RM 9 Runtime error 217

[Ellis-Gilhooly]

Hi, has anyone a solution to a runtime error I get “217” I cannot get a soultion from RM support. Been using RM9 no problems, havn’t used for a few days, now when I try to start RM9 I get Runtime error 217, tried all the solution from support. Any ideas?

[TomH]

A quick search on “runtime error 217” returned this:

Runtime Error 217 is a Windows error that occurs when an application fails to initialize correctly12. It can be caused by corrupt or missing system files or registry entries23.To fix Runtime Error 217, you can try the following methods1234:

• Run SFC and DISM scans to repair damaged system files and restore the health of your Windows image.
• Reinstall the application that is causing the error.
• Repair the Microsoft Visual C++ installation that is required by the program.
• Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State to eliminate any software conflicts

[nkess]

A quick search in the box above for 217 came up with several post abt runtime error 217–didn’t read thru all of them and I am no expert BUT these 2 are interesting…

RM8 Database corruption

After dragging about 30 individual records between 2 databases, one connected to Ancestry, the other not linked to any online tree, the Ancestry linked database file grew from 9.7Mb to 873Mb and can no longer be opened. I backed up the file on shutdown and it too is corrupt. Reopening the application resulted in the message ‘Runtime error 217 at 0040C4B3’ and had to edit the file RootsMagicUser.xml and remove the contents of the line ‘LastFilename’ before RM8 would launch. Emptying the cont…

New Update 2.8.5 - Reports

We are aware of a problem with the new Windows update (8.2.5) when creating reports. We have tracked it down to an issue with a DLL we updated when creating the installer. This issue does not affect the Mac version (which doesn’t use the DLL). It only affects users who downloaded the Windows update BEFORE 7 AM Mountain Time this morning. We have updated the installers with the original DLL. If you have already downloaded 8.2.5 for Windows, go to: https://rootsmagic.com/Download/RootsMagic-8/ …

have NOT had an update for a little while now-- but maybe it’s a DLL

again not suggesting you do any of this…

[rzamor1]

In RM9 when we see the runtime error 217 now, its usually because the person has removed Edge from their Windows computer. Which is part of the operating system and will damage it. It’s like trying to remove Google Chrome from a Chromebook, or Safari from a Mac. You might be able to do it, but should you? If you have removed Edge from the Windows computer you need to talk to your computer specialist about reinstalling the OS.

[RichardOtter]

I thought that European versions of Windows 11 allowed removal of Edge? Not true?

[kbens0n]

@RichardOtter

Not true?

It can be done even now (though it might not be official). Europeans who are OK with forsaking the features in RootsMagic that use the Edge component(s) would seemingly do so at somewhat of their own risk.

[rzamor1]

I believe Windows 11 will let you remove Edge, but Windows 10 will damage the OS if you try. I’m not sure about the installing of Edge afterwards in Windows 11 once its been removed though.

[Ellis-Gilhooly]

Hi Thanks for all the input. It seems if you completely uninstall edge causes the 217 problem. Roots magic sugested take the PC to a Techie, (obviously too costly, better getting another program). I solved the problem by reinstalling a full PC backup, even though RM9 is good I still get the occasional error warning, For security I now use two software packages RM9 and MyHeritage Family Tree Builder. Has some advantages and seems to work?

[thejerrybryan]

Windows 10, RM 9.1.3.0

I have encountered the Runtime error 217 off and on over the last several weeks. It’s not totally repeatable, but it only seems to happen when I bring up RM9 and do very little with it before shutting down - just looking around. For example, I frequently bring up RM and look around when I am responding to a message from another user about their RM problem. Under those circumstances, I shut RM down by File => Close then by X-ing out the main RM9 window. That avoids getting the prompt to do a backup which I don’t want to do because I have not changed anything in RM. If I make the backup instead, the Runtime error 217 does not seem to happen.

I appear to have fixed the problem by running a Windows level recovery procedure. You have to run the Windows level recovery procedure from the Windows command line while in Administrator mode, which is a bit scary. And then you have to reboot. My computer was very sluggish when rebooting and I was worried that something was broken. But having gone through a full reboot cycle a couple of times, the computer is running fast again and all is well.

Here’s the log from my Windows level recovery procedure. You have to run the Windows dism command with particular parameters, which didn’t really fix anything. Then you have to run the Windows sfc command with particular parameters, which appears to have done the trick.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.3636

Image Version: 10.0.19045.3930

[==========================100.0%==========================] The restore operation completed successfully.
The operation completed successfully.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan.  This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
For online repairs, details are included in the CBS log file located at
windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For offline
repairs, details are included in the log file provided by the /OFFLOGFILE flag.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

[Ellis-Gilhooly]

Thank’s for the information. As you see from last post I got things back to normal with a complete PC (everthing) restored.
I havs saved your post for further reference if needed.