I recently got a strange error in Visual Studio 2008 which prevents Visual Studio 2008 from starting: "The application data folder for Visual Studio could not be created.", with only a Close button on the message box. What makes this weird is that it happens only when I use my Administrator account, and not my regular user account -- counterintuitive, because at first it appears to be a permissions problem.
After searching the net for a solution I've found a plethora of blog posts encountering the same problem, with various solutions, but Quantboy's "Visual Studio 2.0 startup error" pointed me at the right direction:
I googled the message- and found that the key to this problem is by changing the following registry key entry (like some everyday user’s going to be able to find this)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
I checked the value for this entry in my Admin account and this is what I found:
I compared this with my user account, and this is the correct value, which I applied to the Admin account. I was then able to run Visual Studio 2008 normally:
Consequently I found out that it also prevents Firefox from starting up; during the time I was having these errors I can't open FF either, but after the fix FF starts normally. I don't know what hotfix or what not causes this error, however.
Tags: Visual Studio 2008
It worked, thanks! I was on the brink of insanity because of this error. I would still like to know how the AppData entry got goofed in the first place, but oh well…
It may should be noted that this also fixes MSI error code 1603 when installing/updating VS2008.
You’re my hero.
After trying a couple of other suggestions elsewhere this is the one that did it. Like Brent, I’m not sure how it broke. I work in basic user logon, but general run VS2008 as admin, and this has always worked fine. Even ran it up a few times today for some test projects. Then, on next occasion got the error. Just regular stuff.
I created a second admin logon, and that ran up VS fine. Then found this, and sure enough it worked.
Thanks Jon.
Thank you so much for you post. I was at my wits end searching for the answer to this problem. One change in the registry an now it works. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you so much.
Is there a chance that this error related to Windows Version? Vista or XP ?
just wondering
You’re welcome guys! Glad I could help.
Ishraq,
I don’t know. I was using Vista when I encountered this problem, though.
Thanks you very much !
I just install SQL Management Studio 2008 on a brand new Windows 7 in AD domain with appdata, docs and desktop redirected on a server.
I had the can’t create folder error, change the appdata value in the registry and was able to launch studio without rebooting !
You saved me lots of work ! Thanks !
I got this error after installing Yahoo messenger. Your fix took care of it! Thanks!
great!it worked for me also! thanks
Great!!!! worked for me too Thanks
Many Many …. Thanks for your post. It solved my problem.
Great…Worked in Win7 ans VS2010…thnx
I’m so confused i need help step by step because this is confusing…im running a 64bit laptop and i’m getting two error messages one say
the application data folder for visual studios could not be created
and the other say
the application data folder for microsoft document explorer
could not be created