null error

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Extracted all files to C:\Program Files (x86)\Wizards of the Coast\Character 
Builder. In this folder all files are, and it's the correct install path for me.

Running CBLoader.exe returns:

Extracting combined.dnd40.main
Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: value

Original issue reported on code.google.com by glen.nelson.1 on 27 Nov 2010 at 12:20

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This typically happens if you do not have a proper decryption key installed on 
your machine. Make sure you installed character builder properly. I will have 
an improved error message for this case in a coming build.

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 27 Nov 2010 at 6:40

• Changed state: Invalid

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Seeing how it has been fully working for the last several years, I'm going to 
guess I do have it installed properly.

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 27 Nov 2010 at 6:43

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Fair enough. 
Can you hit windows+r, type regedit. Navigate the folders to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Wizards of the 
Coast\2a1ddbc4-4503-4392-9548-d0010d1ba9b1\f16e4d97-5953-49a9-bd49-ac7abe52ac6b 
and confirm that a default value exists there? Please do _not_ post that value 
here.

(I'm assuming from the path you gave that you're on a 64 bit machine). 

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 27 Nov 2010 at 7:03

• Changed state: New

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There is indeed a default value, and I am using a 64 bit machine. If you 
convert the value to binary using standard ASCII values, and count the number 
of bits, you end up with 2816 bits.

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 27 Nov 2010 at 8:05

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I'm getting the same symptoms as Glen. Error message in my case is asking if I 
have a propper decryption key installed. Verified presence of default key value 
at the registry location noted above too.

Original comment by gavin.ba...@gmail.com on 8 Dec 2010 at 10:59

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While I have not been able to reproduce this one, I did add a feature which 
might help to V1.1.3.

If you run: 
cbloader.exe -r keyfile.out -n
then, always run 
cbloader.exe -k keyfile.out 
to start the application. I'm curious to see if it helps.

This code is difficult to test on just my machine, and is part of the reason 
v1.1.3 is still beta. Any confirmation about how well this works for you would 
be a great help. Thanks!

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 3:20

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Here is the log file from the first command:

08/12/2010 8:24:18 PM - INFO: Extracting 
C:\Users\Vista\AppData\Roaming\CBLoader\combined.dnd40.main
08/12/2010 8:24:19 PM - ERROR: 
Error decrypting the rules file. THis usually indicates a key problem. Check 
into using a keyfile!
   Error decrypting the rules file. THis usually indicates a key problem. Check into using a keyfile!

08/12/2010 8:24:19 PM - INFO: Errors Encountered While Loading. Would you like 
to open the log file? (y/n)

Second command :

08/12/2010 8:25:00 PM - INFO: Extracting 
C:\Users\Vista\AppData\Roaming\CBLoader\combined.dnd40.main
08/12/2010 8:25:00 PM - ERROR: 
General Error extracting file. Please confirm that the .encrypted file exists, 
that you have enough disk space and you have appropriat write permissions.
   General Error extracting file. Please confirm that the .encrypted file exists, that you have enough disk space and you have appropriat write permissions.
      General Error extracting file. Please confirm that the .encrypted file exists, that you have enough disk space and you have appropriat write permissions.

08/12/2010 8:25:00 PM - INFO: Errors Encountered While Loading. Would you like 
to open the log file? (y/n)

----
The combined.dnd40.encrypted file is in the program files directory, still 
running from program files. I have enough disk space, and I am running as an 
administrator.
("Vista" folder due to how computer was set up, default user on Vista, upgraded 
to Windows 7)

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 9 Dec 2010 at 3:27

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haha, agreed. 'Key1' in that example is the GUID of the release. Key2 is your 
private key (i'm actually not sure how unique it is, they encrypted it in the 
registry, so it's entirely possible there's a single 'true' key for all 
installs. I'll need to check that out at some point)

I have re-uploaded V1.1.3 beta with fixed error logging. If you could 
redownload it and run it again with the -k switch, maybe we can solve this 
thing.

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 3:51

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Haha, Looks like it was a caching error. Here's my new output with -v:

08/12/2010 9:10:18 PM - Debug: Checking for merge and extract.
08/12/2010 9:10:18 PM - INFO: Extracting 
C:\Users\Vista\AppData\Roaming\CBLoader\combined.dnd40.main
08/12/2010 9:10:18 PM - Debug: Not using registry key, trying on-disk key: 
keyfile.out
08/12/2010 9:10:18 PM - ERROR: 
Error decrypting the rules file. This usually indicates a key problem. Check 
into using a keyfile!
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.FileManager.ExtractWithKeyFile()
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.FileManager.ExtractFile(Boolean forced)
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.Program.Main(String[] args)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.FileManager.ExtractWithKeyFile()
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.FileManager.ExtractFile(Boolean forced)
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.Program.Main(String[] args)
   Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: value
      at System.Security.Cryptography.AesCryptoServiceProvider.set_Key(Byte[] value)
   at ApplicationUpdate.Client.CommonMethods.GetAlgorithmWithKey(Guid applicationID, Guid updateID)
   at ApplicationUpdate.Client.CommonMethods.GetDecryptedStream(Guid applicationID, Stream inputStream)
   at ApplicationUpdate.Client.CommonMethods.GetDecryptedStream(Guid applicationID, String fileName)
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.FileManager.TryExtract()
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.FileManager.ExtractWithKeyFile()
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   at System.Security.Cryptography.AesCryptoServiceProvider.set_Key(Byte[] 
value)
   at ApplicationUpdate.Client.CommonMethods.GetAlgorithmWithKey(Guid applicationID, Guid updateID)
   at ApplicationUpdate.Client.CommonMethods.GetDecryptedStream(Guid applicationID, Stream inputStream)
   at ApplicationUpdate.Client.CommonMethods.GetDecryptedStream(Guid applicationID, String fileName)
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.FileManager.TryExtract()
   at CharacterBuilderLoader.FileManager.ExtractWithKeyFile()

08/12/2010 9:10:18 PM - INFO: Errors Encountered While Loading. Would you like 
to open the log file? (y/n)

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 9 Dec 2010 at 4:10

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well. crap. It looks like we're no longer getting a general error. We're back 
to the old null error.

At the very least it's possible i'd be able to debug it at this point.

If you chose, you could send me your keyfile.out file at jeff.hamm@gmail.com.

This file does not provide any information (to me) about your D&D insider 
account. And I find it very possible that it's the same key I have on file. If 
you choose to send it, it _might_ help. If not, I understand and I'll try to 
keep thinking about what the issue could be.

It's really disappointing we lost the 'general' error.

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 4:22

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Sent the keyfile. Let's try to get this thing fixed =)

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 9 Dec 2010 at 4:24

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Well, it turns out that you have the same key as I do -- the true key is 
universal(which explains why it is encrypted at a per-machine-level in the 
registry).

Unfortunately, that makes reproducing this issue impossible for me. I'll take 
another pass through this stuff to try and figure out what set of problems 
might make this happen.

just for fun, can you move your keyfile.out
 to  C:\Users\Vista\AppData\Roaming\CBLoader\keyfile.out

and then run
cbloader.exe -k " C:\Users\Vista\AppData\Roaming\CBLoader\keyfile.out"

I don't have high hopes on that one. But it'll totally eliminate any possible 
file-permissions issues as possibilities.

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 4:32

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Same error as before... I don't suppose you could jury rig up something so I 
can put the encrypted file in there as well, and run this on it in there, just 
to completely kill all file-permission problems?

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 9 Dec 2010 at 4:34

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Well, nothing is stopping you from copy and pasting the entire contents of the 
character builder folder out to your appdata folder and giving it a shot out 
there. It can't hurt.

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 4:37

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Ah, I wasn't sure if you were using any absolute paths.

Moved it in there tried, no luck. So probably not a file-permission problem.

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 9 Dec 2010 at 4:38

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Same error for me, Win 7 64 home

Original comment by See...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 5:00

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I have created a quick little diagnotstics utility. I have a guess, I'm hoping 
this gives me the information I need.

I have attached it. Simply copy it to your character builder folder, and run it 
as:
DecryptTest.exe keyfile.out

then copy the output and _mail_ it to me.

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 5:03

Attachments:

• DecryptTest.exe

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Program crashes and does not complete, sending the email

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 9 Dec 2010 at 5:06

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That's perfect. Your combined.dnd40.encrypted file is old. 

You have version 19806aaa-6d71-425d-9dcf-54e6bb6b1e57
The october update is version f16e4d97-5953-49a9-bd49-ac7abe52ac6b.

Do you have a registry key with a default value located at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Wizards of the 
Coast\2a1ddbc4-4503-4392-9548-d0010d1ba9b1\19806aaa-6d71-425d-9dcf-54e6bb6b1e57?

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 5:10

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No, I do not. Here is what I have:
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/3369/keysz.png

Also, a quick check in the character builder shows I have all the october 
update changes. In case there is another version of the file, I'm searching my 
computer for files with the same name.

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 9 Dec 2010 at 5:15

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@seeten I mean the keyfile generated by running cbloader with the -r argument
e.g.
cbloader -r keyfile.out
decrypttest.exe keyfile.out

That said, i'm fairly certain that both you and glen have out of date 
dnd40.encrypted files. However your machines appear to be aware of the october 
update. Did either of you try to update using wizard's updater, and have that 
fail?

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 5:16

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I had it fail once and succeed once, yes.

Original comment by See...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 5:22

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I believe that this issue stems from some kind of temporary copy mechanism that 
the character builder might be doing to bypass UAC. As a result, the .encrypted 
file in the character builder folder itself is out of date. It might be 
resolvable by getting a new .encrypted file. However, i'd still like to find 
other people with this issue to see if I can mimic whatever character builder 
is doing to stash the .encrypted file. 

If you're having this issue, could you please search your machine for all 
copies of combined.dnd40.encrypted and tell me the path that was used? Be sure 
that you're searching hidden files and folders. I don't think that's enabled by 
default.

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 6:11

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Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 9 Dec 2010 at 6:11

• Changed state: Accepted

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Closing this one out. It is now addressed at 
http://cbloadercontentwiki.wikispaces.com/FAQ

we have the cause. The solution is pending some more knowledge about when CB is 
working with whatever copied file. 

Original comment by jeff.h...@gmail.com on 29 Dec 2010 at 7:43

• Changed state: WontFix

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Good to see it in the wiki, bad to see it without a fix yet.

Original comment by glen.nelson.1 on 29 Dec 2010 at 7:58