FIXED - EPIM Not Opening, Getting Error Message

[Windancer]

After I sign in and Windows 10 loads, I try to open EPIM and I get an error message and a blank UI, no database or DB message:

There was an error during the execution of this program.
Click "Send" to submit the report to the developer. Please also provide any steps necessary to reproduce the problem.
Could not initialize taskbar. Error: -2147467263. And details.

I did send in the log but haven't had a response yet (once last week and a follow-up). One good thing, IF I click the program icon immediately when I see my desktop, I assume before too many other things load, EPIM will open. When I try to close the blank UI, I get a different error message:

There was an error during the execution of this program.
Click "Send" to submit the report to the developer. Please also provide any steps necessary to reproduce the problem.
Access violation at address 015719B7 in module 'EssentialPIM.exe'. Read of address 00000000. And details.

I've included both message and details in the attachment. I've used EPIM for a long time, bought a license in 2018 and have never had a problem. I am in my 70's and use EPIM for almost every aspect of my healthcare and life. This problem came out of the blue. Maybe after a Windows update? Maybe after I fixed a RAM and hard drive problem? But after doing every Windows troubleshoot and repair trick they have, used third party programs to help diagnose issues, uninstalled and reinstalled on different drives, and tried portable, the issue remains and I don't have any more ideas. I think this is a good place to stop and hope someone will work with me to fix this.
Thanks

Forgot this:
EssentialPIM Pro 12.1.2 (Build 1021)
Windows 10 Pro, Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045

epim-Errors.pdf

(111.38 KiB) Downloaded 13 times

[admin]

Please try redownloading and reinstalling EPIM (the problem could be related to a corrupted installation). Will it help?

[Windancer]

Thanks for the reply. Before posting, I tried a bunch of stuff including uninstalling, reinstalling, to the same location or to my other primary hard drive. Unfortunately, no help.
I did massive malware scans with several scanners, checked RAM and hard drive health and actually replaced a hard drive, RAM was OK. I used just about every trick Windows can come up to repair Windows, and several 3rd party programs. No luck. I fixed a network issue and after all that, the EPIM issue continues.
Here are two other things I notice or tried. I don’ know how they will help:
1) IF I open EPIM immediately after logging in from a restart or boot, (before everything loads/as soon as I see my desktop) EPIM opens correctly. This led me to try and isolate if another program is loading first and causing the problem, but I can’t find anything, or don't know how.
2) Because the error initially said something about the ‘taskbar’, I tried this in elevated CMD I found, and after closing the EPIM with task manager, I was able to open EPIM normally. Success! But after a restart, the problem returns.
CMD
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & del /A:H /F /Q "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\*" & start explorer.exe
Note: The command apparently kills explorer and associated processes more than just ending the explorer task in task manager. As for AutomaticDestinations, when I used the command, it said it didn't find the AutomaticDestinations folder, although I found it in the place specified and deleted all of the destination files, rebooted but the issue remains.
That’s where I’m at with this, and I am out of ideas. I really need help at this point.

[admin]

You could also try installing EPIM as a Portable version in a separate folder. What will you observe after this?

[Windancer]

Thanks again.
I pretty much have tried all of the more common things before my first post. I have already uninstalled and reinstalled portable to several places, and full program, always completely uninstalling first. It didn't fix the problem, so I'm back to a full install.
1) The explorer taskill cmd keeps me curious. The program opens without error after I 'completely' kill explorer and restart it via the elevated cmd I posted. That command is supposed to reinstall taskbar components (I think). After that, I can close or even kill Epim and it will open normally. After that command, only after a restart, the error returns. I don't know what that suggests.
2) The other. The program opens normally without error when I open it 'quickly' after a restart apparently, before other programs and processes load? But this way, if I completely close the program or kill it with explorer, I will get the error when I try to open it. Then I have to use the cmd again to avoid having to restart windows and open Epim before other things load.
From what I can see, there is something going on between explorer and EPIM and the taskbar? As a non computer person, for now, that's the extent of what I can say.

[admin]

Could you please install the Portable version into a separate new folder, start EPIM, record a video of the entire process and then forward it to us?

[Windancer]

I would be happy for the help. When you say, a separate folder, I guess it means I can do a portable install without uninstalling the full install I'm using now? I think I have OBS to make the video. I know I can attach it but if too big, how do I forward it? Thanks

Addendum: I tried installing portable to C:\Program Files (x86)\EssentialPIM and had install errors. That's never happened before, I completely uninstalled the full version, used Windows, 3rd party app, checked and manually deleted whatever I could find in %localappdata%/%Appdata% (show all files). Then I tried installing again and got the same install problem.

There is NO way a copy is running. I completely deleted as I said, and rebooted. So, I decided to try it again in D:\Program_Installs\EssentialPIM and it installed which sort of says that no copy of Epim was running.

d-install..png (18.93 KiB) Viewed 1032 times

It opened to the new user 'buy the full version' and I clicked OK and it opened a default db. But after I restarted Windows, I faced the same issue I had with full install.

error.png (8.52 KiB) Viewed 1032 times

How would you like me to proceed? It will not install portable to the C drive (which has never happened before), but it will install the full version to C. It installs portable or full to D drive but in all cases, whether it opens after install or not, after a reboot, I get the error message and the program won't open unless I use the explorer taskill cmd, or restart and open EPIM as fast as I can. I am more than happy to make videos and do whatever I can later this evening my time. If a video is still needed, and is too big, how do I forward it?

[Windancer]

Hoping you'll tell me the next step I can try. Do you still want a video of portable?

[admin]

Could you please also mention your Windows version? And we will attempt to address the issue in the next minor update of EPIM, which is scheduled for release in a couple of days.

[Windancer]

Thank you! We'll hope.
Windows 10 Pro
Version: 22H2
OS Build: 19045.5371

[Windancer]

Yeah! Thank you for sticking with me. The new update seems to have done the job. Hope I'm not speaking too soon. After installing, I shut down and rebooted, and restarted several times and the program opens as expected, no errors. Also tested having it startup with windows (although I don't normally use it), and worked. Let's see how it goes after a week or so, or after a Windows update. For now, THANK YOU, thank you, thank you for keeping up on your software. I'll post it as 'resolved' in a week or so.

[admin]

Good to hear, thanks for the update! If there's no issue from the start, it won't come up later

[Windancer]

Great to know. Thanks so much. Then it's resolved.