Quick fix: MPLAB X Cannot Connect to PicKit2 or PicKit3

Problem After an update of some software on a 64 bit Windows computer you might run into the following message when you start MPLAB X: Also, when you try to program your device it fails. PICkit2: Loading code from F:/Projects/PIC/LilBang.X/dist/default/production/LilBang.X.production.hex…Loading symbols from F:/Projects/PIC/LilBang.X/dist/default/production/LilBang.X.production.cof…Loading completedConnecting to programmer…The programmer could not be …