Object Reference not set to an object when clicking Web Analytics

when clicking the web analytics tab on our anayltics app, we get the following error: it appears to be throwing an error when trying to load the group dropdown? how can i fix this?

this is on analytics 3.5; we are planning on upgrading but it won't be for a few more weeks.

Exception information:

   Exception type: NullReferenceException

   Exception message: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Request information:

   Stack trace:    at Harvest.CommunityServer2009.GroupIdDropDownList.PopulateDropDown()

  at Harvest.Library.BaseClasses.SiteParameterDropDown.DataBindDropDownList(Int32 siteId, String schemaName)

  at Harvest.Web.Controls.ReportViewContainer.AddParameterControl(ReportBase report, List`1 requiredParameters, String schemaName)

  at Harvest.Web.Controls.ReportViewContainer.Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e)

  at System.Web.Util.CalliHelper.EventArgFunctionCaller(IntPtr fp, Object o, Object t, EventArgs e)

  at System.Web.Util.CalliEventHandlerDelegateProxy.Callback(Object sender, EventArgs e)

  at System.Web.UI.Control.OnLoad(EventArgs e)

  at System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive()

  at System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive()

  at System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive()

  at System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive()

  at System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive()

  at System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive()

  at System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive()

  at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint)