#1798 KeePass crashes when notebook is detached from port replicator and number of screens changes

[Moko]

I am running KeePass 2.40 on Windows 10 (1803) but the described problem persisted for many versions before. I am accessing it through Kee from Firefox and KeyBird from Thunderbird.
The setup of my workplace is a Dell laptop on its docking station, which in turn has an additional screen attached that is rotated 90° clockwise. Screen resolutions therefore are: laptop 1920x1080 at 125% scaling; additional 1050x1680 at 100% scaling.
The scenario: When I detach the laptop from the docking station using its release button, KeePass crashes. But this happens on the first time only. If I restart KeePass afterwards I can dock/dedock the laptop as often as I like, KeePass stays.
I am not entirely sure, if it has something to do with the additional screen or just the dedocking process...

[wellread1]

Remove or disable Kee and KeeBird and all other KeePass plugins, extensions, and third-party apps, etc. Then check whether KeePass crashes when detaching the laptop. If the problem goes away, it is most likely related to one or more third-party apps. If a third-party app is implicated, contact the developer of the corresponding app.

[Moko]

I removed the only plugin installed: "KeePassRPC", but the crash persisted. It is the only way known to me for KeePass-related apps (Kee and KeeBird) to access KeePass...
Is there anything besides plugins that could access KeePass somehow?
I also found, that the additional screen has nothing to do with the crash when dedocking; KeePass also crashes, if no additional screen is attached to the dock.

Is there some kind of debug log I can switch on to somehow zero in on the problem?

[Dominik Reichl]

What exactly do you mean by crashing? Do you see an exception message or other dialog? A screenshot might be helpful.

If possible, please try it with unrotated screens.

In the meanwhile, the latest KeePass version is 2.41; please use this one for testing.

Thanks and best regards,
Dominik

[Moko]

I did my last test with version 2.41 already. The comment above is based on that test.

Also the last test was without additional (rotated) screen, so the only screen remaining was the (unrotated) fixed screen of the laptop.

My scenario of the "crash":
1) I start KeePass as a scheduled task (with parameter -minimize) when logging in as my user, then log into a single database file and minimize it to the tray.
2) Without starting Firefox (Kee) or Thunderbird (KeeBird), I undock the laptop.
3) The icon is still in the tray, but when I move the mouse pointer onto it, it vanishes.
4) The process KeePass.exe vanishes from the list in Process Explorer.

[Paul]

Do you have KeePass set to exit instead of lock?
Tools > Options > Security, General.

cheers, Paul

[Moko]

No. The only checkbox set is "Lock workspace when locking the computer or switching the user".

[Paul]

Disable the scheduled task and run KeePass manually. Does it crash?

cheers, Paul

[Moko]

That did it!
Moved the start of KeePass from the scheduled task to the startup directory (shell:startup) and it did not crash/vanish on dedock.
Thanks a lot, Paul.
Cheers

[Dominik Reichl]

I don't see why running KeePass via a scheduled task should be problematic; there's no code in KeePass that depends on specific startup methods. Maybe some parts of other code (e.g. .NET Framework, Windows or graphics driver) don't work well together. The fact that the tray icon simply disappears indicates a native crash (i.e. outside KeePass code).

In any case, I'm glad that you found an alternative.

Thanks and best regards,
Dominik