Help for a convert

[jspaulding22]

I am in the process of learning xlights as I am going away form LSP for next year. I was working through some of the videos this morning, went to lunch and now when I try to start xlights it will not start. I have rebooted, uninstalled, reinstalled, etc. I have been researching the crashes and have found the log file ( I believe). Below is what is rendered in the log file. Any thoughts?

2016-12-05 15:26:19,775 13556 log_base [INFO] ******* XLights main function executing.
2016-12-05 15:26:19,775 13556 log_base [INFO] Main: Starting wxWidgets ...
2016-12-05 15:26:19,781 13556 log_base [INFO] ******* OnInit: XLights started.
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO] Version: 2016.51
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO] Build Date: Nov 4, 2016
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO] Machine configuration:
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO]   Free Memory:-1.
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO]   Current directory: C:\xLights Program
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO]   Machine name: HP-L-15-C4PH
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO]   OS: Windows 10 (build 10586), 64-bit edition
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO]   OS: Windows NT family(XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10). 10.0.83820544
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO]       64 bit
2016-12-05 15:26:19,782 13556 log_base [INFO]       Little Endian
2016-12-05 15:26:19,943 13556 log_base [DEBUG] xLightsFrame being constructed.
2016-12-05 15:26:20,546 13556 log_base [DEBUG] xLightsFrame constructor UI code done.
2016-12-05 15:26:20,586 13556 log_base [DEBUG] xLightsFrame constructor creating sequencer.
2016-12-05 15:26:20,586 13556 log_base [DEBUG] CreateSequencer: Creating Panels.
2016-12-05 15:26:20,676 13556 log_base [CRIT] Crash handler called.

- Joe Spaulding

[Gilrock]

Can you try just deleting your show folder and restart....or at least rename it?  It's failing really early in the program while its still trying to create the windows.

[keithsw1111]

Looks like corrupted Window layout settings.

[jspaulding22]

I renamed the folder to shows_backup with the same result. Would renaming the folder also eliminate the corrupted Window Layout settings? Sorry for the questions but I am still trying to learn my way around the configs.

[Gilrock]

I don't know how it could have gotten corrupted but I believe the window position settings are in the registry.  If you are comfortable running regedit you can find the xLights key at:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\xLights

You should be able to delete the key and then run the program again.  I wouldn't mind seeing a screenshot of the contents of that key.

[jspaulding22]

This is strange. That key does not exist. I just uninstalled and reinstalled thinking is would create it and it did not. See attached screenshot.

[Gilrock]

Well I try to tell users that uninstalling xLights never fixes any problems and this is why.  The installation is not writing or erasing from the registry as far as I know so its not going to fix any problem.  The only thing uninstalling does is remove the program executables and other supporting DLLs from the program files folder.  The registry entries are created when you first run the program.

[jspaulding22]

I will confirm it is the registry setting by installing xlights on another PC then export and import the registry key. I will let you know. Thanks.

[jspaulding22]

I installed xlights on another pc, verified it would start, exported the registry key but still will not start on my PC. I am at a loss. Any other ideas? Thanks for your assistance.

[jnealand]

Just a whim.  Create a new user on the PC or switch to a different user and try to install xlights.  There have been instances where something in a user profile keeps things from happening.  But don't ask me how to fix it.  I do know how (in Win7, never tried it in Win10) to create a new user and transfer all existing info to the new account and have seen that fix things as well.  Just strange things that happen.

[jspaulding22]

The new user did not work. I even made the user an administrator.

[Gilrock]

I'd sure like to know what happened to your machine while you were at lunch.

[Gilrock]

Depending on how much you are willing to dig into this one of the best ways would be to install Git for Windows and then download the code repository and then download/install/configure wxWidgets and CodeBlocks and the compiler using the ReadMe guide.  Once you can compile the code one of us could TeamViewer with you and watch it run in Debug mode and hopefully be able to determine the crash.

[jspaulding22]

HUH???   

Just kidding. I run an IT department but I am not a developer. I do have a team of developer who could probably run me through this and then I can get with you to take a look. I'll get back with you.

By the way, I would like to know what happened as well. I was think maybe an update or something, but I don't see any that were applied.

[Gilrock]

We have several users that set themselves up to build the code even though they don't consider themselves developers.