SQL server 2012. Exception: attempted to read or write protected memory (MS.VS.OLE.Interop)

Question

I am more an end-user of SQL Server 2012. When I right click on a table name and select "Edit top 200 rows" menu item. I get this message:

 Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. (mscorlib)  Additional information:    Attempted to read or write protected memory. This is often an indication that     other memory is corrupt. (Microsoft.VisualStudio.OLE.Interop) 

If I try to do the right click again, SQL server will stop working and close. I still can use SQL commands to insert or update database. I have been searching around for a solution, and found this link: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/42b79da5-6f1e-4122-a2cb-00def87a1ae2/microsoftvisualstudiooleinterop-attempted-to-read-or-write-protected-memory-this-is-often-an?forum=visualstudiogeneral

But it still does not help me to understand clearly the cause or find the solution to the issue. Any help to resolve this problem is highly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Are you attempting to edit a SQL 2014 database with the 2012 version (or earlier) of SQL Management Studio?

You can determine the SQL version of your database by running this query against your master database:

SELECT @@VERSION 

I had the same problem and I was able to direct edit tables ('Edit Top 200') by installing and using SQL Server Management Studio 2014. Even if both your DB and Management Studio are version 2012, it might not hurt to upgrade Management Studio.