Mremoteng: The startup connection file could not be loaded

[1nv1n]

Unable to actually launch the App. It worked the first time. I created a bunch of Connections in Folders. Closed the App, on a restart, I keep getting the following message:

The startup connection file could not be loaded.
C:...\confCons.xml
Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

In order to prevent data loss, mRemoteNG will not exit.

I've tried re-installing as well as doing a clean install (uninstall-restart-install) - no luck. Same message every time. If I delete the confCons.xml file, the App will start up - display a notifications about not being able to create a backup of the connections file as well as not being able to create a new connections file with the same Object reference error as above. It then starts with a new connections file. If I quit & restart, or if I make any new connections & restart, I run into the same error again & am unable to start the App until I delete the XML file.

|Operating system | Windows 7 Enterprise x64 - Service Pack 1 |
|mRemoteNG version| 1.74 -> Latest Stable from Download Site |

[1nv1n]

I got past the issue by uninstalling & then running a Registry Cleaner (CCleaner) to remove all traces of mRemoteNG. I've then re-installed the latest stable & am facing no issues as yet. (Though I do feel I shouldn't have to run a third-party registry cleaning software to completely uninstall mRemoteNG)

[ramiralez]

same problem. try to delete "Sessions" folder. It is putty default config. Worked for me.

[ciptok]

I encountered same problem but managed to solve it by using one of confCons.xml*backup files that existed in mRemoteNG folder. I can see multiple of those, I picked and renamed backup file with actual sessions data and it seems to work fine.

[matt-richardson]

I hit this, and after digging through the code, I found that the code reads it (in most cases) from a file called user.config in either the ExePath if its the portable edition, or from Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData) + "\\" + Application.ProductName.

For me, this equated to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\mRemoteNG\mRemoteNG.exe_Url_goxdehxphl11a34i3a2thmpjprquaave\1.75.7008.17907\user.config.

I edited that file to modify the CustomConsPath value, and I could launch again.

[luisfermoi]

In my case, the file was missing the and tags. After I fixed it I noticed that I lose information and it was the reason for missing the TAGS.

[jackpoz]

I would prefer mRemoteNG to let me select the correct file path instead of just closing and leaving me to google for the error (and luckily find this issue which allowed me to fix the error)

[sparerd]

I agree, it isn't very user friendly

[Xhanti]

This hit me as well. Its quite odd that not being able to find a config file makes the app unable to load.

[vkanimea]

I didn't have this issue until a recent upgrade to 1.75.7010.21169 and followed matt-richardson suggestion.
Searched for file user.config in C drive, and choose the latest as there other older versions.
C:Users\\AppData\Local\mRemoteNG\mRemoteNG.exe_Url_pjpxdehxpaaorqg2thmuhl11a34i3ave1.75.7010.21169

Edited CustomConsPath to the path of my lastest mRemoteNG backup C:Users\\OneDrive\dat\mRemoteNG\conRemote.xml. It needs to be enclosed with tag value

[sparerd]

I'm going to tentatively schedule this for v1.76.

The goal will be to replace any "could not load startup file" dialogs with a "what would you like to do" dialog. Options would be:

• Create a new connection file
• Load a different connection file
• Exit

[sparerd]

Some improvements were provided by @brucetp that should alleviate this issue. You will be able to choose what to do when a connection file cannot be loaded, rather than the app forcibly exiting.

[cnsgithub]

Even when using the latest version 1.76 alpha the error still exists and can't open mRemoteNG even after deinstalling and reinstalling. The only solution is to re-create the missing folders and file

[BlackbeardDaPirat]

I got around this by replacing:

LoadConsFromCustomLocation = True

with

LoadConsFromCustomLocation = False

[purpleSB]

I am still having an issue with this.

Same issue with the latest stable build and latest prerelease build. 1.76.20 and 1.77.0. I have tried uninstalling, using CCleaner, removing the mRemoteNG folder in AppData. Still no luck.

Any ideas how I can get this working?

Thank you.

[steenstra]

The issue is not resolved yet, I'm having the same problem.

[KleberMuniz]

Follow matt-richardson or vkanimea suggestion sugestions above first.
If did not help, rename file user.config to let's say user.config.old. Next time you open NG it will create a new one.

[prasanna-sk]

I got the same error.

I just renamed the confCons.xml to confCons.xml_old and renamed one of the backups confCons.xml.20200122-1001569424.backup to confCons.xml. This worked for me.

[gacpac]

I was using MySQL for synchronization. I disabled it to load a local configuration, but after that it won't load the startup configuration.

I'm using the latest version v1.77.1 pre-release, and have tried everything from uninstalling and cleaning registry. The error won't go away, I'm willing to fix it, if someone tells me where the settings file is. I deleted everything to have a fresh install

[thefactor82]

Same issue here. And I cannot find a way to let it start normally...
Some advice please?

[christophmue2]

as described above, look for: "%localappdata%\mRemoteNG\mRemoteNG.exe_Url_pjpxdehxpaaorqg2thmuhl11a34i3ave1.76.20.24615user.config"
Edit file, search for "LoadConsFromCustomLocation", set from "True" to "False", then you'll get the dialog to set a new conffile. worked for me (I'm also using sql).
but in fact a really annoying issue!