CRVS2010 Beta - Crystal Reports crashes Visual Studio

[Former Member]

I have a problem in VS2010 whenever I attempt to use anything related to Crystal Report files (*.rpt). Attempting to open any rpt file or add one to a project causes VS2010 to crash. I have tried un- and re-installing several times to no effect. Any help would be welcomed.

I'm running:

Windows XP SP3 32-bit

VS2010 Ultimate

I can get the crash to occur in the following scenarios:

Create a new code project. In that project, Add new item... Crystal Report file. The report file will be created and then Visual Studio crashes due to an access violation exception. It generates the following error in the system event log:

Event Type: Error

Event Source: Microsoft Visual Studio

Event Category: None

Event ID: 1000

Date: 6/9/2010

Time: 10:44:11 AM

User: N/A

Computer: A4731728

Description:

Faulting application devenv.exe, version 10.0.30319.1, stamp 4ba1fab3, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, stamp 00000000, debug? 0, fault address 0x00690072.

Next case: Add existing item... an rpt file created by the above process. The file is successfully added to the project. However, opening the file to edit it causes a Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library error dialog to appear, followed by VS2010 crashing. I managed to pull the following errors out of the process:

Unhandled exception at 0x7c812aeb in devenv.exe: 0xC0020001: The string binding is invalid.

Unhandled exception at 0x791dfe16 in devenv.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation reading location 0x00000034.

The following error was added to the system event log:

Event Type: Error

Event Source: Crystal Reports

Event Category: None

Event ID: 4353

Date: 6/9/2010

Time: 11:09:41 AM

User: N/A

Computer: A4731728

Description:

The description for Event ID ( 4353 ) in Source ( Crystal Reports ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: The keycode assembly, BusinessObjects.Licensing.KeycodeDecoder.dll, cannot be loaded.

.

Similar crashes occur when I attempt to upgrade or open any old 2005 reports in 2010.

Thanks.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Assuming you installed under a local PC Administrator?

Download DebugDiag from Microsoft and set the crash dump to generate on the devenv.exe. Analyze the dump and see if it points to anything of use.

You could try Process Monitor from www.sysinternals.com ( Microsoft ) also and once the crash happens search for any Access Denied errors. May give you indications if registry keys or dll's permission issue are the cause.

If the dump file needs more info I'll see if I can get the PDB's and contact you directly or so you can send me the dump files.

Another possibility is the C++ runtime is missing or partial. Try running this package also:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=a7b7a05e-6de6-4d3a-a423-37bf...

Thank you

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Everything is being done as local admin on the box.

I installed the Microsoft C++ Redist for 2010, to no effect. (Aside: the c++ redist packaged with the VS2010 Beta installer is 2005, don't know if that matters, but it appears not to in this case).

Process Monitor did not show anything suspicious. Investigating the crash dump showed this:

In devenv__PID__6964__Date__06_09_2010__Time_05_04_11PM__681__Second_Chance_Exception_C0000005.dmp the module C:\WINDOWS\system32\ccme_base.dll has caused an access violation exception (0xC0000005) when trying to write to memory location 0x00760069 on thread 0

I haven't found any meaningful information about ccme_base.dll, and I don't seem to have any symbol files for it, so I can't take that analysis any further right now.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

I did a Bing search on that dll and it appears to belong/distributed by Adobe... and also a hit for McAffee.

So it may be Adobe causing the problem, but I can't see how or it could, possibly your virus scanner is blocking CR components from loading/running.

Try disabling your Anti-virus and Firewall, disconnect or disable your network card first and then do a repair install for VS 2010 and then CR for VS 2010.

Thank you

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I've uninstalled all Adobe products, and tried running VS+Crystal with Firewall, Intrusion Protection, and On-Access virus scan all disabled, but it still crashes.

I'll try doing the repair installation with the network card disabled next.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I disabled the network card, uninstalled CR beta, rebooted the machine, performed a repair installation of VS2010, and reinstalled CR beta.

I ran VS2010 again with all the parts of McAffee disabled that I could.

It still crashes in ccme_base.dll. This time it was a read rather than a write that caused the access violation, but there is still something wrong happening in that assembly, whatever it is.

If it would help to have any of these crash dumps, I can send them. I will have a coworker install the beta tomorrow and try to replicate on a different machine. Otherwise, I'm out of things to try.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I had a coworker install the beta this morning to test it out. He experienced the same crashing behavior that I do.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Justin,

Zip up the dump files and if they are less than 5 meg then I can get then through mail. If they are bigger then I'll send you a link to our FTP server unless you have one I can download them from.

I don't think it's going to help but having another set of eyes on them may help.

Does your IT department also use an OEM version of XP? I've seen problems like this before, never did figure out the solution, Dell said they did not do anything other than change the splash screen on start up. But there were differences in runtime.

Is it possible to use a VM-ware image type program where McAffee does need to be installed first? Don't add the image to the domain and copy all files over through a memory stick for installing VS and CR. Get right down to the basics....

Thank you

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I can confirm the problem.

- Windows 7 Ultimate (64 bit)

- Visual Studio 2010

- DevExpress components in use (if that matters)

Since someone has mentioned Adobe stuff, here is what I have too:

Acrobat.com

Adobe Air

Adobe Flash Player 10 ActiveX

Adobe Flash Player 10 Plugin

Adobe Reader 9

Adding report viewer to a form works fine. However, adding a new report to the project crashes the IDE right away. I can keep developing my applications (actually doing new editions, this time with VS2010), but unless this is solved, I can not complete them at all. Creating a new report file crashes the IDE, but it does generate (empty) report file with the choosen name. Then, after restarting the IDE, you CAN edit the report file, byt any attempt to add that file to the report viewer causes the crash again... So, you can work on your reports, just that you can not attach them to the project.

p.s. file ccme_base.dll seem to be part of Adobe Acrobat. However, even complete uninstall of all adobe tools did not solve the problem.

Edited by: flighter on Jun 20, 2010 8:49 PM

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

The zipped dump file is still 200MB.

My manager is of the opinion that corporate IT could have Done Something to the basic OEM version of Windows, as they have apparently made modifications in the past. We're following that up at your expected inter-departmental speeds.

I'll see about getting a VM to work with, but I might not be able to.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Flighter,

After you un-installed Adobe did you also see if that dll was still there? If it was try renaming it.

Thank you

Don

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Thanks Jluner,

I sent you a link to our FTP uploader to send the dump file to. I'll analyze it and if It shows anything I'll escalate to R&D and/or discuss with the PM for this product to see what the next steps are.

It may be a VS 2010 issue.

Thanks again

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks. I've got the link, and now I'm working on getting management approval to send it to you.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Also,

I did a search on my VM-ware test image and I found the dll. It looks like CR does use it a lot. The difference is the version McAffee installs is only 460 kb and the CR installs is 1,668 Kb. It would appear to be an open source file and that likely explains the conflict.

Can both of you search your PC's for all copies and tell me what size you have and in which folders?

I'll track this now but send me the dump file anyways, I can't duplicate the problem.

Thanks again

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

The CR-distributed version (1.62 MB, version 3.0.0.1) is installed to

C:\Program Files\SAP BuisnessObjects\InstallData\setup.engine

C:\Program Files\SAP BusinessObjects SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\win32_x86

A version of the file (468 KB, no version information) is installed to

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader

A version of the file (460 KB, no version information) is installed to

C:\WINDOWS\system32

What looks like is happening is that the McAffee installation on my computer has dropped its ccme_base.dll into system32 instead of keeping it private. When CR attempts to use its ccme_base, it gets McAffee's instead, which is clearly short on some functionality. What I can't immediately tell is whether it was put there by McAffee, or by IT.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi J,

Our PM just verified what you found also. This is another one of those "dll hell" problems that Microsoft is trying to fix by asking all to put their own dependency runtime into their own app folders.

I don't think Mcafee is the cause. Our IT department push out McAfee as well and I don't have it in the system32 folder so it's likely Adobe installing it into the \system32 folder.

You could try moving it to their app folder so it doesn't break Adobe or submit a ticket with Adobe to not drop that dll into the \system32 folder.

For your info also the dll is a Crypto Package released by RSA, file security.... Part of the new feature of locking the RPT files by encrypting them.

It may not be Adobe doing this either, check the install logs to find out who is placing the dll in the \system32 folder.

Update - I just installed Adobe Reader and it wasn't Adobe Reader installing it so you guys will have to check the install logs and let that 3rd party software company know they need to alter their installer.

At this point we don't need the dump file.

Problem_Report: ADAPT01438407

Thanks again for all your time testing

Don

Edited by: Don Williams on Jun 21, 2010 10:34 AM

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

It looks like our IT is at fault - they've modified McAffee and some other product and put ccme_base.dll into system32 as part of the corporate OS image.

As a workaround, I tried copying the correct dll version into the application directory (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE) to force the correct resolution. Now it (mostly) doesn't crash, but does still fail to open rpt files.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

@Don:

After uninstalling adobe stuff, DLL in question was still in SAP folders.

What I intend to do next is to make a clean install of Windows 7 (which I use on both computers in question), VS2010 and Crystal Reports, SQL Server and nothing else, then se if that all works. If it does work, I will keep adding programs that I regularly use (such are adobe programs) and see where it stop working properly.

In any case, I will post the results here.

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Hi Flighter,

Yes, I discovered that after our IT department also pushed out Mcafee. I then searched and found it in our folder also. We too use it to handle security so it's installed by us too but into our x86 folder.

The problem is the one in \system32 folder is not compatible with the one we need, as you can see by the size difference.

I also found out that Adobe and Mcafee put theirs into their own folder structure. Something you installed wasn't following the rules and installed it into the \system32 folder.

Only option is to try to find out who installed into that folder and then to move it into their executable folder. Then Cr should work fine.

Or try to rename it, if it's not locked then when what ever program uses that copy may fail which will also tell you who the bad guy is.

Thanks again

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Huh, that is the problem.

Now, I have completely removed any leftovers of McAfee (already using something else), uninstalled and then installed again Crystal Reports, but still, it crashes Visual Studio. Today, or later this week, I should be able to experiment with virtual machines and do the clear installation for test purposes.

Now, the question is:

How to tell CR that DLL's in question are now where hey suppose to be? I guess they are registered in the registry. I also remember regdll32.exe that has been used for manipulations of such registrations on older systems, but how to handle it now?

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Not sure if that dll needs to be registered. It is an unmanaged dll so not sure how to get CR's to load. Windows see's that it's loaded already by name so it doesn't load it again.

You could try adding it to the project to see if it will instantiate the dll, that way it force loads ours.

Another option would be to put the path to our in the PATH statement and re-boot, the other program may use ours and that it'll be in memory when the CR app starts up. Not sure what it will do to the other app's though...

You could try starting up in safe mode and rename the one in \system32 and copy CR's in it's place to see if that works also. Again not sure if the other programs can use the one we have....

Only other thing I can suggest is the VM-ware image until the next refresh build is done and hope they implement the fix and force load ours.

Thanks again

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I am having the same issue: ccme_base.dll is causing an access violation. What is the latest news on this problem? Is an update in the works?

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

It's in the works but won't be out until possibly the final build or maybe the Beta refresh.

It's the "other guys" who broke the rules. Try renaming the dll in the system32 folder. If you can't you may have to do it in Safe Mode or like others try un-installing everything until it goes away ( if ever ). Some older version of some third party software put it there, you'll have to investigate how to get rid of it.

Thank you

Don

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

I did the clean install of Windows 7, then VS2010, DevExpress 2010, Crystal Reports and all other software I regularly use on a daily basis except any of the Adobe tools, and so far, everything works perfectly fine. I will not experiment with Adobe stuff yet because I am some 2 months behind the schedule (yeah, not a good thing).

[former_member11696 · Accepted solution]

Great news.... Also a word od warning. We've never officially supported the "Express" versions of VS. It works, CR just doesn't integrate into it as it does on the higher versions of VS. You just have to add all the parts manually.

Thanks again

Don