IDE hangs at startup: "loading json index file ...: open ...: The system cannot find the file specified"

i_3nryu · August 5, 2024, 1:23pm

I recently renamed my user folder, and the arduino IDE and some other apps stopped working.
With the other apps a simple uninstall and reinstall was enough to fix them. It's not the case with the IDE.
Please Help🙏

REASON for renaming the user folder : The old name had spaces.

I used this tutorial to change the 'user folder name': https://youtu.be/zw4jb6x3GWk?si=9HV2Uuo-taXWzePQ

SUMMARY of Tutorial:

Create a new-admin account,
Log into new-admin account
rename folder,
Open regedit
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/software/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Profilelist
Look for the old-admin SID,
Edit profile image path to new user folder name.
,

PS C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide> & ".\Arduino IDE"
PS C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide>
Arduino IDE 2.3.2
Checking for frontend application configuration customizations. Module path: C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\electron-main.js, destination 'package.json': C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\package.json
Setting 'theia.frontend.config.appVersion' application configuration value to: "2.3.2" (type of string)
Setting 'theia.frontend.config.cliVersion' application configuration value to: "0.35.3" (type of string)
Setting 'theia.frontend.config.buildDate' application configuration value to: "2024-02-20T10:04:35.814Z" (type of string)
Frontend application configuration after modifications: {"applicationName":"Arduino IDE","defaultTheme":{"light":"arduino-theme","dark":"arduino-theme-dark"},"defaultIconTheme":"none","electron":{"windowOptions":{}},"defaultLocale":"","validatePreferencesSchema":false,"preferences":{"window.title":"${rootName}${activeEditorShort}${appName}","files.autoSave":"afterDelay","editor.minimap.enabled":false,"editor.tabSize":2,"editor.scrollBeyondLastLine":false,"editor.quickSuggestions":{"other":false,"comments":false,"strings":false},"editor.maxTokenizationLineLength":500,"editor.bracketPairColorization.enabled":false,"breadcrumbs.enabled":false,"workbench.tree.renderIndentGuides":"none","explorer.compactFolders":false},"appVersion":"2.3.2","cliVersion":"0.35.3","buildDate":"2024-02-20T10:04:35.814Z"}
Starting backend process. PID: 21468
Using browser-only version of superagent in non-browser environment
Configuration directory URI: 'file:///c%3A/Users/e3nryu/.arduinoIDE'
Configuring to accept webviews on '^.+\.webview\..+$' hostname.
2024-08-05T12:53:18.462Z root INFO Backend Object.initialize: 10.1 ms [Finished 1.030 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.464Z root INFO Backend Object.configure: 9.0 ms [Finished 1.030 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.464Z root INFO Backend s.onStart: 5.7 ms [Finished 1.030 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.466Z root INFO Backend s.configure: 0.5 ms [Finished 1.074 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.467Z root INFO Backend d.onStart: 0.3 ms [Finished 1.074 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.469Z root INFO Backend d.configure: 0.2 ms [Finished 1.074 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.471Z root INFO Backend d.initialize: 42.9 ms [Finished 1.074 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.471Z root INFO Backend c.onStart: 0.6 ms [Finished 1.074 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.473Z root INFO Backend a.configure: 2.8 ms [Finished 1.077 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.477Z config INFO >>> Initializing CLI configuration...
2024-08-05T12:53:18.478Z root INFO Backend c.initialize: 1.3 ms [Finished 1.078 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.478Z root INFO Backend R.onStart: 1.8 ms [Finished 1.079 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.480Z config INFO Loading CLI configuration from c:\Users\e3nryu\.arduinoIDE\arduino-cli.yaml...
2024-08-05T12:53:18.481Z daemon INFO Starting daemon from C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\resources\arduino-cli.exe...
2024-08-05T12:53:18.481Z root INFO Backend a.initialize: 0.7 ms [Finished 1.081 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.482Z root INFO Backend w.onStart: 2.5 ms [Finished 1.083 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.482Z root INFO Backend r.configure: 4.4 ms [Finished 1.084 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.483Z discovery-log INFO start
2024-08-05T12:53:18.483Z discovery-log INFO start new deferred
2024-08-05T12:53:18.483Z root INFO Backend d.initialize: 1.5 ms [Finished 1.086 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.483Z root INFO Backend y.onStart: 5.7 ms [Finished 1.090 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.483Z root INFO Backend r.configure: 4.6 ms [Finished 1.090 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.484Z root INFO Backend a.onStart: 1.3 ms [Finished 1.094 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.484Z root INFO Backend h.configure: 1.2 ms [Finished 1.094 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.484Z root INFO Backend s.configure: 0.6 ms [Finished 1.095 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.484Z root INFO Backend l.configure: 0.3 ms [Finished 1.096 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.490Z root INFO Theia app listening on http://127.0.0.1:49747.
2024-08-05T12:53:18.490Z root INFO Finished starting backend application: 7.8 ms [Finished 1.103 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:18.501Z root WARN The local plugin referenced by local-dir:/c%3A/Users/e3nryu/.arduinoIDE/plugins doesnot exist.
2024-08-05T12:53:18.501Z root WARN The local plugin referenced by local-dir:/c%3A/Users/e3nryu/.arduinoIDE/extensions does not exist.
2024-08-05T12:53:18.504Z root WARN The local plugin referenced by local-dir:C:\Users\e3nryu\.arduinoIDE\plugins does not exist.
2024-08-05T12:53:18.549Z config INFO Loaded CLI configuration: {"board_manager":{"additional_urls":[]},"build_cache":{"compilations_before_purge":10,"ttl":"720h0m0s"},"daemon":{"port":"50051"},"directories":{"builtin":{"libraries":"C:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\libraries"},"data":"c:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15","downloads":"C:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\staging","user":"c:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\Documents\\NASCOMSOFT IT\\Electronics\\Arduino"},"library":{"enable_unsafe_install":false},"locale":"en","logging":{"file":"","format":"text","level":"info"},"metrics":{"addr":":9090","enabled":true},"output":{"no_color":false},"sketch":{"always_export_binaries":false},"updater":{"enable_notification":true}}
2024-08-05T12:53:18.549Z config INFO 'directories.data' and 'directories.user' are set in the CLI configuration model.
2024-08-05T12:53:18.549Z config INFO Loaded the CLI configuration.
2024-08-05T12:53:18.574Z config INFO Mapped the CLI configuration: {"dataDirUri":"file:///c%3A/Users/DELL%20XPS%2013/AppData/Local/Arduino15","sketchDirUri":"file:///c%3A/Users/DELL%20XPS%2013/Documents/NASCOMSOFT%20IT/Electronics/Arduino","additionalUrls":[],"network":"none","locale":"en"}
2024-08-05T12:53:18.575Z config INFO Validating the CLI configuration...
2024-08-05T12:53:18.576Z config INFO The CLI config is valid.
2024-08-05T12:53:18.577Z config INFO <<< Initialized the CLI configuration.
2024-08-05T12:53:18.619Z root INFO Resolve plugins list: 139.3 ms [Finished 1.230 s after backend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:19.043Z daemon INFO time="2024-08-05T13:53:18+01:00" level=info msg="Using config file: c:\\Users\\e3nryu\\.arduinoIDE\\arduino-cli.yaml"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:18+01:00" level=info msg="arduino-cli.exe version 0.35.3"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:18+01:00" level=info msg="Executing `arduino-cli daemon`"
Daemon is now listening on 127.0.0.1:49748
{"IP":"127.0.0.1","Port":"49748"}
2024-08-05T12:53:19.043Z daemon INFO Daemon is running.
2024-08-05T12:53:19.283Z daemon INFO time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Updating libraries index"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Starting download" url="https://downloads.arduino.cc/libraries/library_index.tar.bz2"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Loading hardware from: c:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Loading libraries index file" index="c:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\library_index.json"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Adding libraries dir" dir="C:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\libraries" location=ide
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Adding libraries dir" dir="c:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\Documents\\NASCOMSOFT IT\\Electronics\\Arduino\\libraries" location=user
2024-08-05T12:53:19.298Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 3, message: Error downloading index 'https://downloads.arduino.cc/libraries/library_index.tar.bz2': Get "https://downloads.arduino.cc/libraries/library_index.tar.bz2": dial tcp: lookup downloads.arduino.cc: no such host
2024-08-05T12:53:19.300Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 9, message: Loading index file: loading json index file c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.
2024-08-05T12:53:19.301Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:serial-discovery not found
2024-08-05T12:53:19.302Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:mdns-discovery not found
2024-08-05T12:53:19.303Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 9, message: Loading index file: reading library_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\library_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.
2024-08-05T12:53:19.317Z root ERROR The primary packages indexes are missing. Running indexes update before initializing the core gRPC client The index of the cores and libraries must be updated before initializing the core gRPC client.
The following problems were detected during the gRPC client initialization:
[platform-index] - code: 9, message: Loading index file: loading json index file c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.
[platform-index] - code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:serial-discovery not found
[platform-index] - code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:mdns-discovery not found
[library-index] - code: 9, message: Loading index file: reading library_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\library_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.

2024-08-05T12:53:19.337Z daemon INFO time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Updating libraries index"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Starting download" url="https://downloads.arduino.cc/libraries/library_index.tar.bz2"
2024-08-05T12:53:19.440Z root INFO core-client-provider [library-index] Downloading index: library_index.tar.bz2

2024-08-05T12:53:19.442Z root INFO core-client-provider [platform-index] Downloading index: package_index.tar.bz2

2024-08-05T12:53:19.445Z root ERROR Failed to update platform, library indexes. Error: 13 INTERNAL: Some indexes could not be updated.
    at t.callErrorFromStatus (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:763461)
    at Object.onReceiveStatus (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:791078)
    at Object.onReceiveStatus (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:784102)
    at C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:870224
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:77:11)
for call at
    at s.makeServerStreamRequest (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:790845)
    at s.updateIndex (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:855121)
    at C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:623733
    at C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:624081
    at new Promise (<anonymous>)
    at E.doUpdateIndex (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:624060)
    at E.updatePlatformIndex (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:623705)
    at E.updateIndex (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:623073)
    at E.initInstanceWithFallback (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:621317)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
2024-08-05T12:53:19.448Z daemon INFO time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Updating index" url="https://downloads.arduino.cc/packages/package_index.tar.bz2"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Starting download" url="https://downloads.arduino.cc/packages/package_index.tar.bz2"
2024-08-05T12:53:19.472Z daemon INFO time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Updating libraries index"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Starting download" url="https://downloads.arduino.cc/libraries/library_index.tar.bz2"
2024-08-05T12:53:19.495Z daemon INFO time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Loading hardware from: c:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Loading libraries index file" index="c:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\library_index.json"
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Adding libraries dir" dir="C:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\libraries" location=ide
time="2024-08-05T13:53:19+01:00" level=info msg="Adding libraries dir" dir="c:\\Users\\DELL XPS 13\\Documents\\NASCOMSOFT IT\\Electronics\\Arduino\\libraries" location=user
2024-08-05T12:53:19.517Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 3, message: Error downloading index 'https://downloads.arduino.cc/libraries/library_index.tar.bz2': Get "https://downloads.arduino.cc/libraries/library_index.tar.bz2": dial tcp: lookup downloads.arduino.cc: no such host
2024-08-05T12:53:19.517Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 9, message: Loading index file: loading json index file c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.
2024-08-05T12:53:19.518Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:serial-discovery not found
2024-08-05T12:53:19.519Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:mdns-discovery not found
2024-08-05T12:53:19.519Z root ERROR Detected an error response during the gRPC core client initialization: code: 9, message: Loading index file: reading library_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\library_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.
2024-08-05T12:53:19.521Z root ERROR Uncaught Exception:  Error: The index of the cores and libraries must be updated before initializing the core gRPC client.
The following problems were detected during the gRPC client initialization:
[platform-index] - code: 9, message: Loading index file: loading json index file c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.
[platform-index] - code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:serial-discovery not found
[platform-index] - code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:mdns-discovery not found
[library-index] - code: 9, message: Loading index file: reading library_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\library_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.

2024-08-05T12:53:19.521Z root ERROR Error: The index of the cores and libraries must be updated before initializing thecore gRPC client.
The following problems were detected during the gRPC client initialization:
[platform-index] - code: 9, message: Loading index file: loading json index file c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\package_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.
[platform-index] - code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:serial-discovery not found
[platform-index] - code: 9, message: Error loading hardware platform: discovery builtin:mdns-discovery not found
[library-index] - code: 9, message: Loading index file: reading library_index.json: open c:\Users\DELL XPS 13\AppData\Local\Arduino15\library_index.json: The system cannot find the file specified.

    at C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:622877
    at E.evaluateErrorStatus (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:622893)
    at process.processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at async a.<anonymous> (C:\Users\e3nryu\AppData\Local\Programs\arduino-ide\resources\app\lib\backend\main.js:2:622563)
2024-08-05T12:53:20.700Z root INFO Deploy plugins list: 139.3 ms [Finished 3.313 s after backend start]
Opening channel for service path '/services/electron-window'.
Opening channel for service path '/services/ide-updater'.
2024-08-05T12:53:22.281Z root WARN Frontend a.configure took longer than the expected maximum 100 milliseconds: 505.1 ms [Finished 3.582 s after frontend start]
2024-08-05T12:53:22.298Z root WARN A command editor.action.toggleStickyScroll is already registered.

sonofcy · August 5, 2024, 1:26pm

You should have just deleted the old user and did an IDE install for the new user. Just save your sketches first somewhere safe. The way you did it is likely causing the problem

ptillisch · August 5, 2024, 1:34pm

Hi @i_3nryu. The first time you run Arduino IDE, it generates a configuration file that defines the paths to several folders used by the IDE. The default locations of these folders are under your home folder, which means the username is part of the path. When you change your username it makes the paths in the configuration file outdated. When the IDE attempts to access the old path, the operating system does not allow it, which causes the startup to hang.

I think the easiest solution will be to simply delete the configuration file. Arduino IDE will automatically generate a new file on startup with the correct paths.

I'll provide instructions you can follow to do that:

Select File > Quit from the Arduino IDE menus if it is running.
All Arduino IDE windows will close.
Delete the file at the following path:
```
C:\Users\e3nryu\.arduinoIDE\arduino-cli.yaml
```
Please be careful when deleting things from your computer. When in doubt, back up!
Start Arduino IDE.

Arduino IDE should now start up fully and be functional as usual.

Note that the file you deleted is used to store some of your IDE preferences. These will all have been reset to the default values. If you had customized either the "Sketchbook location" or "Additional Boards Manager URLs" preferences before, you'll need to select File > Preferences... from the Arduino IDE menus and then set those preferences once again after performing the instructions I provided above.

Please let me know if you have any questions or problems while following those instructions.

i_3nryu · August 5, 2024, 1:49pm

My Brother, You are a god!

It worked. However, I simply edited the user-folder name in the .yaml file to the current name.

It's working for now, if i gives me any issue i'll delete.

Side question: Is there a standard file-extension-name for those files created whenever a new app is run?

Thanks so much!!! Really!!

ptillisch · August 5, 2024, 1:54pm

You are welcome. I'm glad it is working now.

That will work fine. I used the deletion approach in my instructions just because it is more simple and some users might not be familiar with editing a YAML file.

No. This is specific to Arduino IDE 2.x.

sonofcy · August 5, 2024, 2:44pm

On my MAC I have 2 similar folders. BTW, I can only see these if I reveal .(hidden files) I assume pro is 2.x?
Screenshot 2024-08-05 at 10.43.22
It's NOT the Pro, that was something else a while ago.

ptillisch · August 5, 2024, 7:36pm

The Arduino IDE 2.x project was originally named "Arduino Pro IDE". Even after the name was changed to Arduino IDE, it continued to use .arduinoProIDE as its configuration folder name for some time during the beta tester prerelease phase of the development before the code was finally updated to use the more appropriate .arduinoIDE folder name.

So this .arduinoProIDE is a vestigial remnant from a time when you had an older version of the project installed and is not used in any way by the recent versions of Arduino IDE. Unless you are still using very old versions of Arduino IDE 2.x or Arduino Pro IDE, you can delete the .arduinoProIDE folder to keep your hard drive tidy.

sonofcy · August 5, 2024, 9:05pm

Thought that might be the case but wasn't positive. Deleting now.

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IDE hangs at startup: "loading json index file ...: open ...: The system cannot find the file specified"

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