I'm trying to use the VSTS Profiler on a fairly large and complex .NET 2.0
application. In the past, I've always used the Compuware tools (especially
the Community Edition of their profiler) and am in general quite familure
with application tuning in .Net.

The application in question is a Windows Forms EXE with about 25 project
(all DLL's) under it, written using C# and a little of bit Managed C++. My
test environment is a Windows XP Professional machine and almost everything
is being built as "Any Cpu" (and what's not is being targeted at the x86
runtime).

When I create new performance session, I add in the "TestHarness" project -
this is the Winforms app that drives the DLL. In production this is a
Windows Service, but for testing I use the WinForms driver as it's alot
easier.

... so I create a performance session, add my TestHarness in, and try to hit
"Run". Unfortunatly the "run" button in the performance explorer is greyed
out. I've tried every means and mechanism I can think of, but it's always
greyed out. I've exited and come back in. I've switched between
Instrumentation and Sampling. I've kicked; I've screamed; I've yelled. I've
gone through the Wizard. I've done things manually. I offered up a prayer to
Bill and Steve. No dice.

I can run the application normally - I can set breakpoints, debug, etc. This
all works fine. It's just the Profiling infrastructure that seems to be
broken. If I create a little sample app, everything works fine. So I know
the installation of the profiling infrastructure is correct, and I know the
general process I'm using is valid.

I'm at my wits end in terms of getting this to work. I had really hoped this
would do the trick now that Compuware has stopped offering a free version of
their profiler - but so far I'm not not making much headway.