Removed all calls to `Marshal.ReleaseComObject` where there exists a possibility that the interface could have been referenced by another object and changed to nulling the holding variable. See discussion thread #188.

BITS/BackgroundCopyJob.cs

@@ -716,7 +716,6 @@ namespace Vanara.IO
 			}
 			catch { }
 			Files = null;
-			Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(m_ijob);
 			m_ijob = null;
 			m_notifier = null;
 		}

Core/InteropServices/ComReleaser.cs

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ namespace Vanara.InteropServices
 	}
 
 	/// <summary>
-	/// A safe variable to hold an instance of a COM class that automatically calls <see cref="Marshal.ReleaseComObject(object)"/> on disposal.
+	/// A safe variable to hold an instance of a COM class that automatically releases the instance on disposal.
 	/// </summary>
 	/// <typeparam name="T">The type of the COM object.</typeparam>
 	/// <seealso cref="System.IDisposable"/>
@@ -59,8 +59,6 @@ namespace Vanara.InteropServices
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 		public void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (Item == null) return;
-			Marshal.ReleaseComObject(Item);
 			Item = null;
 		}
 	}

PInvoke/Opc/MsOpc.cs

@@ -6856,7 +6856,7 @@ namespace Vanara.PInvoke
 			object IEnumerator.Current => Current;
 
 			/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
-			public void Dispose() => Marshal.ReleaseComObject(opcEnum);
+			public void Dispose() => opcEnum = default;
 
 			/// <summary>Advances the enumerator to the next element of the collection.</summary>
 			/// <returns>
@@ -6874,7 +6874,6 @@ namespace Vanara.PInvoke
 			public void Reset()
 			{
 				var clone = opcEnum.InvokeMethod<TEnum>("Clone");
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(opcEnum);
 				opcEnum = clone;
 			}
 		}

PInvoke/Shell32/ShObjIdl.ShellUtil.cs

@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ namespace Vanara.PInvoke
 			private class ManualParentAndItem : IParentAndItem, IDisposable
 			{
 				private readonly PIDL pChild;
-				private readonly IShellFolder psf;
+				private IShellFolder psf;
 
 				public ManualParentAndItem(IShellItem psi)
 				{
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ namespace Vanara.PInvoke
 
 				void IDisposable.Dispose()
 				{
-					Marshal.ReleaseComObject(psf);
+					psf = null;
 					pChild.Dispose();
 				}
 

System/Network/NetworkConnection.cs

@@ -58,13 +58,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Network
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 		void IDisposable.Dispose()
 		{
-			if (conn == null) return;
-			if (cost != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(cost);
-				cost = null;
-			}
-			Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(conn);
+			cost = null;
 			conn = null;
 		}
 	}

System/Network/NetworkListManager.cs

@@ -166,8 +166,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Network
 
 			void IDisposable.Dispose()
 			{
-				if (conns == null) return;
-				Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(conns);
 				conns = null;
 			}
 		}

System/Network/NetworkProfile.cs

@@ -93,8 +93,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Network
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 		void IDisposable.Dispose()
 		{
-			if (inet == null) return;
-			Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(inet);
 			inet = null;
 		}
 

UnitTests/PInvoke/Graphics/DirectWriteTests.cs

@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ namespace Vanara.PInvoke.Tests
 			}
 			finally
 			{
-				foreach (var i in pList)
-					Marshal.ReleaseComObject(i);
+				GC.Collect();
+				GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers();
 			}
 		}
 

Windows.Forms/Components/MRUManager.cs

@@ -148,31 +148,13 @@ namespace Vanara.Configuration
 						var type = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("Wscript.Shell");
 						if (type != null)
 						{
-							object script = null;
-							try
+							var script = Activator.CreateInstance(type);
+							foreach (var file in Directory.GetFiles(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Recent), "*.lnk").Where(s => exts.Contains(Path.GetExtension(s.Substring(0, s.Length - 4)).Trim('.').ToLower())))
 							{
-								script = Activator.CreateInstance(type);
-								foreach (var file in Directory.GetFiles(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Recent), "*.lnk").Where(s => exts.Contains(Path.GetExtension(s.Substring(0, s.Length - 4)).Trim('.').ToLower())))
-								{
-									object sc = null;
-									try
-									{
-										sc = script.InvokeMethod<object>("CreateShortcut", file);
-										var targetPath = sc.GetPropertyValue<string>("TargetPath");
-										if (targetPath != null)
-											recentFiles.Add(targetPath);
-									}
-									finally
-									{
-										if (sc != null)
-											Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(sc);
-									}
-								}
-							}
-							finally
-							{
-								if (script != null)
-									Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(script);
+								var sc = script.InvokeMethod<object>("CreateShortcut", file);
+								var targetPath = sc.GetPropertyValue<string>("TargetPath");
+								if (targetPath != null)
+									recentFiles.Add(targetPath);
 							}
 						}
 					}

Windows.Forms/Controls/ExplorerBrowser.cs

@@ -1077,7 +1077,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Forms
                 explorerBrowserControl.Destroy();
 
                 // release com reference to it
-                Marshal.ReleaseComObject(explorerBrowserControl);
                 explorerBrowserControl = null;
             }
 
@@ -1554,7 +1553,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Forms
                 viewDispatch = psv.GetItemObject(SVGIO.SVGIO_BACKGROUND, IID_IDispatch);
                 if (ConnectToConnectionPoint(this, IID_DShellFolderViewEvents, true, viewDispatch, ref viewConnectionPointCookie).Failed)
                 {
-                    Marshal.ReleaseComObject(viewDispatch);
                     viewDispatch = null;
                 }
             }
@@ -1563,7 +1561,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Forms
             {
                 if (viewDispatch is null) return;
                 ConnectToConnectionPoint(null, IID_DShellFolderViewEvents, false, viewDispatch, ref viewConnectionPointCookie);
-                Marshal.ReleaseComObject(viewDispatch);
                 viewDispatch = null;
                 viewConnectionPointCookie = 0;
             }

Windows.Forms/Controls/ShellNamespaceTreeControl.cs

@@ -934,14 +934,9 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Forms
 				if (adviseCookie > 0)
 					pCtrl.TreeUnadvise(adviseCookie);
 				SetSite(null);
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(pCtrl);
 				pCtrl = null;
 			}
-			if (pCtrl2 != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(pCtrl2);
-				pCtrl2 = null;
-			}
+			pCtrl2 = null;
 
 			base.OnHandleDestroyed(e);
 		}

Windows.Forms/Dialogs/ShellProgressDialog.cs

@@ -242,7 +242,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Forms
 				return;
 			if (!closed)
 				Stop();
-			Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(iDlg);
 			iDlg = null;
 		}
 	}

Windows.Forms/Extensions/TextBoxExtension.cs

@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Extensions
 			var ac = new IAutoComplete2();
 			ac.Init(textBox.Handle, new ComEnumStringImpl(items), null, null);
 			ac.SetOptions(options);
-			Marshal.ReleaseComObject(ac);
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>Sets the tab stops in a multiline edit control. When text is copied to the control, any tab character in the text causes space to be generated up to the next tab stop.</summary>

Windows.Shell/BindContext.cs

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 	[ComVisible(true)]
 	public class BindContext : IDisposable, IBindCtxV, IBindCtx
 	{
-		private readonly IBindCtxV iBindCtx;
+		private IBindCtxV iBindCtx;
 
 		/// <summary>Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="BindContext"/> class.</summary>
 		public BindContext() => CreateBindCtx(0, out iBindCtx).ThrowIfFailed();
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
-		public void Dispose() => Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(iBindCtx);
+		public void Dispose() => iBindCtx = null;
 
 		/// <summary>
 		/// Retrieves a pointer to an interface that can be used to enumerate the keys of the bind context's string-keyed table of pointers.

Windows.Shell/ControlPanel.cs

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 
 		private class SafeCP : IDisposable
 		{
-			internal readonly IOpenControlPanel icp;
+			internal IOpenControlPanel icp;
 			private bool disposedValue = false;
 
 			public SafeCP() => icp = new IOpenControlPanel();
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 			protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
 			{
 				if (disposedValue) return;
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(icp);
+				icp = null;
 				disposedValue = true;
 			}
 		}

Windows.Shell/FileInUseHandler.cs

@@ -221,7 +221,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 			using var prot = ComReleaserFactory.Create(rot);
 			try { rot.Revoke(regId); } catch { }
 			regId = 0;
-			Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(moniker);
 			moniker = null;
 		}
 	}

Windows.Shell/ShellFileOperations/ShellFileOperationDialog.cs

@@ -306,7 +306,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 
 			iProgressDialog.StopProgressDialog();
 			Thread.Sleep(500);
-			Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(iProgressDialog);
 			iProgressDialog = null;
 		}
 

Windows.Shell/ShellFileOperations/ShellFileOperations.cs

@@ -581,11 +581,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 				}
 
 				if (sink != null) op.Unadvise(sinkCookie);
-				if (op != null)
-				{
-					Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(op);
-					op = null;
-				}
+				op = null;
 				disposedValue = true;
 			}
 		}

Windows.Shell/ShellFileOperations/ShellItemPropertyUpdates.cs

@@ -156,8 +156,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 
 		void IDisposable.Dispose()
 		{
-			if (changes == null) return;
-			Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(changes);
 			changes = null;
 		}
 

Windows.Shell/ShellObjects/ComObjWrapper.cs

@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 		public virtual void Dispose()
 		{
-			Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iObj);
 			iObj = null;
 		}
 

Windows.Shell/ShellObjects/ShellContextMenu.cs

@@ -313,7 +313,6 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 				}
 
 				m_MessageWindow?.Dispose();
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(ComInterface);
 				ComInterface = null;
 				disposedValue = true;
 			}

Windows.Shell/ShellObjects/ShellFolder.cs

@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// </summary>
 		public override void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (iShellFolder != null) { Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iShellFolder); iShellFolder = null; }
+			iShellFolder = null;
 			base.Dispose();
 		}
 

Windows.Shell/ShellObjects/ShellItem.cs

@@ -581,9 +581,9 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		{
 			if (props != null) { props?.Dispose(); props = null; }
 			if (propDescList != null) { propDescList?.Dispose(); propDescList = null; }
-			if (qi != null) { Marshal.ReleaseComObject(qi); qi = null; }
-			if (iShellItem2 != null) { Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iShellItem2); iShellItem2 = null; }
-			if (iShellItem != null) { Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iShellItem); iShellItem = null; }
+			qi = null;
+			iShellItem2 = null;
+			iShellItem = null;
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>Determines whether the specified <see cref="System.Object"/>, is equal to this instance.</summary>

Windows.Shell/ShellObjects/ShellItemArray.cs

@@ -100,11 +100,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 		public virtual void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (array != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(array);
-				array = null;
-			}
+			array = null;
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>Returns an enumerator that iterates through the collection.</summary>

Windows.Shell/ShellObjects/ShellLibrary.cs

@@ -150,11 +150,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 		public override void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (lib != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(lib);
-				lib = null;
-			}
+			lib = null;
 
 			base.Dispose();
 		}
@@ -221,11 +217,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 			/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 			public override void Dispose()
 			{
-				if (lib != null)
-				{
-					Marshal.ReleaseComObject(lib);
-					lib = null;
-				}
+				lib = null;
 				base.Dispose();
 			}
 

Windows.Shell/ShellObjects/ShellLink.cs

@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// <summary>Dispose the object, releasing the COM ShellLink object</summary>
 		public override void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (link != null) { Marshal.ReleaseComObject(link); link = null; }
+			link = null;
 			//Release(link);
 			base.Dispose();
 		}

Windows.Shell/ShellObjects/ShellSearchConditions.cs

@@ -170,11 +170,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// </summary>
 		public void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (condition != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(condition);
-				condition = null;
-			}
+			condition = null;
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>Gets the results of the condition by level.</summary>

Windows.Shell/ShellObjects/ShellView.cs

@@ -335,26 +335,9 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 					User32.DestroyWindow(shellViewWindow);
 					shellViewWindow = HWND.NULL;
 				}
-				if (iBrowser != null)
-				{
-					if (iBrowser.GetType().IsCOMObject)
-						Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iBrowser);
-					iBrowser = null;
-				}
-				//if (Items != null)
-				//{
-				//	Items.Dispose();
-				//	Items = null;
-				//}
-				if (History != null)
-				{
-					History = null;
-				}
-				if (IShellView != null)
-				{
-					Marshal.ReleaseComObject(IShellView);
-					IShellView = null;
-				}
+				iBrowser = null;
+				History = null;
+				IShellView = null;
 			}
 			base.Dispose(disposing);
 		}
@@ -437,7 +420,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 			{
 				prev.UIActivate(SVUIA.SVUIA_DEACTIVATE);
 				prev.DestroyViewWindow();
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(prev);
+				prev = null;
 			}
 
 			IShellView.UIActivate(SVUIA.SVUIA_ACTIVATE_NOFOCUS);

Windows.Shell/ShellProperties/PropertyDescription.cs

@@ -133,16 +133,8 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		public virtual void Dispose()
 		{
 			// typeList?.Dispose();
-			if (iDesc2 != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iDesc2);
-				iDesc2 = null;
-			}
-			if (iDesc != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iDesc);
-				iDesc = null;
-			}
+			iDesc2 = null;
+			iDesc = null;
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>Gets a formatted string representation of a property value.</summary>
@@ -233,11 +225,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// <inheritdoc />
 		public virtual void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (iList != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iList);
-				iList = null;
-			}
+			iList = null;
 		}
 
 		/// <inheritdoc />
@@ -354,16 +342,8 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 		public virtual void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (iType2 != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iType2);
-				iType2 = null;
-			}
-			if (iType != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iType);
-				iType = null;
-			}
+			iType2 = null;
+			iType = null;
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>Returns a <see cref="System.String" /> that represents this instance.</summary>
@@ -399,11 +379,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 		public virtual void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (iList != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iList);
-				iList = null;
-			}
+			iList = null;
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>Determines the index of a specific item in the list.</summary>

Windows.Shell/ShellProperties/ReadOnlyPropertyStore.cs

@@ -92,11 +92,7 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		/// <summary>Performs application-defined tasks associated with freeing, releasing, or resetting unmanaged resources.</summary>
 		public virtual void Dispose()
 		{
-			if (iPropertyStore != null)
-			{
-				Marshal.ReleaseComObject(iPropertyStore);
-				iPropertyStore = null;
-			}
+			iPropertyStore = null;
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>Gets the property.</summary>

Windows.Shell/TaskBar/TaskbarList.cs

@@ -503,16 +503,8 @@ namespace Vanara.Windows.Shell
 		{
 			~TaskbarListStaticFinalizer()
 			{
-				if (taskbar2 != null)
-				{
-					Marshal.ReleaseComObject(taskbar2);
-					taskbar2 = null;
-				}
-				if (taskbar4 != null)
-				{
-					Marshal.ReleaseComObject(taskbar4);
-					taskbar4 = null;
-				}
+				taskbar2 = null;
+				taskbar4 = null;
 			}
 		}
 	}