FIX: Error message after you successfully install Visual Studio 2005 and then start the development environment: "Package load failure" (916900)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition

SYMPTOMS

After you successfully install Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, you may receive an error message that resembles the following when you start the development environment (Devenv.exe):
Package load failure

Package 'Visual Studio Common IDE package' has failed to load properly (GUID = {6E87CFAD-6C05-4ADF-9CD7-3B7943875B7C})

CAUSE

This problem occurs when Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 previously existed on the computer before you installed the retail version of Visual Studio 2005. Even though Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 was removed, leftover components may be installed on the computer.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:
  1. Run the Visual Studio 2005 Troubleshooting tool (Ttool.exe). The Ttool.exe tool detects and removes the beta components from the computer. If you select the Uninstall Visual Studio components option, you must reinstall Visual Studio 2005 after you run the tool. If you have already uninstalled Visual Studio 2005, select the Find and fix problems option to try to detect old Visual Studio assemblies in the Global Assembly Cache (GAC) and then remove the assemblies. To obtain the Ttool.exe tool, contact Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS). To do this, visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites:
  2. If the Ttool.exe tool does not resolve the problem, run a command to clear out the components from the native image cache. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Exit Visual Studio 2005, and then restart the computer to make sure that Microsoft Windows is not using any Visual Studio-related files.
    2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
    3. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

      rd /s /q %windir%\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32\Microsoft.VisualStu#

      This command removes a subset of native images from the cache that have proven to be problematic in the past.
  3. If steps 1 and 2 do not resolve the problem, run a command to clear out the whole native image cache. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Exit Visual Studio 2005, and then restart the computer to make sure that Microsoft Windows is not using any Visual Studio-related files.
    2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
    3. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

      rd /s /q %windir%\assembly\NativeImages_v2.0.50727_32

      This command removes all Visual Studio 2005 native image form the cache.
  4. If steps 1-3 do not resolve the "Package load failure" error messages, you may have to remove the current version of Visual Studio 2005 that you have installed. Then, you must manually remove the leftover components from the system.

    After you complete this step, reinstall Visual Studio 2005. To remove and clean up the components, follow these steps:
    1. Uninstall Visual Studio 2005. For more information, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site:
    2. Restart the computer.
    3. Try to reinstall Visual Studio 2005.

STATUS

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

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/1/2006
Keywords:kbBug kberrmsg kbQFE kbfix KB916900 kbAudDeveloper kbAudITPRO