InvalidArgument=Value of '-1' is not valid for 'index'. Parameter name: index

Error Message

When attempting to use the ArcGIS Snippet Finder, a feature of the Visual Studio 2005 IDE Integration in the .NET Desktop or Engine SDK, the following error message may be returned:

"InvalidArgument=Value of '-1' is not valid for 'index'. Parameter name: index"

Cause

A choice that was once available in the drop-down for locations in searching snippets is no longer available.

The following are sample case scenarios of when this may occur:
(1) A directory in the ArcGIS Snippet Finder has been set to a custom location on the hard drive, and later the directory was deleted.
(2) A directory location has been deleted from the search preferences, but the drop-down was not changed prior to closing the ArcGIS Snippet Finder dialog box.
(3) Multiple .NET SDK's were installed and then one was uninstalled, but the drop-down was not changed prior to closing the ArcGIS Snippet Finder dialog box.

Solution or Workaround

1. Open Windows Explorer and type %TEMP% in the Address bar and press Enter. Find and delete the following file: ArcGISSnippetPreferences9.xml. The next time the ArcGIS Snippet Finder is launched, it will re-create the default preferences file.