DemandTools Closing with a BufferedGraphicsContext Error

QUESTION: 

DemandTools keeps shutting down when running Single Table Deduplication, and the following error is listed in the stack trace file DemandTools creates in the LogFile folder: 

at System.Drawing.BufferedGraphicsContext.CreateCompatibleDIB(IntPtr hdc, IntPtr hpal, Int32 ulWidth, Int32 ulHeight, IntPtr& ppvBits) 

at System.Drawing.BufferedGraphicsContext.CreateBuffer(IntPtr src, Int32 offsetX, Int32 offsetY, Int32 width, Int32 height) 

at System.Drawing.BufferedGraphicsContext.AllocBuffer(Graphics targetGraphics, IntPtr targetDC, Rectangle targetRectangle) 

at System.Drawing.BufferedGraphicsContext.AllocBufferInTempManager(Graphics targetGraphics, IntPtr targetDC, Rectangle targetRectangle) 

at System.Drawing.BufferedGraphicsContext.AllocBuffer(Graphics targetGraphics, IntPtr targetDC, Rectangle targetRectangle) 

at System.Drawing.BufferedGraphicsContext.Allocate(IntPtr targetDC, Rectangle targetRectangle) 

at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmPaint(Message& m) 

at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m) 

at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m) 

at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m) 

at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam) 

The actual logfile reports the following error: 

An unhandled DemandTools error occurred: The operation completed successfully 

ANSWER:

This is a windows system error that involves the graphics subsystem. Here are the steps to fix this: 

1. If your graphics card is sharing memory you'll want to allocate some more RAM to the graphics.
   • Also, make sure you're running the most recent graphics driver for your system. 
2. Make sure your system is fully patched. 
3. Do not use the "Windows Classic" theme (try to use the default WinXP or WinVista theme). Not sure why this causes .NET graphics errors but going to the default theme often fixes the issues.