Troubleshooting Application Failures When Running Data Collection Packages

Some applications might not start or might run with impaired functionality when a data collection package (DCP) is running on the computer; these applications then function correctly as soon as the DCP is uninstalled. This issue can occur because the application has a negative interaction with the compatibility fix mechanism that is used by the ACT to collect compatibility data. To fix this issue, you can add the application name (for example, winword.exe) to the exclusion list. The ACT will not attempt to apply a compatibility fix to any application that appears on the list, and the application will continue to function as if the data collection package were never installed. To add an application to the exclusion list, follow these steps.

To add an application to the exclusion list

  1. Open Windows® Explorer and browse to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit\Agent Framework Install\Data directory.

  2. Right-click the ShimExclusions.csv file, and then click Open with, and then click Notepad.

    The exclusion list appears.

  3. Type the name of the applications that you want to exclude, separating each application by using a line break, and using the following format:

    #ExcludedExeType,exefilename

    where exefilename is the name of the application's executable file.

    For Example

    ExcludedExeType,notepad

    ExcludedExeType,iexplore

    ExcludedExeType,calc

  4. On the File menu, click Save.

  5. Run the data collection package again, while you try to use one of the excluded applications. You should notice that the application runs without issues.

Important

There are potential drawbacks to using the exclusion list, such as:

  • The application will not be checked for user account compatibility data, which is provided by the User Account Control Compatibility Evaluator (UACCE).

  • The application will not be checked for deprecation-related issues.

  • The exclusion list cannot be used to fix interactions with antivirus applications. This is because the antivirus software attempts to block applications that are running with compatibility fixes.

See Also

Concepts

Troubleshooting ACT
User Account Control Compatibility Evaluator (UACCE) Technical Reference
Phase 1: Collecting Your Compatibility Data