2015.
If you are using SSMS v18.0 then you can disable the apex features in following way.
You can find the ApexSQL.Complete.Addin.SSMS18.pkgdef file from following path.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 18\Common7\IDE\Extensions\ApexSQL Complete
Then open this file in Notepad++ Administrator mode and comment the content.
If you need further reading follow this link.
https://knowledgebase.apexsql.com/remove-apexsql-tools-sql-server-management-studio/
Mine is a Windows 8 machine. I installed Visual Studio 2012, then went to Microsoft SQL Server 2012. Later I was told to install Visual Studio 2010.
The first two installs worked great. Got all the neat icons and everything is good. MSVS2010 SP1 got installed successfully.
Now the third install of Visual Studio 2010 is where I am stuck.
I am downloading it from a Microsoft licensed CD. No errors during installation, but it is only installing Microsoft Visual Studio command prompt, X64 Win64 command prompt and Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 documentation. Nothing else. So basically I dunno where to start to fire up the program.
So I went to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7, C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\Common7 to find the devenv.exe. Couldn't find in either of the locations.
Then went to Run and typed devenv.exe, boom VS2010 opens. So I did a Apps search on Windows 8. When I type devenv.exe the only thing I could find there is SQL Server data tools which has a VS2010 icon. Double click this and VS 2010 opens. So my guess is SQL server 2012 needs VS2010 and installed it.
Questions:
Where is devenv.exe?
Why isn't it installing the rest of the stuff?
How do I start VS2010?
I don't think double clicking on sql server data tools is the correct way. I want VS2010 to appear in my Apps just like any other application. This could be a rather silly question. I did a lot of research and am kinda confused with all these parameters.
In Windows 8, if you search for "Visual Studio" in "Start" screen you won't find VS 2010. Instead search for "devenv", it appears.
Searching for "SQL server data tools" also will work.
In 64bit machines, you can find 2010 in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE
Create a Desktop short cut.
Uninstalling and re installing Visual Studios is not required for the Visual Studio 2010 icon to show up on Windows 8.The Visual Studio 2010 icon is located at C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\devenv. You can add this icon to your task bar or windows desktop and launch Visual Studio 2010. There are two devenv icons in that folder location just select latest one you can find that out by looking at the file properties. The folder path I mentioned above will be different for 64 bit windows machines.
For some reason Visual Studio 2010 did not completely load for me, although it said it did. So I went into its folder and selected the setup.exe to run maintenance mode. There I re-installed it. It asked me (this time) to restart my laptop. I did that. Then I was prompted to update it using the service pack 1 update, via the given link. Then it was ok.
There are two ways to view:
In Win8 or Win8.1 search for "devenv.exe" name it appear and create shortcut in desktop.
Go to this address on your computer:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe
and create a shortcut for this file on your desktop.
You have two options here
in windows 8.0 or 8.1 go to run and type'devenv' and then the Visual studio opens up for you.
Else search using the app name and select 'Microsoft Visual studio' from the list of apps installed, right click on the app and select the option 'pin to the start' or 'pin to the task bar'. This creates short cut with the icon of the app handy.
I'm trying to create a plugin (tool window) for Visual Studio 2010, and am following the directives inn MSDN - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb165051(v=vs.110)
In step #3:
3. In the Templates pane click Visual Studio Package.
However, in my visual studio I don't see that template (i only see Visual Studio Add In)
Why is it missing? Where can I find it?
I believe your VS 2010 SDK is not installed (or it is broken and requires re-installing).
As soon as the SDK is installed, the templates will appear in [ProgramFiles]\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\ProjectTemplates\ and will be ready to use.
See this page for more details.
Have you tried running Visual Studio 2010 with the following switches?
- devenv /resetskippkgs
- devenv /setup
- devenv /resetttings
- devenv /installvstemplates
how do I create a shortcut that runs Visual Studio with Administrator rights?
Actually I have to navigate to the Visual Studio start menu folder, click on the icon with the right mous button and choose "Run as Administrator".
Right-click on the shortcut, select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, click the Advanced button (bottom right). Check the Run As Administrator box.
I know the OP was about how to create a shortcut that runs VS as admin, but using the steps below you can just always have VS launch as admin.
This is a copy of my answer to a similar post on SuperUser:
Option 1 - Set VSLauncher.exe and DevEnv.exe to always run as admin
To have Visual Studio always run as admin when opening any .sln file:
Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSEnv\VSLauncher.exe.
Right-click on VSLauncher.exe and choose Troubleshoot compatibility.
Choose Troubleshoot program.
Check off The program requires additional permissions and hit Next.
Click the Test the program... button to launch VS.
Click Next, then hit Yes, save these settings for this program, and then the close buton.
To have Visual Studio always run as an admin when just opening visual studio directly, do the same thing to the DevEnv.exe file(s). These file are located at:
Visual Studio 2010
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe
Visual Studio 2012
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe
Visual Studio 2013
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe
Visual Studio 2015
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe
Option 2 - Use VSCommands extension for Visual Studio
Install the free VSCommands extension for Visual Studio (it's in the Visual Studio Extensions Gallery) and then configure it to always have Visual Studio start with admin privileges by going to Tools -> VSCommands -> Options -> IDE Enhancements -> General and check off Always start Visual Studio with elevated permissions and click the Save button.
Note: VSCommands is not currently available for VS 2015, but their site says they are working on updating it to support VS 2015.
My Opinion
I prefer Option 2 because:
it also allows you to easily turn off this functionality.
VSCommands comes with lots of other great features so I always have it installed anyways.
it's just easier to do than option 1.
What I was looking for was a way of running Visual Studio Solution files (.sln) as Administrator. I just found a pretty good way of doing this...
Place this content inside a file named RunAsAdministrator.reg:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.Launcher.sln\Shell\runas\Command]
#="\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\Microsoft Shared\\MSEnv\\VSLauncher.exe\" \"%1\""
Double click the file to execute it.
Now, when you right click a file you'll have the option of running it as Adminstrator like this:
Here's the full story by the AWESOME David Ebbo: Open your solution files as admin
Create a shortcut to Visual Studio on your desktop
Right-click on the program
"Send to"
"Desktop (create shortcut)"
Open up properties
Right-click on the shortcut
"Properties"
Within the "Shortcut" tab, click on "Advanced..." (somewhat towards bottom right)
Select "Run as administrator" in the new window
Apply and OK all the windows.
Now when you use this shortcut, it should run the program as administrator.
The above answers works, but on Windows 10 you might bump with disabled advanced shortcut screen. So for windows 10 do the following:
Create shortcut to the solution file
Right click the shortcut => properties
Choose Shortcut tab
Under Target add the visual studio executable location before the sln path. For example:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Community\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" C:\mypath\example\example.sln
Press Advanced under the shortcut tab - you'll be able to edit the advances window.
Select "Run as administrator"
Press ok
Double click the shortcut - you should be able to run the solution as administrator now.
Ctrl + Shift + Clicking on Visual Studio 2019 shortcut seems to open Visual Studio Professional 2019 in admin mode.