Tortoisesvn Winsxs

Fixing TortoiseSVN Side-By-Side Configuration Issues: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve recently upgraded to the latest version of TortoiseSVN and found that the context menu is missing, you’re not alone. This common problem often leads to the error message stating that the application has failed to start due to an issue with the side-by-side configuration. In this post, we’ll explain what causes this issue and how to fix it efficiently.

Understanding the Problem

After upgrading TortoiseSVN to version 1.5.2.13595, many users encounter this error:

The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect.
Please see the application event log for more detail.

What is Side-by-Side Configuration?

Side-by-side configuration is a Windows feature that allows multiple versions of the same assembly to run concurrently. This means that an application can rely on certain libraries (components) without conflict, even if different versions are installed. Unfortunately, if a required assembly is missing or not properly configured, it can lead to the error you’re seeing.

Diagnosing the Issue

The application event log usually provides some insight into what has gone wrong. In this case, you might see a message similar to the following:

Activation context generation failed for "C:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN\bin\TortoiseSVN.dll". 
Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC90.CRT, processorArchitecture="x86", publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b", type="win32", version="9.0.30411.0" could not be found. 
Please use sxstrace.exe for detailed diagnosis.

Key Takeaways:

  • The error is likely due to a missing component: Microsoft.VC90.CRT, associated with Visual Studio 2008.
  • The version number 9.0.30411.0 indicates that this component relates to Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1.

Steps to Fix the Issue

  1. Download the VC2008 SP1 Redistributable: To resolve this issue, you need to install the Visual C++ 2008 Service Pack 1 Redistributable. To do this:

    • Go to the Microsoft Download Center.
    • Click on the download link for the redistributable package and choose the appropriate version for your system (32-bit or 64-bit).

  2. Install the Redistributable:

    • Once downloaded, double-click the installer to run it.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

  3. Restart Your Computer:

    • After installation, it’s advisable to reboot your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.

  4. Verify the Fix:

    • Launch TortoiseSVN to see if the context menu is now available and functioning as expected.

Troubleshooting

  • If you still encounter issues after following these steps, consider running sxstrace.exe, which can provide detailed diagnostics that may help identify further issues with your configuration.

Conclusion

In summary, the side-by-side configuration error you encounter with TortoiseSVN is often due to a missing Visual C++ component. By installing the VC2008 SP1 Redistributable, you can resolve the issue and regain access to TortoiseSVN’s context menu features. If problems persist, further diagnostic tools can offer deeper insights into what’s going wrong.

Feel free to drop a comment below if you have any questions or need additional help with TortoiseSVN!