Launchbox 13.6 crashing, 13.5 works fine

[Thunderbird1400]

Hi!

When I install Launchbox 13.6 over my existing installation, it crashes immediately during start with two error messages (see below).

If I then re-install 13.5 over the existing installation, it works perfectly again. It's absolutely reproducable, I did it multiple times. 13.5 working fine, 13.6 crashing.

My computer is a Windows 10 system (relatively fresh installation) with all latest updates, AMD Ryzen 5900X + 6900XT. No Antivirus software installed besides the Windows defender.

I already posted this problem in the Launchbox 13.6 release thread where faeran asked what happens if I install Launchbox 13.6 in a different folder.

I tried that. Result: Launchbox 13.6 did run fine when I installed it under y:\Launchbox\ instead of y:\Emulatoren & Roms\Launchbox\. So a "naked" installation is working. But of course that's not a solution. It took me years to set-up Launchbox as it is right now.

Any ideas what I can try?

Edited July 30, 2023 by Thunderbird1400

[Thunderbird1400]

Here the full error description of the first error:

Spoiler

An error occurred while parsing EntityName. Line 26, position 73.

App:     LaunchBox
Version: 13.6
Theme:   Default
Type:    System.Xml.XmlException
Site:    Void Throw(System.Exception)
Source:  System.Private.Xml

   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(Exception e)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(String res, Int32 lineNo, Int32 linePos)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.HandleEntityReference(Boolean isInAttributeValue, EntityExpandType expandType, Int32& charRefEndPos)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseAttributeValueSlow(Int32 curPos, Char quoteChar, NodeData attr)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseAttributes()
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseElement()
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseElementContent()
   at System.Xaml.XmlCompatibilityReader.Read()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlScanner.DoXmlRead()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_EmptyElement()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_Element()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementContent()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementBody()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_Element()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_PropertyContent()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_NonemptyPropertyElement()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_PropertyElement()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementBody()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_Element()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.Parse()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.NodeStreamSorter.ReadAheadToEndOfAttributes()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.NodeStreamSorter.MoveNext()
   at System.Xaml.XamlXmlReader.Read()
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.TransformNodes(XamlReader xamlReader, XamlObjectWriter xamlWriter, Boolean onlyLoadOneNode, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Boolean shouldPassLineNumberInfo, IXamlLineInfo xamlLineInfo, IXamlLineInfoConsumer xamlLineInfoConsumer, XamlContextStack`1 stack, IStyleConnector styleConnector)
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.Load(XamlReader xamlReader, IXamlObjectWriterFactory writerFactory, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Object rootObject, XamlObjectWriterSettings settings, Uri baseUri)

(Outer Exception)

An error occurred while parsing EntityName. Line 26, position 73.

App:     LaunchBox
Version: 13.6
Theme:   Default
Type:    System.Windows.Markup.XamlParseException
Site:    Void RewrapException(System.Exception, System.Xaml.IXamlLineInfo, System.Uri)
Source:  PresentationFramework

   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.RewrapException(Exception e, IXamlLineInfo lineInfo, Uri baseUri)
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.Load(XamlReader xamlReader, IXamlObjectWriterFactory writerFactory, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Object rootObject, XamlObjectWriterSettings settings, Uri baseUri)
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.Load(XamlReader xamlReader, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Uri baseUri)
   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.Load(XamlReader xamlReader, ParserContext parserContext)
   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.Load(XmlReader reader, ParserContext parserContext, XamlParseMode parseMode, Boolean useRestrictiveXamlReader, List`1 safeTypes)
   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.Load(Stream stream, ParserContext parserContext, Boolean useRestrictiveXamlReader)
   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.Load(Stream stream)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.Bootstrapper.FlushMetaAttribute(Object )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.Bootstrapper.PostAbstractAttribute(Object item)
   at PageAdvisor.SortMetaField(String item, PageAdvisor )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.Bootstrapper.QueryAbstractAttribute(Type task)
   at Caliburn.Micro.ViewLocator.<>c.<.cctor>b__10_7(Type modelType, DependencyObject displayLocation, Object context)
   at Caliburn.Micro.ViewLocator.<>c.<.cctor>b__10_8(Object model, DependencyObject displayLocation, Object context)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.MainViewModel.get_ContentView()
   at ConsumerMapping.SortMetaField(Object , ConsumerMapping )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.SideBarViewModel.<>c.DeleteAbstractPrototype()
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeDelegateCore()
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Wait(TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.InvokeImpl(DispatcherOperation operation, CancellationToken cancellationToken, TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority, CancellationToken cancellationToken, TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.InstantiateTraversalImporter(Object , Object , DispatcherPriority )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.SideBarViewModel.DisableAbstractTemplate(Boolean testident, Boolean loadcol, Node filter, Playlist config2, Boolean verifysecond3)
   at FacadeGetter.SortMetaField(Object , Boolean testident, Boolean loadcol, Node filter, Playlist config2, Boolean verifysecond3, FacadeGetter )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.SideBarViewModel.<>c__DisplayClass85_0.DestroyAbstractCode()
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.<>c__DisplayClass0_0.ChangeTraversalConnection(Object )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.<>c__DisplayClass0_0.InvokeCommonFilter()
   at System.Threading.Thread.StartHelper.Callback(Object state)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
   at System.Threading.Thread.StartCallback()

Recent Log:

   22:35:21 Exception

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by Thunderbird1400

[Thunderbird1400]

And the second error:

Spoiler

An error occurred while parsing EntityName. Line 126, position 185.

App:     LaunchBox
Version: 13.6
Theme:   Default
Type:    System.Xml.XmlException
Site:    Void Throw(System.Exception)
Source:  System.Private.Xml

   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(Exception e)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(String res, Int32 lineNo, Int32 linePos)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.HandleEntityReference(Boolean isInAttributeValue, EntityExpandType expandType, Int32& charRefEndPos)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseAttributeValueSlow(Int32 curPos, Char quoteChar, NodeData attr)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseAttributes()
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseElement()
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseElementContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Read()
   at System.Xaml.XmlCompatibilityReader.Read()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlScanner.DoXmlRead()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementBody()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_Element()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementContent()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementBody()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_Element()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementContent()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementBody()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_Element()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementContent()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementBody()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_Element()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementContent()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_ElementBody()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.P_Element()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Parser.XamlPullParser.Parse()+MoveNext()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.NodeStreamSorter.ReadAheadToEndOfAttributes()
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.NodeStreamSorter.MoveNext()
   at System.Xaml.XamlXmlReader.Read()
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.TransformNodes(XamlReader xamlReader, XamlObjectWriter xamlWriter, Boolean onlyLoadOneNode, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Boolean shouldPassLineNumberInfo, IXamlLineInfo xamlLineInfo, IXamlLineInfoConsumer xamlLineInfoConsumer, XamlContextStack`1 stack, IStyleConnector styleConnector)
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.Load(XamlReader xamlReader, IXamlObjectWriterFactory writerFactory, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Object rootObject, XamlObjectWriterSettings settings, Uri baseUri)

(Outer Exception)

An error occurred while parsing EntityName. Line 126, position 185.

App:     LaunchBox
Version: 13.6
Theme:   Default
Type:    System.Windows.Markup.XamlParseException
Site:    Void RewrapException(System.Exception, System.Xaml.IXamlLineInfo, System.Uri)
Source:  PresentationFramework

   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.RewrapException(Exception e, IXamlLineInfo lineInfo, Uri baseUri)
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.Load(XamlReader xamlReader, IXamlObjectWriterFactory writerFactory, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Object rootObject, XamlObjectWriterSettings settings, Uri baseUri)
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.Load(XamlReader xamlReader, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Uri baseUri)
   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.Load(XamlReader xamlReader, ParserContext parserContext)
   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.Load(XmlReader reader, ParserContext parserContext, XamlParseMode parseMode, Boolean useRestrictiveXamlReader, List`1 safeTypes)
   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.Load(Stream stream, ParserContext parserContext, Boolean useRestrictiveXamlReader)
   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.Load(Stream stream)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.Bootstrapper.FlushMetaAttribute(Object )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.Bootstrapper.PostAbstractAttribute(Object item)
   at PageAdvisor.SortMetaField(String item, PageAdvisor )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.Bootstrapper.QueryAbstractAttribute(Type task)
   at Caliburn.Micro.ViewLocator.<>c.<.cctor>b__10_7(Type modelType, DependencyObject displayLocation, Object context)
   at Caliburn.Micro.ViewLocator.<>c.<.cctor>b__10_8(Object model, DependencyObject displayLocation, Object context)
   at Caliburn.Micro.WindowManager.CreateWindow(Object rootModel, Boolean isDialog, Object context, IDictionary`2 settings)
   at Caliburn.Micro.WindowManager.ShowWindow(Object rootModel, Object context, IDictionary`2 settings)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.Bootstrapper.OnStartup(Object sender, StartupEventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Application.OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Application.<.ctor>b__1_0(Object unused)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs, Delegate catchHandler)

Recent Log:

   22:38:32 Exception

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by Thunderbird1400

[MondoBoricua]

Same problem here.

[Retro808]

@Thunderbird1400 Did you try removing the & symbol from you original LB folder install name. Faeran's original response to your post advised a symbol in the install folder path could cause this issue. 

y:\Emulatoren & Roms\Launchbox\

[MondoBoricua]

mine is in C:\LaunchBox

 

The given key '5' was not present in the dictionary.

App:     LaunchBox
Version: 13.6
Theme:   Default
Type:    System.Collections.Generic.KeyNotFoundException
Site:    Void ThrowKeyNotFoundException[T](T)
Source:  System.Private.CoreLib

   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.VirtualizingTilePanel.ArrangeOverride(Size finalSize)
   at System.Windows.FrameworkElement.ArrangeCore(Rect finalRect)
   at System.Windows.UIElement.Arrange(Rect finalRect)
   at System.Windows.ContextLayoutManager.UpdateLayout()
   at System.Windows.ContextLayoutManager.UpdateLayoutCallback(Object arg)
   at System.Windows.Media.MediaContext.FireInvokeOnRenderCallbacks()
   at System.Windows.Media.MediaContext.RenderMessageHandlerCore(Object resizedCompositionTarget)
   at System.Windows.Media.MediaContext.RenderMessageHandler(Object resizedCompositionTarget)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs, Delegate catchHandler)

Recent Log:

   12:25:40 PM Exception

[Thunderbird1400]

22 hours ago, Retro808 said:

@Thunderbird1400 Did you try removing the & symbol from you original LB folder install name. Faeran's original response to your post advised a symbol in the install folder path could cause this issue. 

y:\Emulatoren & Roms\Launchbox\

Hi!

This actually solves the issue! When I rename the folder from "Emulatoren & Roms" to "EmulatorenRoms", Launchbox 13.6 starts. If I add the "&" in the folder name again, Launchbox 13.6 doesn't start anymore.

Great that the cause has been found, thanks! Of course that doesn't solve the issue for me at the moment, because the folder name must remain as it is, but I'm hoping for the next Launchbox update for this being fixed.

Obviously this is a bug in version 13.6 that wasn't existent in all previous versions (I have Launchbox since 8.x and my folder name was always like this).

Do the developers read here, so that this can be fixed in the next version?

Thanks and have a nice rest of the weekend!

[Retro808]

Devs do read. To be honest though I would recommend you not use any symbol type characters in folder names. Windows does have "illegal" characters that should never be used in file and folder names, but even the "&" symbol can create problems. As you already found out that symbol is now causing an issue and just because it did worked before does not mean down the line it will not cause an issue again or an issue with another program. So for the sake of future proofing I would recommend changing it now and correct the to rom path for your games in LB if they need it.