BUG: File Association Is Lost When You Remove Visual Studio .NET (821316)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Architect Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Academic Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2002), Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2002), Enterprise Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2002), Enterprise Architect Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2002), Academic Edition

Notice

SYMPTOMS

When you install Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2002 and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 on the same computer, and then you try to remove one of the installed programs, the file associations are lost for Visual Studio .NET-related files. When you try to open .cpp files, .h files, .cs files, .vb files, .sln files, and other Visual Studio .NET-related files, Microsoft Development Environment (MSDEV) cannot start automatically.

CAUSE

The removal process deletes the registry entries that associate the file extensions for Visual Studio .NET.

RESOLUTION

Repair the version of Visual Studio .NET that you plan to keep. For example, when you remove Visual Studio .NET 2003, repair Visual Studio .NET 2002. Similarly, when you remove Visual Studio .NET 2002, repair Visual Studio .NET 2003.

To repair the version of Visual Studio .NET, follow these steps:
  1. In Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
  2. Click Change or Remove Programs.
  3. Under Currently installed programs, click your version of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, and then click Change/Remove.
  4. In the Visual Studio .NET Setup wizard, click Visual Studio .NET.
  5. In the Setup - Maintenance Page wizard, click Repair/Reinstall.
  6. Follow the instructions to complete the repair.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

  1. Install Visual Studio .NET 2002 Enterprise Architect and Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect on the same computer.
  2. In Visual Studio .NET, create a new Microsoft Visual C# .NET Windows Application project. To do so, follow these steps:
    1. Start Visual Studio .NET.
    2. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Project.
    3. Under the Project Types section, click Visual C# Projects. Under the Templates section, click Windows Application, and then click OK.
  3. In Contol Panel, click Add or Remove Programs.
  4. Click Change or Remove Programs.
  5. Under Currently installed programs, click Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect 2003 - English, and then click Change/Remove.
  6. In the Visual Studio .NET Setup Wizard, click Visual Studio .NET.
  7. In the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect Setup - Maintenance Page Wizard, click Uninstall Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect.
  8. Click OK to remove the program.
  9. Follow the instructions to complete the Setup.
  10. Start Microsoft Windows Explorer, and then locate a .cs file. When you double-click the .cs file, the file will not open in Visual Studio .NET automatically because the file has lost its file association.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/26/2005
Keywords:kbvs2002sp1sweep kbpending kbRegistry kbRepair kbIDEProject kbide kbsetup kbbug KB821316 kbAudDeveloper kbAudITPRO
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