How to: Troubleshoot “Server Error in ‘/’ Application.” error after SP2010 SP1 update

In case you just installed SharePoint 2010 Service Pack 1, or one of the new August/September 2011 updates is giving you a hard time, if you’re facing the following error:

“Server Error in ‘/’ Application.
Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Source Error:

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace:
[NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.]
Microsoft.Office.Server.Administration.UserProfileApplicationProxy.get_ApplicationProperties() +134
Microsoft.Office.Server.Administration.UserProfileApplicationProxy.get_PartitionIDs() +44
Microsoft.Office.Server.Administration.UserProfileApplicationProxy.IsAvailable(SPServiceContext serviceContext) +329
Microsoft.Office.Server.WebControls.MyLinksRibbon.get_PortalAvailable() +44
Microsoft.Office.Server.WebControls.MyLinksRibbon.EnsureMySiteUrls() +60
Microsoft.Office.Server.WebControls.MyLinksRibbon.get_PortalMySiteUrlAvailable() +15
Microsoft.Office.Server.WebControls.MyLinksRibbon.OnLoad(EventArgs e) +91
System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +65
System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +190
System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +190
System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +190
System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +190
System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +190
System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint) +2427”

You might be able to solve the error by simply deleting your User Profile Service Application.

Indeed, this is not best practice obviously, but if you need to get back to working fast, this is a quick solution (hence, this is a  “Quick tip” post).

In order to delete the Service, you need to visit the Central Administration of your SP2010 installation, at the page where the listing of your Service Applications resides (Central Administration > Application Management > Manage Service Applications)

ie. /_admin/ServiceApplications.aspx

Click next to the User Profiles Service Application (NOT on it) and then, from the ribbon options, select Delete.

As I said before, this is hardly best practice but, still, it will help you get back to work until a more suitable solution comes around.

Update: You will see in the comments that Tobias Karlsson proposed a console command to solve this issue. I tried it and it does work. Depending on whether you’re comfortable with running a full fledged farm upgrade, you might want to try this:

PSConfig.exe -cmd upgrade -inplace b2b -force -cmd applicationcontent -install -cmd installfeatures

As I said already, it did work for me. Thanks Tobias.