If you have an unhandled error sometimes Silverlight will just disappear from IE and leave a blank screen. In the App.xaml.vb under Application_UnhandledException add
e.Handled = True
SAMPLE:
Private Sub Application_UnhandledException(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ApplicationUnhandledExceptionEventArgs) Handles Me.UnhandledException e.Handled = True End Sub