Problem

Portfolio Server won't remain in "Started" state, user receives "SOAP error (null pointer exception)" or "SOAPFault (Server): java.lang.NullPointerException null" when attempting to login to Portfolio Admin (8091)

Environment

This article covers Portfolio version 3.x and 4 on Windows Server

Cause

This issue is usually caused by the .preferences file writing incorrectly inside C:\ProgramData\Extensis\Portfolio Server on the server Portfolio is installed on (denoted by a similar display to the below screenshot)

Resolution

1. Stop the Portfolio Server, Portfolio Server (Media Engine), and Portfolio Server Admin services (if they are not already) 

2. Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Extensis\Portfolio Server

(Note: The folder may be hidden by the OS)

3. Move all current files that are labeled or begin with .preferences files to the desktop

4. Navigate to a previous Portfolio backup (By default, this is located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Extensis\Portfolio Server\data\backups)

5. Open the backup, navigate to the data folder, and copy the .preferences file inside