Unknown Exception happened (System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException)

[inscr]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.87.1

Installation method

PowerToys auto-update

Running as admin

Yes

Area(s) with issue?

General

Steps to reproduce

Last evening I had my laptop abnormally eating CPU with process "SYSTEM" that cannot be terminated. During the night hours the laptop was left unattended.

This morning I saw that there had been a lot of "rundll" warning windows, and the one big error window from PowerToys.
I've been using PT for many years, but such kind of error I saw for the 1st time ever.

Attached are the details:

• PowerToys issue window.png = the screenshot from PT with the Exception details.
• 2025-01-14.txt = the PT log file (taken from path "C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\PowerToys Run\Logs\0.87.1.0\2025-01-14.txt")
• error_from_PT_Exception_Window.txt = the text content copy-pasted from the PowerToys Exception Window, in which it suggests to file a bug on GitHub (what I'm hereby doing).

Please fix the underlying bug and explain in simple terms why had this bug appear.

✔️ Expected Behavior

When the laptop where PT is launched is left unattended through the night, no error must happen, no warning raised, and "system" process must not eat a lot of CPU.

❌ Actual Behavior

SYSTEM eats CPU, errors and warning when unattended for hours.

Other Software

2025-01-14.txt

error_from_PT_Exception_Window.txt

[raymcclellan]

Version: 0.87.1.0
OS Version: Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.26200.0
IntPtr Length: 8
x64: True
Date: 12/5/2025 3:18:32 PM
Exception:
System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation.
---> System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80263001): {Desktop composition is disabled} The operation could not be completed because desktop composition is disabled. (0x80263001)
at Standard.NativeMethods.DwmExtendFrameIntoClientArea(IntPtr hwnd, MARGINS& pMarInset)
at System.Windows.Appearance.WindowBackdropManager.UpdateGlassFrame(IntPtr hwnd, WindowBackdropType backdropType)
at System.Windows.Appearance.WindowBackdropManager.ApplyBackdrop(IntPtr hwnd, WindowBackdropType backdropType)
at System.Windows.Appearance.WindowBackdropManager.SetBackdrop(Window window, WindowBackdropType backdropType)
at System.Windows.ThemeManager.ApplyStyleOnWindow(Window window, Boolean useLightColors)
at System.Windows.ThemeManager.ApplyFluentOnWindow(Window window)
at System.Windows.Window.set_ThemeMode(ThemeMode value)
at System.Windows.TreeWalkHelper.InvalidateOnResourcesChange(FrameworkElement fe, FrameworkContentElement fce, ResourcesChangeInfo info)
at System.Windows.ResourceDictionary.NotifyOwners(ResourcesChangeInfo info)
at System.Windows.ResourceDictionary.OnMergedDictionariesChanged(Object sender, NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs e)
at System.Collections.ObjectModel.ObservableCollection1.OnCollectionChanged(NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs e) at PowerLauncher.Helper.ThemeManager.SetSystemTheme(Theme theme) at PowerLauncher.Helper.ThemeManager.<>c__DisplayClass12_0.<UpdateTheme>b__0() at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority, CancellationToken cancellationToken, TimeSpan timeout) at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Invoke(Action callback) at PowerLauncher.Helper.ThemeManager.UpdateTheme() at PowerLauncher.Helper.ThemeManager.OnUserPreferenceChanged(Object sender, UserPreferenceChangedEventArgs e) at InvokeStub_UserPreferenceChangedEventHandler.Invoke(Object, Span1)
at System.Reflection.MethodBaseInvoker.InvokeWithFewArgs(Object obj, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at System.Reflection.MethodBaseInvoker.InvokeWithFewArgs(Object obj, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture)
at System.Reflection.RuntimeMethodInfo.Invoke(Object obj, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture)
at System.Delegate.DynamicInvokeImpl(Object[] args)
at Microsoft.Win32.SystemEvents.SystemEventInvokeInfo.InvokeCallback(Object arg)
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs, Delegate catchHandler)

2025-12-05.txt

[raymcclellan]

Same as above although I didn't notice any odd behavior. The error was up after I woke up the computer.