Visual Studio 12 Designer could not be started because of a permissions issue

Question

I get this error when try to start designer on a C# Metro project.  Any thoughts on what I need to change?

System.Security.SecurityException
Designer could not be started because of a permissions issue on the drive to which it is installed. Please check the permissions of the folder before trying to start the designer.
   at Microsoft.Expression.HostUtility.Platform.TailoredDomainFactory.CreateDesignerProcess(String applicationPath, String clientPort, Uri hostUri, IDictionary environmentVariables, Int32& processId, Object& processData)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Primitives.ProcessDomainFactory.ProcessIsolationDomain..ctor(ProcessDomainFactory factory, IIsolationBoundary boundary, AppDomainSetup appDomainInfo, FrameworkName targetFramework, String identifier, String baseDirectory)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Primitives.ProcessDomainFactory.CreateIsolationDomain(IIsolationBoundary boundary)
   at Microsoft.Expression.HostUtility.Platform.TailoredDomainFactory.CreateIsolationDomain(IIsolationBoundary boundary)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Primitives.IsolationBoundary.Initialize()
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Primitives.IsolationBoundary.CreateInstance[T](Type type)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.IsolatedExportProvider.Initialize()
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.ExpressionHost.Services.VSIsolationService.CreateExportProvider(IIsolationTarget isolationTarget, ICatalogFactory catalogFactory, IExportFilter filter)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.IsolationService.CreateLease(IIsolationTarget isolationTarget)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.IsolatedDesignerService.CreateLease(IIsolationTarget isolationTarget, CancellationToken cancelToken, DesignerServiceEntry& entry)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.IsolatedDesignerService.IsolatedDesignerView.CreateDesignerViewInfo(CancellationToken cancelToken)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.IsolatedTaskScheduler.InvokeWithCulture[T](CultureInfo culture, Func`2 func, CancellationToken cancelToken)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.IsolatedTaskScheduler.<>c__DisplayClassa`1.<StartTask>b__6()
   at System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1.InnerInvoke()
   at System.Threading.Tasks.Task.Execute()

Answer 1

Hi thegluck,

Let's try some methods as follow below:

1. If we reboot the operating system to safe mode, do we have the problem? This can help to isolate whether any other applications are interfering with Visual Studio. Note that some features (like IIS) are not available under safe mode. Please check whether this can apply or not. In addition to safe mode, we can also suggest “clean boot”: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353.

2. If we create a new user account, do we have the problem? This can help to isolate user profile corruption related causes.

3. If we use “devenv.exe /resetsettings”, does it solve the problem? It restores Visual Studio default settings.

4. If we create a new project, do we have the problem? Sometimes corrupted project settings can cause problems. These are project specific.

5. If the problem remains, we can use Visual Studio Setup Wizard (via Control Panel) to repair Visual Studio. It can restore the Visual Studio Installation into its original state.

Best regards,

Ego

Answer 2

I uninstalled VS 2012 and did a new install.  The error I was first getting is not appearing.  Now I am getting the following error.

System.UnauthorizedAccessException
Error 5: Access is denied : 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETCore\v4.5\Microsoft.CSharp.dll'
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Remoting.STAMarshaler.WaitForCompletion(NestedCallContext nestedCallContext, BlockingCall call, WaitHandle timeoutSignal)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Remoting.STAMarshaler.MarshalOut(Action action, Int32 targetApartmentId, WaitHandle aborted, WaitHandle timeoutSignal)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Remoting.ThreadMarshaler.MarshalOut[TValue](RemoteHandle`1 targetObject, Action action)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Remoting.ThreadMarshaler.MarshalOut[TResult,TValue](RemoteHandle`1 targetObject, Func`2 func)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Remoting.LocalDesignerService.CreateDesignerImpl(IHostSourceItem item, IHostTextEditor editor, RemoteCancellationToken remoteCancelToken)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.Isolation.Remoting.LocalDesignerService.Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.IDesignerService.CreateDesigner(IHostSourceItem item, IHostTextEditor editor, CancellationToken cancelToken)
   at Microsoft.Expression.DesignHost.IsolatedDesignerService.IsolatedDesignerView.CreateDesignerViewInfo(CancellationToken cancelToken)

Answer 3

Hi thegluck,

We can see it report error 5. I think you can refer to:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555644

Best regards,

Disley

Answer 4

Hi Disley,

The file that I get the error on is on my development machine, it's not from a remote computer.

Answer 5

I am getting the same error, after upgrading from Win7 then it not working, then uninstalling, then reinstalling and it is still not working...

---

Benjamin Gibbs (My Rapid Web Service)

Answer 6

Try this

Copy

c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Expression\Blend 4\Microsoft.Windows.Design.Interaction\Microsoft.Windows.Design.Interaction.dll

to

c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\Common7\IDE\PublicAssemblies\

Rui

Answer 7

same error for me.

Upgraded from Win 7 and re-installed VS2012 RC.

We need MS attention on this please.

Answer 8

For This problem:

System.UnauthorizedAccessException
Error 5: Access is denied : 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Reference Assemblies\Microsoft\Framework\.NETCore\v4.5\Microsoft.CSharp.dll'

I resolved doing this:

1) Create a new WPF project in a new solution

2) I could see the designer, so there is something wrong in my other solution

3) In my other solution I unload all the project and create a new WPF project, and i could see the designer

4) Load one by one the projects and close and open the .xaml of the WPF project that i created, until the designer give that error

5) See the references or the .dll includes in the project, there must be one that was download from internet or something... go to the path, right click on the .dll -> Properties -> Unblock option.

P.S. If you don't find the "Unblock Option" there is no problem with the .dll, go to next one :)

Hope it help

Rui

Answer 9

Found a solution! None of the above worked for me.

Think this is something to do with upgrade from windows 7 to windows 8.

For 32bit Windows do the following to the 'Reference Assemblies' directory in your 'Program Files' directory
For 64bit Windows do the following to the 'Reference Assemblies' directory in both 'Program Files' and 'Program Files (x86)'

THIS MUST BE DONE AS ADMINISTRATOR

1. Select the folder in Windows Explorer, right-click and select 'Properties'
2. Click the 'Security' tab then click the 'Advanced...' button
3. At the top of the new window there should 'Name' and 'Owner'. Next to owner click the 'Change' link.
4. In the new window make sure you have your local computer selected under 'From this location:'. If not click 'Locations...' and select your local computer then click 'OK'.
5. In the textbox under 'Enter the object name to select, type 'Users' and click 'Check Names...'
6. Click 'OK'
7. At the top of the page check the option 'Replace owner on subcontainers and objects'. Click 'Apply'. You may be prompted to shut the properties dialog to apply the ownership changes, if so close all dialogs then repeat steps 1 and 2.
8. On the 'Permissions' tab select 'Users' and click 'Edit'.
9. Select 'Full Control' then click 'OK'.

When you start VS2012 after this and open a designer it will prompt you that it needs to change permissions, do this and this time it will succeed! Hopefully....

Good luck!

SC

Answer 10

I had the same problem. The described solution is accurate and efficient.

Thank You very much.

Answer 11

THANKS VERY MUCH MAENEAK ....IT WORKS.

I just upgraded from WIndow 7 to 8, and was getting the error message about permissions. I tried your way initially and it did not work...I realized that I had skipped a step, later on.

Tried it again today (July6, 2012) and it worked !!!!

THANKS AGAIN

Answer 12

Works great. I was having to do XAML the hard way until I implemented your fix. Thanks!

Answer 13

Without luck. Followed the steps not knowing what I've got wrong.