IDE hangs on startup: "invalid path creating config dir"

Development Tools IDE 2.x
1

Hello,

When I attempt to open the new Arduino version, which I just downloaded onto my new computer today, the Arduino loading screen is continually there and the sketch I'm attempting to load never loads. I've attempted a restart and a reinstall, but without luck and the sketch and Arduino UI are still not loading.

Is this a known issue, and are there any fixes available?

Thanks,

W_W

2

Hi @warp_wanderer. Which operating system are you using (e.g., "Windows")?

I ask because I would like to give you the appropriate instructions for your operating system.

3

I'm using Windows 11. Sorry, forgot to mention that. When I attempt to open the program, all I get is a perpetually pulsing Arduino symbol. My previous version (2.0.3 I think?) worked just fine. :frowning:

4

I'm going to ask you to post some additional information that might help us to identify the problem.

Please do this:

  1. Close all Arduino IDE windows if the IDE is already running.
  2. Start Windows "File Explorer".
  3. Open the Arduino IDE installation folder.
    ⓘ The default installation location is at one of the following paths: 
    • C:\Program Files\Arduino IDE

    • C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Programs\Arduino IDE
      (where <username> is your Windows username)
      :exclamation: If looking for it with your file manager or command line, note that the AppData folder is hidden by default. On Windows "File Explorer", you can make it visible by opening the "View" menu, then checking the box next to "☐ Hidden items".
  4. In the folder listing of the Arduino IDE installation folder, hold the Shift key while clicking the right hand button on the mouse.
  5. From the context menu, click "Open PowerShell window here".
    Windows PowerShell will now open with the current directory set to the Arduino IDE installation folder.
  6. Type the following command:
    & ".\Arduino IDE"
  7. Press the Enter key.
    Debug output should now be printed to the PowerShell window as Arduino IDE starts.
  8. Wait until you are sure the IDE startup has gone into the hang state
    (as indicated by no additional output being printed to the terminal).
  9. Switch back to the PowerShell window if the Arduino IDE window took the focus.
  10. Right click on the title bar of the PowerShell window.
    This will open a context menu.
  11. Select Edit > Select All from the context menu.
    This will select all the text in the PowerShell window.
  12. Press Ctrl+C.
    This will copy the contents of the PowerShell window to the clipboard.
  13. Open a forum reply here by clicking the Reply button.
  14. Click the <CODE/> icon on the post composer toolbar.
    This will add the forum's code block markup (```) to your reply to make sure the error messages are correctly formatted.
    Code tags icon on toolbar
  15. Press Ctrl+V.
    This will paste the output into the code block.
  16. Move the cursor outside of the code block markup before you add any additional text to your reply.
  17. Click the Reply button to post the output.

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

5

A post was split to a new topic: IDE startup hangs: "discovery teensy:teensy-discovery not found"

6

Hi ptillisch,

Sorry it's taken some time for me to get back to this. In following the instructions you provided, I noticed that this single block was looping as the IDE attempted to open (waited several minutes, and this code continued to loop, so I eventually shut it down):

2023-07-20T15:45:03.713Z daemon ERROR Error: Error: invalid path creating config dir: c:\Users\Oh Glorious Leader\AppData\Local\Arduino15 error: mkdir c:\Users\Oh Glorious Leader: Access is denied.
    at Socket.<anonymous> (C:\Program Files\Arduino IDE\resources\app\node_modules\arduino-ide-extension\lib\node\arduino-daemon-impl.js:177:42)
    at Socket.emit (node:events:394:28)
    at addChunk (node:internal/streams/readable:312:12)
    at readableAddChunk (node:internal/streams/readable:287:9)
    at Socket.Readable.push (node:internal/streams/readable:226:10)
    at Pipe.onStreamRead (node:internal/stream_base_commons:190:23)
2023-07-20T15:45:03.713Z daemon INFO Starting daemon from C:\Program Files\Arduino IDE\resources\app\node_modules\arduino-ide-extension\build\arduino-cli.exe...
2023-07-20T15:45:03.719Z daemon INFO Daemon exited with exit code: 7.
isTempSketch: false. Input was c:\Users\Owner\Desktop\Grad School\Dissertation Work\Sample Fab_Test_Post\Testing\UV Exposure\Thermo_calibrated_final\Thermo_calibrated_final.ino
Marking workspace as a closed sketch. Workspace URI: file:///c%3A/Users/Owner/Desktop/Grad%20School/Dissertation%20Work/Sample%20Fab_Test_Post/Testing/UV%20Exposure/Thermo_calibrated_final/Thermo_calibrated_final.ino. Date: 1689867903739.
2023-07-20T15:45:03.774Z daemon INFO Error: invalid path creating config dir: c:\Users\Oh Glorious Leader\AppData\Local\Arduino15 error: mkdir c:\Users\Oh Glorious Leader: Access is denied.

It should be noted that this latest issue occurred after I uninstalled 2.1.0 and reinstalled as 2.1.1, making sure to give access to all users. Also, the Arduino IDE install directory was found in C:\Program Files\Arduino IDE, though it looks like it's trying to create a file or something in the AppData folder. Also, my username is Oh Glorious Leader, which appears to not have access, though the program was installed with access for all users, so I'm not sure what's going on here either.

Where would you suggest I go from here?

Thanks,

W_W

7

As it is my machine, my username is also an administrator

8

This is normal and expected. Arduino IDE uses that Arduino15 folder to store things like data files and boards platforms, separate from the IDE application installation.

I see that, but I also see the username "Owner" here:

What is the story with the "Owner" account? Are you certain you aren't running Arduino IDE using that account instead?

9

I changed my username to Oh Glorious Leader, but it still shows up as Owner, though I know the two are affiliated. I assumed they were the same user, though now I'm not sure. I don't really care which account I run it with as long as it works... :-/ Any thoughts on that? I'm hoping I didn't foul something up by changing my username...

10

Please perform the following procedure and then provide the information you obtained in a reply here:

  1. Click the Windows "Start" button.
  2. Type powershell in the search field.
  3. Select "Windows PowerShell ISE" from the search results.
    A "Windows PowerShell ISE" window will open.
  4. Click on the terminal panel of the "Windows PowerShell ISE" window.
    ⓘ The terminal panel is the part that has the command prompt like PS C:\Users\per>
  5. Type the following command:
    echo "$Env:LOCALAPPDATA"
  6. Press the Enter key.

A path will now be printed to the PowerShell terminal. Something like this:

PS C:\Users\per> echo "$Env:LOCALAPPDATA"
C:\Users\per\AppData\Local

Copy and paste the path that was printed in a reply here.

11

Hi Ptillisch,
The path that came up is as follows:

PS C:\Users\Owner> echo "$Env:LOCALAPPDATA"
C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local
PS C:\Users\Owner>

Thanks,
W_W

12

OK, so it seems that your username is "Owner", not "Oh Glorious Leader". This is the reason why access was denied to the folder under c:\Users\Oh Glorious Leader:

So why is Arduino IDE attempting to access a folder under that path? The reason is that the path is set in a configuration file at the time you first start Arduino IDE. That means if you change your username after that time the configuration is wrong.

I'll provide instructions you can follow to clear the bad configuration:

  1. Close all Arduino IDE windows if it is running.
  2. Open the folder at the following path in Windows "File Explorer".:
    C:\Users\Owner\.arduinoIDE\arduino-cli.yaml
  3. Delete the arduino-cli.yaml file.

Now try starting Arduino IDE again. Hopefully it will start up without any problems this time.

Some of your Arduino IDE preferences were stored in the arduino-cli.yaml file that is deleted by following the instructions I provided above. So if you have made any customizations to the preferences (e.g., adding URLs to the "Additional Boards Manager URLs" preference), you will need to select File > Preferences from the Arduino IDE menus and then set your preferences in the "Preferences" dialog once again.

13

Hey, wow! That worked! Arduino IDE opened up. I'll just have to make sure to update my preferences per your instructions. Myself (and my research) are VERY thankful for your help!

Sincerely,

W_W

14

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

Regards,
Per

15

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