Error: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

[Doc Bean]

The following error window started to appear a few weeks ago and on a regular basis: Error: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

I assume it is related to NVCleanstall as the error icon on the taskbar is the same as the one for NVCleanstall.

Any ideas? I have 1.14.0 installed.

 

[kilo]

That's about as vague as errors come. Can you check event viewer and give more details?

 

[Doc Bean]

According to Event Viewer (there are 2 entries each time):

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 04/12/2022 17:12:16
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: DESKTOP-53BK48E
Description:
Faulting application name: NVCleanstall.exe, version: 1.14.0.0, time stamp: 0x637526ee
Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 10.0.19041.2193, time stamp: 0x7f7062e1
Exception code: 0xe0434352
Fault offset: 0x000000000002cd29
Faulting process ID: 0xec8
Faulting application start time: 0x01d907faee7e5351
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\NVCleanstall\NVCleanstall.exe
Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\KERNELBASE.dll
Report ID: 38f55c03-ea4d-41e2-b4f4-5b715022f1b2
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Application Error" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">1000</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2022-12-04T17:12:16.5172435Z" />
<EventRecordID>10130</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-53BK48E</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>NVCleanstall.exe</Data>
<Data>1.14.0.0</Data>
<Data>637526ee</Data>
<Data>KERNELBASE.dll</Data>
<Data>10.0.19041.2193</Data>
<Data>7f7062e1</Data>
<Data>e0434352</Data>
<Data>000000000002cd29</Data>
<Data>ec8</Data>
<Data>01d907faee7e5351</Data>
<Data>C:\Program Files\NVCleanstall\NVCleanstall.exe</Data>
<Data>C:\WINDOWS\System32\KERNELBASE.dll</Data>
<Data>38f55c03-ea4d-41e2-b4f4-5b715022f1b2</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

The 2nd entry:

Log Name: Application
Source: .NET Runtime
Date: 04/12/2022 17:12:16
Event ID: 1026
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: DESKTOP-53BK48E
Description:
Application: NVCleanstall.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.NullReferenceException
at _5BXoLj9DBjHI8QmdaKZLoO7OdIe+_jdYI8oiHyVlgGybBnTPE3qXAfAcA.MoveNext()
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at _8PHljacMbbprAoadQRqBAAQJp2m+_cg0s1WRcBz9iRgmrFz96W35fJMs.MoveNext()
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(System.Object, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32, System.Delegate)
at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
at MS.Internal.CulturePreservingExecutionContext.Run(MS.Internal.CulturePreservingExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Invoke()
at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.ProcessQueue()
at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.WndProcHook(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr, Boolean ByRef)
at MS.Win32.HwndWrapper.WndProc(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr, Boolean ByRef)
at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.DispatcherCallbackOperation(System.Object)
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(System.Object, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32, System.Delegate)
at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.LegacyInvokeImpl(System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherPriority, System.TimeSpan, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.SubclassWndProc(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr)
at MS.Win32.UnsafeNativeMethods.DispatchMessage(System.Windows.Interop.MSG ByRef)
at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.PushFrameImpl(System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherFrame)
at System.Windows.Application.RunDispatcher(System.Object)
at System.Windows.Application.RunInternal(System.Windows.Window)
at _8PHljacMbbprAoadQRqBAAQJp2m._j4m2TmbeBuFz621OfX0F24j8AgR()

Exception Info: System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException
at System.RuntimeMethodHandle.InvokeMethod(System.Object, System.Object[], System.Signature, Boolean)
at System.Reflection.RuntimeMethodInfo.UnsafeInvokeInternal(System.Object, System.Object[], System.Object[])
at System.Reflection.RuntimeMethodInfo.Invoke(System.Object, System.Reflection.BindingFlags, System.Reflection.Binder, System.Object[], System.Globalization.CultureInfo)
at <Module>.Main(System.String[])


Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name=".NET Runtime" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">1026</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2022-12-04T17:12:16.3652927Z" />
<EventRecordID>10129</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>DESKTOP-53BK48E</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>Application: NVCleanstall.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.NullReferenceException
at _5BXoLj9DBjHI8QmdaKZLoO7OdIe+_jdYI8oiHyVlgGybBnTPE3qXAfAcA.MoveNext()
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at _8PHljacMbbprAoadQRqBAAQJp2m+_cg0s1WRcBz9iRgmrFz96W35fJMs.MoveNext()
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(System.Object, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32, System.Delegate)
at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
at MS.Internal.CulturePreservingExecutionContext.Run(MS.Internal.CulturePreservingExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Invoke()
at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.ProcessQueue()
at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.WndProcHook(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr, Boolean ByRef)
at MS.Win32.HwndWrapper.WndProc(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr, Boolean ByRef)
at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.DispatcherCallbackOperation(System.Object)
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(System.Object, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32, System.Delegate)
at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.LegacyInvokeImpl(System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherPriority, System.TimeSpan, System.Delegate, System.Object, Int32)
at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.SubclassWndProc(IntPtr, Int32, IntPtr, IntPtr)
at MS.Win32.UnsafeNativeMethods.DispatchMessage(System.Windows.Interop.MSG ByRef)
at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.PushFrameImpl(System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherFrame)
at System.Windows.Application.RunDispatcher(System.Object)
at System.Windows.Application.RunInternal(System.Windows.Window)
at _8PHljacMbbprAoadQRqBAAQJp2m._j4m2TmbeBuFz621OfX0F24j8AgR()

Exception Info: System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException
at System.RuntimeMethodHandle.InvokeMethod(System.Object, System.Object[], System.Signature, Boolean)
at System.Reflection.RuntimeMethodInfo.UnsafeInvokeInternal(System.Object, System.Object[], System.Object[])
at System.Reflection.RuntimeMethodInfo.Invoke(System.Object, System.Reflection.BindingFlags, System.Reflection.Binder, System.Object[], System.Globalization.CultureInfo)
at &lt;Module&gt;.Main(System.String[])

</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

 

[kilo]

I had a chance to look at some similar problems. Looks like it boils down to incompatibilities with either the version of .Net framework that's on your machine and the version that was compiled at the time of the application -- or -- a misconfiguration in a cached/temp file "somewhere". Briefly installing the softweare myself on Win 11 22H1, I didn't locate any obvious locations that would be affected outside of "C:\Program Files\"

I would start with a few tests to narrow down where the problem could be.

1) Create a new profile on the system, and start the software from that profile
a) Success means that there's a temp file somewhere on the profile you're launching the software from.
b) Failure means that there might be a temp file somewhere on the system's temp files.
2) Uninstall / Reinstall the software
a) Success would indicate that it was an error in the "C:\Program Files\NVCleanInstall\" location
b) Failure could point to a fault in a setting or other left behind files.
3) Uninstall the software on the profile where the error's occuring, create a new profile, install the software (as admin), then log into the first profile and see if the error persists.

There's a chance that it's only the portion of the software looking for up to date drivers. I was unable to test that portion as I don't like reinstalling Nvidia drivers all the time. Typically, I only install when I get a new title (rarely) or a CVE with old drivers appears (rarely). I know that doesn't work for everyone, but it might be worth considering.

Hopefully, this will help you.

 

[W1zzard]

Right when you start the app? Always?

 

[Doc Bean]

Right when you start the app? Always?

Not when I start the app, but it pops up intermittendly during the day for no obvious reason.

@kilo thank you for your input. I did reinstall it, which didn't solve the issue. I might restore a Windows backup and take it from there.

 

[W1zzard]

Not when I start the app, but it pops up intermittendly during the day for no obvious reason.

Ah it's probably the "new driver available" check. This defintiely looks like a coding bug, not an issue with your Windows.

Let me send you a build for debugging

 

[Smultie]

Hi, I'm facing similar issues. Did the debugging build fix the issue?

 

[backfeed]

This just started happening to me, I installed 1.14.0 two weeks ago.

It happens when the new-driver-check task is executed:

C:\Program Files\NVCleanstall\NVCleanstall.exe /check

I had a go at disassembly to find the cause myself but the obfuscation was too strong in this one.

 

[W1zzard]

I just got the error, too. The issue is that there's a Studio driver that's newer than the newest standard GeForce driver. But that Studio driver gets rejected on systems that aren't running a Studio driver, which means the update checker gets "no driver" and crashes. I have a fix for that in the current codebase. Will try to get it released tomorrow

 

[backfeed]

I just got the error, too. The issue is that there's a Studio driver that's newer than the newest standard GeForce driver. But that Studio driver gets rejected on systems that aren't running a Studio driver, which means the update checker gets "no driver" and crashes. I have a fix for that in the current codebase. Will try to get it released tomorrow

Ah, that makes perfect sense.

A work-around until the fix is released is of course to temporarily disable the NVCleanstall task in Task Scheduler.

 

[Grumpy Grey]

The following error window started to appear a few weeks ago and on a regular basis: Error: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

I assume it is related to NVCleanstall as the error icon on the taskbar is the same as the one for NVCleanstall.

View attachment 273052

Any ideas? I have 1.14.0 installed.

Same here.

Also finding the 1.14 installer crashes explorer on a clean install?

Will try workaround for error message on boot.

 

[W1zzard]

Same here.

Fix coming today

Also finding the 1.14 installer crashes explorer on a clean install?

Could you elaborate?

 

[Grumpy Grey]

Fix coming today


Could you elaborate?

Hi, yeah, clean install on a new machine and every time I tried to launch NV explorer would crash and freeze.

I downloaded again from UK and NV did nothing after launching.

Then downloaded from the german server and everything launched, ran and worked as intended - though I've not installed NV itself for time being owing to the OP's bug presenting itself.

Thank you for the incoming fix though, love this app.

 

[W1zzard]

Any chance you were using an older version of NVCleanstall?

 

[Grumpy Grey]

This was NVCleanstall_1.14.0 downloaded just a couple of days ago in anticipation of a new build.

I think the previous version I had installed was downloaded sometime last summer, but that was deleted when I did my trawl of software updates.

The DE server version has gone on just fine as a standalone to install a clean driver., the UK one wouldn't launch at all when i downloaded it today.

I'vce just relaunched the app that worked earlier and it's found me a newer driver though, so I wonder whether age of preinstalled driver creates an issue? Or problems with the preinstalled driver?

The newest driver offered earlier was 528.02, but now it shows me 528.24 which has installed just fine.

 

[W1zzard]

The newest driver offered earlier was 528.02, but now it shows me 528.24 which has installed just fine.

NVIDIA released this version today, just an hour ago

The DE server version has gone on just fine as a standalone to install a clean driver., the UK one wouldn't launch at all when i downloaded it today.

Very strange .. the files are the same on both servers

 

[Grumpy Grey]

NVIDIA released this version today, just an hour ago


Very strange .. the files are the same on both servers

It's cool. Mostly the OP's issue was worth mentioning, I'm sure the other issue is likely with explorer.exe rather than NV. Thank you.

 

[W1zzard]

NVCleanstall 1.15 released, which fixes the crash in the update checker