When I go to view --> server explorer I get the following error in the output window:

Hi mpaterson,

Did you install the beta version of Visual Studio before? If you installed any pre-release versions, you may encounter this issue. To fix this issue, please uninstall them by following the steps in the link below.

Uninstalling Previous Versions of Visual Studio 2005
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/Aa718704.aspx

For your reference, you may try to download the troubleshooting tool to scan the Visual Studio. This tool was discussed in this article:

How to fix Visual Studio Class Designer Package load failure in VS 2005 after beta 2 uninstall
http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/08/27/457248.aspx

VS 2005 troubleshooting tool
http://astebner.sts.winisp.net/Tools/ttool.zip

In addition, there is a similar thread posted in our forum. I hope it is helpful.

Package Load Failure
http://forums.asp.net/p/936819/1111646.aspx

hi mpaterson try the repair method by using the add remove programs in the control panel find your VS program and click it should bring up a window asking if you want to remove or repair the program. You then should select the repair option and the program should repair itself. This has happened to me once in the past and I used the method to correct the problem...at least that the way I remember it happening.

DKB

 Hi,

I'm experiencing the same problem in Visual Studio 2008. Clicking View -> Server Explorer does nothing (neither does Tools -> Connect to database).

I tried reinstalling VS, but that doesn't fix the problem.

Any ideas?

Thomas
 

Ok,

I fixed it by typing devenv /resetskippkgs in Command Prompt, this seems to reset your environment settings.

Thomas 

it really works fine thank you