Problem with New File Templates Destroying PHP Tools Installation

jeHawWebdesign

HI,

First I hope everything went well with everyone for the Holidays! Happy 2026!

So I updated to v.1.88.18274.2022 from 18251.2022 yesterday evening before closing up for the day, came back this morning and everything was working well. I was able to develop correctly and use the debugger in PHP Tools.

I needed to add a new file to the project, right-clicked the directory, selected Add New Item, the Add New Item window appears. With Installed selected on the left, the window shows "Loading Templates" first and then about 5 minutes or so later, the following appears.

At first I thought it was one of those quirks, so I restarted VS2022 and immediately got the following message:

Additionally, when trying to start a debug session, I get the following:

and

I tried restarting VS a few times but always had these messages.

I wanted to do a clean reinstall of PHP Tools, but it was no long listed in the Mange Extensions window.

I decided to try to reinstall the update (18274.2022) by executing the installation package again and it worked. When I did, the message above stopped appearing. I thought maybe all is fine and tried to Add New Item again, and the same thing happens.

The Add New Item looks forever and finally says there are no templates.
Attempting to start a debug session after trying to Add a New Item results in a missing class warning.
Restarting VS2022 gives an error message.
Reinstalling the package lets me debug and the initial error popup disappears until the next time I need a new file.

So I determine I need to uninstall the current PHP version and roll back to 18251.2022. I make sure to reinstall the new version to make sure it is in the extension manager, but it does not appear in my installed extensions. I only see it in the Browse tab to install. I try to install it since it is the 18251.2022 version, but I get the message the installation failed because a new version exists.

Visual Studio does quasi recognize it as seen below:

It just does not appear in the Manage Extensions window so I have no control over it.

When I open VS2022 I am back to the beginning with the warning that something is corrupted again.

I wanted to upload a copy of the ActivityLog.xml but I can't, no MIME type error. I can send it to you by email upon request.

Any ideas? I am a a standsatill.

JakubMisek

jeHawWebdesign, the error appears to be a common issue with Visual Studio's so-called MEF Cache.

Sometimes, after installing an extension, Visual Studio does not clear the MEF Cache, resulting in broken packages.

The solution is

Close Visual Studio

Delete the ComponentModelCache directory located in

  C:\Users\ ** \AppData\Local\Microsoft\VisualStudio\17.0 **\ComponentModelCache

Start Visual Studio - it may show a dialog that it's updating MEF Cache.

It's the same for other versions of Visual Studio; change the 17.0 to the corresponding version number. 17 is for Visual Studio 2022.

There is also an extension from Microsoft which does it for you: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=MadsKristensen.ClearMEFComponentCache

JakubMisek

jeHawWebdesign please try 1.88.18322 from our download page.

jeHawWebdesign

Thanks, I tried:

Manually deleting the ComponentModelCache directory. Result: I opened the project and got the ProjectSystemPackage error.
Reinstall the plugin, Works, kind of. No Add New File templates. Reinstalled the plugin again.
Install the plugin you linked and ran it. Result: I opened the project and got the ProjectSystemPackage error again.
I also used the Developer Command Prompt for VS2022 to clearcache and updateConfiguration, nothing.
I tried to manually uninstall the plugin using the VSIXInstaller.exe and the ID in the manifest, doesn't work.
I hard uninstalled the plugin changing the directory name, clearcache and updateConfiguration, the system absolutely didn't like that at all. Ended up reversing this, it works until I try to create a new file, then I'm back at the beginning.

I am now downloading VS2026, I think my computer is trying to tell me it's time to upgrade.

JakubMisek

jeHawWebdesign thank you for the update, and sorry for the inconvenience.

If you have a chance, the log (ActivityLog.xml file) would help to diagnose any internal errors. It still seems like a broken installation.
Steps to get the ActivityLog.xml: https://docs.devsense.com/vs/troubleshooting/activitylog-xml/

JakubMisek

jeHawWebdesign, this may indicate an incompatibility with one of your installed extensions. Errors would be random.

JakubMisek

jeHawWebdesign

Thanks, I will give it a shot later this week, have a deadline to meet and all. I just got VS 2022 rebuilt with build 18274 over the weekend, had to repair VS2022 and then install all the stuff again.

I will let you know as soon as I check it.

JakubMisek

jeHawWebdesign thank you very much, I appreciate it.