VS2015 SP3 remote debug illegal characters in path

Question

After upgrading Visual Studio 2015 to Update 3 the remote debugging stops working. While trying to debug the error occurs:

Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State Error DEP4300 : Could not generate the root folder for app package xxx|VS.Debug_x86.xxx|CN=xx|xxxxxx.Debug_x86.xxx with base layout folder of C:\Users\xxxx. Illegal characters in path.

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 01 '16 at 12:37

4

The remote device should have a Visual Studio 2015 Remote Debugger tool uploaded to allow remote debugging. This tool differs between Visual Studio versions. So after Visual Studio upgrade it is needed to also update Remote Debugger tool on remote device. The tool is located usually in directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\Remote Debugger

answered Aug 01 '16 at 12:37

raV720

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3
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Did you find a download for remote debugging tools for VS 2015 Update 3 or did you make it work with the older one from update 2? I can't find one that works with Update 3. – Per Salmi Aug 16 '16 at 08:58
1

I am using the one that installs with VS 2015 Update 3. Version: 14.0.25420.1 built by: D14REL – raV720 Aug 16 '16 at 11:25
Did you install that one on the remote machine or install a complete Visual Studio on the remote machine? – Per Salmi Aug 16 '16 at 12:46
Just copied directory with appropriate files (x86 or x64) of remote debugger. – raV720 Aug 16 '16 at 13:25
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How's that supposed to work on a Raspberry Pi running Windows IoT Core, where there is no desktop? The debugger is build in, in the past we've just started it (on the Raspberry Pi) and then deployed the app and everything works. Presumably Microsoft would deploy the new debugger via Windows Update. – Tim Long Aug 21 '16 at 15:58
I found the Remote Tool Update 3 download on MSDN. – wblanks Aug 29 '16 at 13:41
Doesn't work. I've got a clean install of VS 2015 SP3 on the development machine. An older but still clean Surface RT with release 3 of the remote development tools. Same message as the OP. This solution didn't work for me. – Quark Soup Dec 18 '16 at 18:58
Any idea about ARM Remote debugger tool of VS 2015 SP3? I just found x86 & x64 version... I can remote debug on my Surface RT (ARM) @MikeDoonsebury – Jesuslg123 Mar 06 '17 at 09:00

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 03 '16 at 12:56

Upgrade VS2015 to update 3 like raV720 said.
Go to https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/downloads/#searchTerm=remote%20tools&MyProducts=true
- Login with your MSDN data.
- Go to 'Subscriber Downloads'.
- Search 'remote debugger'.
- Download 'Remote Tools for Visual Studio 2015 Update 3' - 64mb

If you do step 2 on your Windows tablet you avoid downloading lots of unnecessary GB of data on your remote device.

Then go to 'Remote Debugger' -> 'About', it should indicate: 14.0.25420.1 built by: D14REL which runs with VS2015 update 3.

score -1 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 04 '16 at 01:27

I couldn't find the Remote Tool Update 3 on MSDN (@wblanks - it would have been nice to post a link, although I suspect that even if you did, that link may not be available anymore, as I searched MSDN for this update and could find it).

However, I had Visual Studio 2015 Update 3 installed on my development machine.

In the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\Remote Debugger folder I found the msvsmon.exe version 14.0.25420. I copied the entire content of the Remote Debugger folder over the Remote Debugger folder on my tablet, where I had initially installed the Remote Tools for VS 2015, Update 1. After that, I restarted the Remote Debugger app on the tablet and when I tried to deploy my app remotely from Visual Studio 2015 running on my development machine, I no longer got the DEP4300 error.

VS2015 SP3 remote debug illegal characters in path

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