Can't install Oscar.

[Ficklid22]

        I have tried several times to install Oscar.  I get the message "Unable to create the OSCAR data folder at: C:/Users/Geoff Curtis/Documents/OSCAR_Data". I am the administrator of the computer. I tried to manually create the folder and then got the message: "Unable to write to OSCAR data directory C:/Users/Geoff Curtis/Documents/OSCAR_Data Error code 5 - The system cannot find the file specified. OSCAR cannot continue and is exiting."

What is happening here?

I then tried to install it on my laptop and everything worked fine. Everything I tried on the desktop has failed. Since I am selling the laptop in a couple of days I need to get my desktop working.

TIA

[Crimson Nape]

HI Ficklid22! -

I don't know what version of Windows you are having problems with, but I'm guessing it is Win11. If so, you need to check the permissions for your directory.

- Red

[Ficklid22]

Yes, it is Windows 11. I am the Admin on this computer and only user. So I have full rights to this directory.

[Crimson Nape]

You might have rights, but what did it assign to OSCAR?  You need to add "Everyone" full read-write access to the OSCAR_data and its subdirectories. You have to understand that you aren't accessing this directory, OSCAR is.

- Red

[Ficklid22]

I'm not sure how to do that. Interestingly enough, the permissions are identical on the computer that is running OSCAR to the one that is failing to run OSCAR. 

[Crimson Nape]

I'll have to load up a VM Win11 tomorrow to see what new surprises they added to the Documents directory. I will get back to you.

- Red

[Crimson Nape]

OK! I just updated my VM Windows 11, and lo and behold, it set my Documents folder and its subdirectories to Read Only.  To overcome this PITA, open your File Explorer (Win key+E).  Go to C:\Users\Your User Name.  Right-click on Documents and select Properties.  Deselect the Read-only and allow it to do the same for all subdirectories when you press the Apply button.

Next, select the Security tab and press the Edit button under the Group or user names.  Select the Add button. In the "Enter" box, type: Everyone.  After adding this group,  click on the name to highlight it, and then select Full control from the Allow column in the Permissions for Everyone.  

Note: Win11 will holler about doing this for your subdirectories, My Videos, My Music and My Pictures.   Select the Continue button for each warning.

Finally, select the OK button to exit.  You should now be good to go.

As a sidenote: Windows 11 required me to jump through several hoops, and having to select "Keep" several times, in order to download OSCAR. Not to mention how many times it kept asking me if I was sure that I wanted to install it. Jeez! A little overkill.

- Red

[Ficklid22]

That did the trick! Thank you Red! 

[SuperSleeper]

Microsoft Windows^TM:  "Protecting PC users from themselves since 1985". 

[PullMeUnder]

Hello. 

I installed Oscar on my Windows 11 laptop in June 2022.  It worked for me at that time.  I haven't used or updated Oscar since then.  I decided to run Oscar this morning and I get the "Unable to write to OSCAR data directory C:/Users/John/Documents/OSCAR_Data" message.

I followed Crimson Nape's directions.  Tried running Oscar again and got the same message.  Then I tried executing File Explorer as admin and tried to follow Crimson Nape's directions again.  Same message.  

Then I added exclusions in Windows Security for the processes "Oscar" and "Oscar.exe" and the C:/Users/John/Documents/OSCAR_Data folder.  Tried Oscar again.  Same message.

Even after following Crimson Nape's directions, I notice that when I right click on the OSCAR_Data directory and select Properties, on the general tab, in the Attributes area, the check box for "Read-only..." is still checked.  Even though I unchecked as part of following the directions.

Does anyone have any ideas for me to try?

Thanks.