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Problem installing portable version ... "cannot write ..." on one of the font files.

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softfoot
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Problem installing portable version ... "cannot write ..." on one of the font files.

I've seen this several times when installing or updating - it always complains that it cannot write one of the font (.ttf) files.

I am using the standard directory structure for Portable Apps - so, given the standard .paf. installer I wouldnt expect a problem with path lengths.

There is miles of space on the USB drive (its 32Gb) and the drive is OK and passes a drive check.

If I copy the structure from another drive it copies OK (including the file in question) and runs OK.

BTW I love the package.
Dave

John T. Haller
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Path?

What's the full path to LibreOffice on the flash drive? The exact error? What OS? Have you checked the drive for errors? Tried with antivirus off after scanning the installer? Anything else you can think of.

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softfoot
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Path ...

>> What's the full path to LibreOffice on the flash drive?
E:\PortableApps\LibreOfficePortable\App\libreoffice

>> The exact error?
"Cannot write " - the filename varies but usually one of the font files in "E:\PortableApps\LibreOfficePortable\App\Fonts"

>> What OS?
XP + SP3

>> Have you checked the drive for errors?
As I said in the original post - "Yes"

>> Tried with antivirus off after scanning the installer?
I see the same problem on a system with no anti-virus.

Dave

Rgds,
Dave

John T. Haller
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TTF

It is possible the TTF files are still loaded in memory by windows. Could you try manually deleting them before upgrading?

And, you said you have installed it locally and it works fine? If so, then it's something to do with the drive. What brand and model is it? New?

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softfoot
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>> It is possible the TTF files are still loaded in memory by
>> windows. Could you try manually deleting them before upgrading?
I tried that - made no difference

>> And, you said you have installed it locally and it works fine?
No. After a struggle I eventually installed it on a different stick and copied it from there.

>> If so, then it's something to do with the drive.
There is NOTHING wrong with the drive - I have tested it.

>> What brand and model is it? New?
Brand new Kingston 32Gb
Never had ANY problems with it.

And I've seen the same problem on other drives of various makes, sizes and ages.

Dave

Rgds,
Dave

John T. Haller
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NTFS?

Is the drive formatted as NTFS? And, if so, have you ensured that the security settings are set so 'Everyone' has rights to the entire drive?

Additionally, have you tried this on a different PC to see if it is a PC issue?

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

softfoot
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More ...

>> Is the drive formatted as NTFS? And, if so, have you ensured
>> that the security settings are set so 'Everyone' has rights
>> to the entire drive?
Every USB stick I have ever found has been formatted as FAT32 by the manufacturer and I've never seen the point in changing it.

>> Additionally, have you tried this on a different PC to see if
>> it is a PC issue?
Yes, I see the same problem on three different XP+SP3 machines.
... before you ask - I dont have access to anything other than XP+SP3.

Rgds,
Dave

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Different PC + Drive?

Have you tried it on a different PC with a different drive (or just installing it to C:\PortableApps)?

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

softfoot
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Why would I want to do that ??

... it's a portable app - it's intended to be installed on a USB stick under the portableapps manager.

And as I have previously said I have tried to install it on several USB sticks via various machines.

As it happens I have the NON-portable version installed on one machine - it installed OK.

Rgds,
Dave

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Something Specific

It's something specific to your setup somehow as it works fine for millions of other folks (including lots of folks on Windows XP SP3). So, I'm trying to figure out what's in common between the sticks or PCs you have tried. Are these all your own PCs or all part of the same school or business? Do they all use the same antivirus and/or firewall? If so, could you try it on an entirely different PC?

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

softfoot
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Different PCs, different

Different PCs, different Anti-virus packages (one machine as I said has NO anti-virus), different locations, different sticks.

The only thing I can say is that an install of the NON-portable version always works on any of these machines.

All of these machines are multi-core, high performance boxes.

Dave

Rgds,
Dave

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Another Drive

You stated in your original post that if you copy the structure from another drive, it works fine. Which means you ARE able to install it on another drive, contradicting what you just posted above. I've also verified that both the Normal and All installers work without issue on Windows XP SP3.

So, let's start again. Where is the actual failure occurring? Is it only on this one new 32GB stick when trying to install directly to it and this happens regardless of PC and antivirus?

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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