Category: Error

Click Once Deployment – Improperly Formatted

Error Message:
Cannot continue. The application is improperly formatted. Contact the application publisher for assistance.

Application validation did not succeed. Unable to continue.
Unable to retrieve application files. Files corrupt in deployment.

Solution:
For every project in your solution,

  1. Close your solution
  2. Open every project file in notepad ( csproj for c# projects )
  3. Look for the ToolsVersion attribute
  4. Make sure all projects are using the same ToolsVersion
  5. Save
  6. Load your solution and deploy.
Note: The Target Framework Framework is not the same as Tools Version

I had searched for hours for a solution, so I hope this helps someone else.




Internet Explorer Crashes On ActiveX Plug-ins

I was recently trying to download some development tools from MSDN where a Microsoft File Download Plug-in is used.  Every time I clicked the download link, the file download manager tried to launch and then crash the Internet Explorer session.  I had also seen this with some open source remote help desk tools, but figured it was a bad update on the plug-ins.

Well the answer was, Microsoft is trying to manage your memory so to prevent attacks on your computer.  To install the plug-ins, you need to :

  1. Go to the Tools menu
  2. Click on Internet Options
  3. Click on the Advanced tab.
  4. Go to the Security Section
  5. Uncheck the “Enable memory protection to help mitigate online attacks *”
  6. Click Apply
  7. Click OK

Close Internet Explorer and then try your plug-in that previously crashed your Internet Explorer.  If you are not a local administrator, you will have to contact your IT department to do this for you.

Note:
When your plug-in is installed or you have finished your activity, re-enable the “Enable memory protection to help mitigate online attacks *” option as extra protection.  I and Microsoft do not recommend surfing without this option enabled.