PerformanceCounterCategory.GetCategories() throws exception ArgumentException - Invalid value '' for parameter 'categoryName'

Question

When I try to run this code:

var categories = System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterCategory.GetCategories();

I get an ArgumentException exception.

I already tried the following with no luck:

• How to manually rebuild Performance Counter Library http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300956
• lodctr /R
• Logged in as a local administrator.
• Disabled User Access Control (UAC)
• Made my user member of the Performance Monitor Users group.

I get the same result whether I run Visual Studio 2008, 2010 or 2012, on a Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 64-bit computer.

I will appreciate any help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Had the same problem.

This was on a machine that had an NVidia Quadro 2000 card.

Uninstalling the "NVidia WMI" product solved the issue... :)