diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 9e53e308..2b4ec9ab 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ NEW the chi^2 calculation in single-histogram and asymmetry fits is parallelized
     if musrfit is built using a compiler supporting OpenMP (e.g. GCC >= 4.2)
     Using --disable-omp this feature can be disabled on the configure level.
 NEW any2many: force the user to define the exact NeXus ouput format (HDF4,HDF5,XML)
+FIXED crash of musrview in case the XML startup file is present but cannot be parsed correctly
 FIXED crash in case a non-existing userFcn is called from an existing library (MUSR-159)
 FIXED slightly wrong chisq since the 0-bin entries were treated wrongly for scaled N0/Bkg data (MUSR-193)
 FIXED the evaluation of the LF depolarization functions (before numerous unnecessary calculations were performed)
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2ccb5eaa..0af70d0f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -370,6 +370,22 @@ else
   AC_MSG_ERROR([MathMore is not included in the ROOT installation... Please configure ROOT with the --enable-mathmore option and check that the feature is actually built!])
 fi
 
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([for XML support in ROOT])
+if test "x$(${ROOTCONF} --has-xml)" == "xyes"; then
+  AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+else
+  AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+  AC_MSG_ERROR([XML support is not included in the ROOT installation... Please configure ROOT with the --enable-xml option and check that the feature is actually built!])
+fi
+
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([for image processing support in ROOT])
+if test "x$(${ROOTCONF} --has-asimage)" == "xyes"; then
+  AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+else
+  AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+  AC_MSG_ERROR([image processing support is not included in the ROOT installation... Please configure ROOT with the --enable-asimage option and check that the feature is actually built!])
+fi
+
 AC_SUBST(ROOT_LIBS)
 AC_SUBST(ROOT_CFLAGS)
 
diff --git a/src/any2many.cpp b/src/any2many.cpp
index 1373156f..78af4ccc 100644
--- a/src/any2many.cpp
+++ b/src/any2many.cpp
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     status = saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name);
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << ">> any2many **WARNING** reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml.";
+      cerr << endl << ">> any2many **WARNING** Reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml failed.";
       cerr << endl;
       // clean up
       if (saxParser) {
@@ -454,7 +454,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   }
 
   // read all the necessary runs (raw data)
-  PRunDataHandler *dataHandler = new PRunDataHandler(&info, startupHandler->GetDataPathList());
+  PRunDataHandler *dataHandler;
+  if (startupHandler)
+    dataHandler = new PRunDataHandler(&info, startupHandler->GetDataPathList());
+  else
+    dataHandler = new PRunDataHandler(&info);
 
   bool success = dataHandler->IsAllDataAvailable();
   if (!success) {
diff --git a/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp b/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp
index 89d94546..23e129cf 100644
--- a/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp
+++ b/src/classes/PMsr2Data.cpp
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ int PMsr2Data::ParseXmlStartupFile()
   status = fSaxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str());
   // check for parse errors
   if (status) { // error
-    cerr << endl << ">> msr2data: **WARNING** reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml." << endl;
+    cerr << endl << ">> msr2data: **WARNING** Reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml failed." << endl;
     // clean up
     if (fSaxParser) {
       delete fSaxParser;
diff --git a/src/classes/PRunDataHandler.cpp b/src/classes/PRunDataHandler.cpp
index 9f127ce7..fbd842b5 100644
--- a/src/classes/PRunDataHandler.cpp
+++ b/src/classes/PRunDataHandler.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,24 @@ using namespace std;
 #define A2M_WKM        6
 #define A2M_ASCII      7
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Constructor
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/**
+ * <p>Constructor, reading the data histogramm files.
+ *
+ * \param msrInfo pointer to the msr-file handler
+ */
+PRunDataHandler::PRunDataHandler(PAny2ManyInfo *any2ManyInfo) : fAny2ManyInfo(any2ManyInfo)
+{
+  fDataPath.clear();
+  // read files
+  if (!ReadWriteFilesList()) // couldn't read file
+    fAllDataAvailable = false;
+  else
+    fAllDataAvailable = true;
+}
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Constructor
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TLondon1D.cpp b/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TLondon1D.cpp
index 1f7af1b7..b53ca3c9 100644
--- a/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TLondon1D.cpp
+++ b/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TLondon1D.cpp
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ TLondon1DHS::TLondon1DHS() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ TLondon1D1L::TLondon1D1L() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ TLondon1D2L::TLondon1D2L() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ TProximity1D1LHS::TProximity1D1LHS() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ TLondon1D3L::TLondon1D3L() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -973,7 +973,7 @@ TLondon1D3LS::TLondon1D3LS() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -1142,7 +1142,7 @@ double TLondon1D3LS::operator()(double t, const vector<double> &par) const {
 //     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
 //     // check for parse errors
 //     if (status) { // error
-//       cout << endl << "**WARNING** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." << endl;
+//       cout << endl << "**WARNING** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." << endl;
 //     }
 // 
 //     fNSteps = startupHandler->GetNSteps();
diff --git a/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TVortex.cpp b/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TVortex.cpp
index 3a713ec9..79005f36 100644
--- a/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TVortex.cpp
+++ b/src/external/libFitPofB/classes/TVortex.cpp
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ TBulkTriVortexLondon::TBulkTriVortexLondon() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(tru
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ TBulkSqVortexLondon::TBulkSqVortexLondon() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true)
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ TBulkTriVortexML::TBulkTriVortexML() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ TBulkTriVortexAGL::TBulkTriVortexAGL() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ TBulkTriVortexAGLII::TBulkTriVortexAGLII() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true)
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ TBulkTriVortexNGL::TBulkTriVortexNGL() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true) {
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@ TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexLondonGlobal::TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexLondonGlobal() :
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -1262,7 +1262,7 @@ TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexMLGlobal::TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexMLGlobal() : fCalcNe
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
@@ -1501,7 +1501,7 @@ TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexAGLGlobal::TBulkAnisotropicTriVortexAGLGlobal() : fCalc
     int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+      cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
            << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
            << endl;
       assert(false);
diff --git a/src/external/libLFRelaxation/TLFRelaxation.cpp b/src/external/libLFRelaxation/TLFRelaxation.cpp
index 9ef20c6b..23d783d6 100644
--- a/src/external/libLFRelaxation/TLFRelaxation.cpp
+++ b/src/external/libLFRelaxation/TLFRelaxation.cpp
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ TLFDynGssKT::TLFDynGssKT() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true), fCounter(0) {
   int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
   // check for parse errors
   if (status) { // error
-    cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+    cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
          << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
          << endl;
     assert(false);
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ TLFDynExpKT::TLFDynExpKT() : fCalcNeeded(true), fFirstCall(true), fCounter(0), f
   int status (saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name.c_str()));
   // check for parse errors
   if (status) { // error
-    cerr << endl << "**ERROR** reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
+    cerr << endl << "**ERROR** Reading/parsing " << startup_path_name << " failed." \
          << endl << "**ERROR** Please make sure that the file exists in the local directory and it is set up correctly!" \
          << endl;
     assert(false);
diff --git a/src/include/PRunDataHandler.h b/src/include/PRunDataHandler.h
index 049afaf7..9ffc1f08 100644
--- a/src/include/PRunDataHandler.h
+++ b/src/include/PRunDataHandler.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ using namespace std;
 class PRunDataHandler
 {
   public:
+    PRunDataHandler(PAny2ManyInfo *any2ManyInfo);
     PRunDataHandler(PAny2ManyInfo *any2ManyInfo, const PStringVector dataPath);
     PRunDataHandler(PMsrHandler *msrInfo);
     PRunDataHandler(PMsrHandler *msrInfo, const PStringVector dataPath);
diff --git a/src/musrfit.cpp b/src/musrfit.cpp
index 851f6de8..1496285c 100644
--- a/src/musrfit.cpp
+++ b/src/musrfit.cpp
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     status = saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name);
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << ">> musrfit **WARNING** reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml.";
+      cerr << endl << ">> musrfit **WARNING** Reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml failed.";
       cerr << endl;
       // clean up
       if (saxParser) {
diff --git a/src/musrview.cpp b/src/musrview.cpp
index 0c728707..0ea5bc14 100644
--- a/src/musrview.cpp
+++ b/src/musrview.cpp
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     status = saxParser->ParseFile(startup_path_name);
     // check for parse errors
     if (status) { // error
-      cerr << endl << ">> musrview **WARNING** reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml.";
+      cerr << endl << ">> musrview **WARNING** Reading/parsing musrfit_startup.xml failed.";
+      cerr << endl << ">>                      Any graph will appear with random symbols and colors!";
       cerr << endl;
       // clean up
       if (saxParser) {
@@ -190,8 +191,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         delete startupHandler;
         startupHandler = 0;
       }
+    } else {
+      startupHandler->CheckLists();
     }
-    startupHandler->CheckLists();
   }
 
   // read msr-file