SourceTree will no longer start
Asked by Mel Pettitt:

SourceTree on my workstation was recently updated - currently version 2.3.1. Although I didn't explicitly update it, I know it was updated because the icon changed on my task bar.

Now, since the last reboot, when I try to start SourceTree, nothing happens.

Looking into sourcetree.log, the following is logged: (As you can see it's getting a NullReferenceException and quitting)

What do I do?

Thanks, in advance, for any help you can lend.

Mel

( I've edited this point 3 times now to update things, and now it says SPAM?? Really? It is NOT spam. I need a resolution to this problem. )

--------------------

ERROR \[2017-09-18 20:25:41,868\] \[1\] \[SourceTree.App\] \[.ctor\] - finish EnsureSquirrelExecutionStubIsCopied  
ERROR \[2017-09-18 20:25:41,968\] \[1\] \[SourceTree.App\] \[OnStartup\] - Failed to start  
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.  
at SourceTree.Notifications.NotificationsManager.SetOwner(NotificationDialogWindow notificationWindow)  
at SourceTree.Notifications.NotificationsManager.ShowNotificationDialog\[T\](NotificationDialogWindow notificationWindow, Tuple\`2 customAction, VistaTaskDialogIcon icon)  
at SourceTree.Notifications.NotificationsManager.ShowNotificationDialog\[T\](String title, String message, Tuple\`2 customAction, String cancelLabel, String suppressionSetting, Action\`1 suppressionChangedAction, Object contentControl, String contentCommandLabel, Action contentAction)  
at SourceTree.Notifications.NotificationsManager.ShowNotificationDialogWithYesConfirmation(String title, String message, String details)  
at SourceTree.Configuration.WpfSpellCheckerPreFlightCheck.Run()  
at SourceTree.AppRoot.RunPreFlightChecks()  
at SourceTree.AppRoot.OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)  
at SourceTree.App.OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)


Answers:
author: Mike Corsaro
body: Hello! This is a known issue. Please navigate to the config file location (C:\\Users\\{USERNAME}\\AppData\\Local\\Atlassian\\SourceTree.exe_{RANDOM_GUID}\\2.3.1.0\\user.config) and find the following line:

```
<setting name="AutomaticallyCleanUpDictionaryFiles" serializeAs="String"> 
     <value>True</value> 
</setting>
```

Make sure that value is set to ***True***

comments: author: Mel Pettitt
body: Thanks! I added this and the problem went away.


author: chicken199
body: After I added this line it worked. Thank


author: John O_Toole
body: I had the same issue - I couldn't get SourceTree 2.3.1.0 to start even after doing a full clean install.

The "AutomaticallyCleanUpDictionaryFiles" line wasn't in my user.config. I added it and now I can open SourceTree.


author: Dan Haywood
body: Another +1 on this (Windows 10 Pro + ST 2.3.1.0) ... had to add the line and then it worked.


author: Graham Mueller
body: I added this and the application opened again, but when I returned to the user.config file, the lines I added were removed by SourceTree again... am I going to have to keep setting this? Why is it getting cleared?


author: Markus Weser
body: Thanks! Adding this setting solved for me (Win 10 16299.15, SourceTree 2.3.1.0) ?


author: abc
body: Worked for me. But guys, please fix this problem. I just wasted about 1.5 hours trying to find the solution.


author: untit1ed NA
body: Worked for me.


author: Ana Retamal
body: Hi everyone! As an update for this topic, we have just started the progressive rollout of Sourcetree v2.3.5.0 which includes a fix for this issue. You should be prompted to upgrade sometime over the next 14 days or, alternatively, you can download the update directly from <https://downloads.atlassian.com/software/sourcetree/windows/ga/SourceTreeSetup-2.3.5.0.exe>

Cheers :)

Ana