Startup exception error when Picasa not initialized for user - But still exists?

[GoogleCodeExporter]

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. Install Picasa via npackd on fresh Win 7 64-bit install
2. Install PicasaStarter v2.0 
3. Run PicasaStarter, make some settings changes before clicking Run Picasa
4. Click Run Picasa

This should run Picasa fine, but instead, I received a handled exception error 
(quoted at end), and could not proceed.

This is on a Win 7 x64 computer that had never run Picasa yet and that 
installed Picasa via nPackd:
https://code.google.com/p/windows-package-manager/

This error looks like it was supposed to be fixed in v.2.0. See changelog item:
"Fixed unhandled exception when Picasa was not initialized for this user."

And indeed, after running Picasa using the regular Picasa startup link, then 
closing, PicasaStarter worked correctly with no error.

Here is the full exception error note that was displayed:

************** Exception Text **************
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an 
object.
   at PicasaStarter.PicasaButtons.Registerbuttons()
   at PicasaStarter.MainForm.buttonRunPicasa_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5466 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework64/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
PicasaStarter
    Assembly Version: 2.0.1.14
    Win32 Version: 2.0.1.14
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Software/PicasaStarter/PicasaStarter.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5468 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
k59girsy
    Assembly Version: 2.0.1.14
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
3olensjv
    Assembly Version: 2.0.1.14
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
Accessibility
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Accessibility/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Accessibility.dll
----------------------------------------

Original issue reported on code.google.com by philk...@gmail.com on 17 Mar 2013 at 4:37

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I got exactly the same error on Windows 8.
Picasastarter would work for one user, but not for another; until Picasa has 
been started at least once directly that user.
When using a shortcut like P:\PicasaStarter\PicasaStarter.exe /autorun 
"P_database", there isn't any error displayed; the process dies silently.

Original comment by zelie.gu...@gmail.com on 24 Sep 2013 at 8:01

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I'm getting this same error on Windows 8.1 following a fresh install of Picasa 
3.9.

On a separate subject-I have a Picasa39-setup binary dated 4/20/12 14,907,20 in 
size. I downloaded a version today same file name that is 17,696,720 long - 
that just isn't right... shouldn't the version number change? This is not 
Googlish...

Original comment by ising...@gmail.com on 22 Dec 2013 at 9:10

[GoogleCodeExporter]

SOLVED:

Following install - Run Picasa3 natively. Point it to a minimal pitures store 
and once the UI launches, terminate Picasa3.

Next, launch PicasaStarter and click the database you are looking to use and 
Run Picasa3 from the PicasaStarter menu... 

Original comment by ising...@gmail.com on 22 Dec 2013 at 9:19

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Hey ising..., that does not solve the bug: that IS the bug! 

The bug as I describe it in the first post is that you should NOT get an 
exception error when you run PicasaStarter before running Picasa3 "natively" or 
(as I describe it in the first post) "running Picasa using the regular Picasa 
startup link". PicasaStarter should have a way of either initializing Picasa 
for you, or of notifying you that you have to run Picasa at least once first 
before running PicasaStarter, rather than generating an unfriednly error for 
first time users. 

Original comment by philk...@gmail.com on 22 Dec 2013 at 10:10