Workaround: VS2008 SP1 Breaks WinSDK Configuration Tool

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Issue:
Installing Visual Studio 2008 SP1 breaks the Windows SDK Configuration tool in the Windows SDK for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5.  This tool is used to set the version of Windows SDK headers, libraries and tools you wish to build with in Visual Studio.  After installing VS 2008 SP1, the Configuration tool will crash with an unhandled exception on an X86 computer.  The tool’s UI will be displayed with a blank dialog box on an X64 computer.  This issue does not affect VS 2008 Express SKUs.

Cause:
The Configuration tool depends on a registry key value that is overwritten with invalid content by the Service Pack patch.  After the SP1 patch is installed, the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0a subkey ProductVersion is set to “v6.0A”.  The tool expects this value to be a build number with the format 6.xxx.xxx.xxx.  On an X64 computer, an additional registry key is overwritten with the invalid value: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0A@ProductVersion. 

Workarounds:

Two workarounds are available, depending on your comfort working in the registry.

Workaround 1: Repair Visual Studio 2008 to reset the ProductVersion value

1.  Open the Control Panel and select Products and Features (Add/Remove Programs on pre-Vista operating systems)
2.  Select Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and click on Uninstall/Change. The Visual Studio 2008 setup wizard will launch.
3.  When prompted, choose to Repair/Reinstall Visual Studio 2008. (This will not remove the Service Pack.)

Workaround 2: Update the registry manually to show the correct value

Alternatively, advanced users can update the registry key(s) manually to set a ProductVersion value of “6.0.6001.17011”.  Review the article, Windows registry information for advanced users before editing the registry. 

On an X86 computer, update this key as shown:
· HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0a@ProductVersion = 6.0.6001.17011

On an X64 computer update both of these keys as shown:
· HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0a@ProductVersion = 6.0.6001.17011
· HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0A@ProductVersion = 6.0.6001.17011

Note: An additional workaround is necessary to use the SDK Configuration in GUI mode on VS 2008.  Refer to the Windows SDK Blog post, WinSDK bug notification: SDK Config Tool appears to work but fails.

 

 

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